The sun., 1895-03-02
MIR. uEgIT1's ooMrENsATIox.
His Letter DeciininG Pay for Services as
Rapid Transit Commissioner

Rapid Transit Commissioner.
Tho following correspondence was given out
| yesterday afternoon!
BOARD OF RAPID TRANSIT RAiLRoAD)
COMMISSIONERS, 256 BRuADwAY
NEW YORK. Feb. is. 1895. J
" Hon 4. s. He,citt. Nep FORK cify
MY DEAR SIR: At n meeting OF the Board
OF Rapid Transit Railroad Commissioners held
on Jan 20, 1898 it was resolved that the
compensation Of each member Of tho Commit
tee of Expert Engineering, of which you were .
inemtcr be fixed al the sum OF $1,000. and
that the disbursements of the several mem bers
OF said committee should also be paid to them
when the amount thereof should be ascertained,
May | therefore request that you will very
kindly send to the Board Of Rapid Transit Rail-
road Commissioners a bill for your services In
the amount thus established and for the amount
OF your disbursements, If any, in connection
with the work of the committee. | am sorry 10
be obliged 10 trouble you. but the rules Of tho
Comprollers Office do not permit the disburse-
ment of the citys moneys except upon presen-
tation OF formal bill Yours respectfully
LEWIS l.. DELAFIEID."
NEW YORK. Feb. II, 1895.
Le'rfs r. Dc'dfsd ESQ., Secretary Rdpid Transit COM
mission. &c Broddirdp, city
MY DEAR SIR: am in receipt OF your letter
OF the 18th inst. informing me TINT the Board
OF Rapid Transit Railroad Commissioners have
fixed the compensation of each member Of tho
Committee of Engineers at $1,000. and that the
disbursements of the several members of said
committee should also be paid to them when the
amounts thereof shall be ilscertained.
~. hen the PRESIDENT OF the Commission. Mr..
Orr, did me the honor to ask me to serve upon
the committee. explained to him that would
be willing to do 80 as public service for which
personally | would not be willing to receive
any, remuneration. cannot. therefore comply
with the request to render bill for the SER
vices rendered. and. rs for my disbursements,
they were too tri'llng to be worthy OF notice
Having accepted the duty with this under
standing am not now influenced by the fact
that the Commission does not seem to attach
much value to the conclusions and the recon.
body acted upon the theory that the main object
OF the extraordinary Legislation under which
the Commission is acting was to secure rapid
transit facilities as soon as possible, and with
the lcast, possible expenditure Of the public
money. It pointed out how this result might be
speedily attained by utilizing existing agencies.
The Commission. on the other hand. seems
to think that the use of these existing agencies
OF "a new line laid out by them requiring many
years for its construction and the expenditure
the utilization of the existing agencies should
have the effect Of promptly securing rapid
sary any eSpendure Of % the fsSis puSc money negeS
should think that the Commission would de-
serve the thanks Of the community for such
difficult problem now occupying its attention.
IN In other words it it seems see t9 me that resort to
be justified in case the Commission shall after
intelligent effort, fail To secure satisfactory
rapid transit hy other means, and believe that
the approval ut the Legislature and of the citi-
Zens ot New York was only given with the ex-
pectation that the power to resort To municipal
capital in the last emergency might have the
effect of making It unnecessary to exercise their
power at all. by forcing the existing agencies
to provide immediate and adequate accom-
mediation.
The Commission. however, appears to have
decided upon n policy which reverses this ex-
p"ctnton, and which. instead of providing inn
mediate relief. will necessarily postpone it until
the new lines are com plcted unless in the mean
time, by the failure to secure a responsible bid
der, the Commission shall be constrained To look
more fayOrably upon the suggestions Of the
Board OF Experts in reference to the improve
mcnts on the Manhattan system. by which
course alone. as ii seems to mo. rapid transit can
honor 10 be, very respectfully, your obedient
servant. ABRAM :. HEWITT"
The following is nm extract from the minutes
Of the meeting of the Board of Rapid Transit
Railroad Commissioners held on Feb. "6:
r. he Secretary presented the following COM
80. A letter from the Hon. A. $. Hewitt
stating. among other things. that he had acted
as member Of the Committee of Expert Engi-
neer- tor the sole reason that he considered il =
matter OF public service. ami that hc was not
therefore willing to accept any CONDENSATION
MIR. Strinway moved that the Secretary ac-
knowledge the receipt Of MIR. iewitt's letter,
and that he express 10 Mr.. Hewitt tho apprecia-
tlOn by the Runrd Of the value OF the services
rendered bv him in the public interest as
member OF the Board of Expert Engineers"