New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-02
MR.. HE WITT WRITES LETTERS
BOTH PARTAKE OF HIS wELL-KNOWN
CHARACTERISTIC.
HE DECLINES TO ACCEPT $1,000 FEE, AND
THINKS HIS VIEWS on RAPID TRANSIT
SUOI-ID HAVE REEN PI-RIIC

HE DECLINES TO ACCEPT A $1,000 FEE, AND
THINKS HIS VIEWS on RAPID TRANSIT
SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUBLIC.
Ex-Mayor Abram S. Hewitt has written letter
to L. L. Delaheld. secretary Of the Rapid Transit
commission. which Is not without the sharpness for
which Mr. Hewitt has been noted. Mr. Deafed
originally wrote TO the ex-Mayor asking him to send
to the commission a bill of 81 coo for his services
as member OF the Committee Of Expert Engineers
Mr.. Hewitt declined to accept the payment and
wrote a criticism of the commission for Its re-
fusal TO grant additional privileges to the Manhat-
tan Elevated road This letter was not made pub
lie, and only a reference to 1t was entered the
minutes. vote of thanks to MIR. Hewitt was
adopted. and Mr.. Deafed Informed the ex-Mayor
OF this action. Under date OF February 2 Mr..
Hewitt acknowledged the receipt Of this letter, and
added:
If my letter had. az is usual in such cases been
entered upon records accessible TO the public. in
stead OF a minute containing partial idea OF It's
contents the resolution would. perhaps, have been
unnecessary, although the courtesy is duly appre-
ciated by very truly your obedien servant ,ni,,rr
Mr.. Hewitts previous letter, which was not shown
TO the reporters follows;
am In receipt Of your letter OF the 18th inst, in
forming me that the Board OF Rapid Transit Rail.
road Commissioners have fixed the compensation OF
each member the Committee OF Expert Engineers
the several members OF said committee should also
be- paid 10 them when the amounts thereof shall be
hscertaincd. When the president or the commits
siOn Mr.. orr did me the honor 10 ask me to serve
upon the committee explained TO him that would
he willing 70 do 50 as "A public service. for which
personally would not he willing TO receive any re-
muneration. ! cannot, therefore, comply with the
request 10 render bill for the services rendered.
and as for my disbursements, they were too trifing
to De worthy OF notice.
Having accepted the duty with this understand
INK. am not now influenced by the fact that the
Commission does not seem to attach mucn value
To the conclusions and the recommendations OF
tho Board of Experts, The latter body acted
upon the theory that the main object Of the ex-
traordinary legislation under which the Commits
sion is acting to secure rapid transit facilities
possible. and with the least possible ex-
penditurc OF the public money. II pointed out how
this result might be speedily attained by utilizing
hand. seems 10 think that tho use OF these ex-
listing agencies will in way interfere with
ne G9mplcton OK new me ne .aia OUT py men,
tho expenditure OF az least NO.oO0 OF the public
money
II tho utilization OF the existing agencies should
have the effect OF promptly securing rapid transit
accommodations and render unnecessary any ex-
pendlture OF the public money should think that
the Commission would deserve the thanks of the
community for such happy and satisfactory So
luton OF the difficult problem now occupying its
In other words IT seemed 10 me that resort to
me Expenditure o, the public m0ney M only be
ielleent effort fan 70 secure satisfactory rapid
prevail OF the Legislature and OF the citizens OF
Ncw-York only given with the expectation
that tho powcr TO resort 10 municipal capital in
the last emergency might have the effect OF making
10 unnecessary to exercise this power at all, by
forcing the existing agencies to provide immediate
The Commission. however. seems TO have decided
upon a policy which reverses this expectation. and
necessarily postpone 1t until the new lines are
completed unless In the mean time, by the failure
shall be constrained to look more favorably Upon
the suggestions OF the Board OF Experts In refer
10 the improvements on the Manhattan sys-
tom. by which course alone, as It seems 10 me.
rapid transit can be secured without serious delay.