The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-01-26
GOING SLOW In TUNNEL CASE.
BUT JEROME SAYS HE'LL PUR-
SUE INQUIRY TO END.
February Grand Jury May Take Up Qucs.
ton OF Responsibility-Frank Moss
Believes That wisker VIII he Indicted.
Anyway-Health Board After Tunnel

NOI VI kHo~1
Believes That Wisker VIII he Indicted,
Anyway-Heaith Board After Tunnel
District Attorney jerome declined yes
terday 10 state just what will be his plan
OF procedure In the Park avenue tunnel
matter now that a Cororner's jury has
held that the officials Of the road alone were
responsible for the wreck OF Jan. 8.
Il shall pursue the investigation TO the
end, said Mr.. Jerome yesterday, That's
what I'm here for and what my oath Of
Office calls upon me to do. But I am not
going to rush wildly ahead. l shall 60
slowly. am not prepared at this time to
make public my plans"
D II is not believed that the tunnel matter
will come before the present Grand jury. II
will probably be brought to the attention
Of the February Grand Jury. but in Just
what form Mr.. Jerome will not say
The officers of the New York Central
railroad will not talk about the verdict at
all. Chief Engineer Wilgus wrote out a
statement for newspapers men yesterday
In which he asserted that he could only
repeat what he had said at the inquest
that the system of signals In the Park ave-
nue. tunnel was as good ~ IL YVES possible
to make 1.-THE verdict OF the Coroner's
Jury to the contrary Notwithstanding.
President Newman would not be seen at
all and when Manager Franklin saw re-
porters approaching he lodged into the
yards and declined 10 come bach until the
reporters had gone away.
Frank Mess, counse for Engineer Wisker,
believes that desplte his ciieht 3 exoneIa-
ton by tIe Coroner s jury, District At
to- ney Je. ome viii ask the Grand jury
70 inaict hun. If tlis is done, Moss SAID,
he mad Ia doubt as 10 the outcome.
The anic committees on Railroads
and Br.ug S and 1unne.s held a Joint hear
ing at tIe city Han yesterday afternoon
Tor tIe DenUi.t OF t.ose Who desired TO ex-
press oplAiOLs on the pr, posed Park ave-
nue. tune. improvements. The hearing
was captured at once by representatives
OF the Two newspapers which have been
fighting to Ct some advert sang cut of the
tunD"i lis 81 ever since 1t occurred. kx-
Cept Tor reporters Tor the two apeIs a few
cominLte.s and a few men who aIe seen at
all pubic hearings, there were not many
people present.
An ordnance which had been drawn
by one OF the papers demanding that the
New lork Cent al Railroad make a single
book OFT Of tie unLel was read by Alder
man Goodman, Who pr, sided. A letter
from Lawyer Place of tAe Central was
also q in which Mr.. Pace simply re-
peated what all pra(toal IaLrCad men
have been saying ever snce the iOea was
advanced, That the single book system is
not practicable.
Discussion was then opened and the
representatives OF the two papers vent
at IL hot and heavy. The single block
outfit got first say. also second n third
say, and doomed the single block game
regardless Of conditions. Then the other
newspaper got a chance. II said that the
sin ala hlprL iHAa xraE NJ mod AL .Ln,.ll
not even be considered: electricity as a
motive power was the only solution Of the
problem.
Various individuals with ancient and
impracticable systems for the improve
ment OF the tunnel were heard and then
the hearing was adjourned until Monday
night at 5 O'Clock.
DIR. Ernst J.. Lederle, President OF the
Board Of Health, has asked Corporation
Counsel Rves for an opinion as TO the
power Of the city TO condemn the Park
avenue tunnel Is a public nuisance and as a
menace TO health. Mr.. Rives has decided
that the city has no authority to regulate
the motive power TO be used in the tunnel,
DR.. D~derle submits TO him a new point
for consideration Should the Corpora
ton Counsel support the views held by DIR.
Lederle. the Board OF Health would be in a
position 10 insist upon immediate improve
ment OF traffic conditions ia the tunnel
under a threat Of the condemnation OF the
tunnel as a public nuisance.
Mr. Rives said yesterday that II would
probably take several days for him TO pre-
pare his opinion.