New-York tribune., 1903-03-14
BOOKS OPEN TO JEROME.
Inquiry Into Metropolitan Street
RQiIzcay affairs Begun.

District Attorney Jerome yesterday MADE pup
lie a statement which he had prepared earlier IN
the week regarding the investigation OF the az
fairs of the Metropolitan Street Railway Com
pany He explained that the statement had
been kept back from the newspapers until coun-
sci for the company had agreed TO its correct
ness Mr. Jerome says that several months ago
he received from William ". Amory state
ment of charges against the company. together
with a mass OF documents, which he turned
over to Assistant District Attorney Schurrnan
for investigation. The statement continue;
Mr. schurman had before him reports made by
the company to the State Railroad ComInls;'ionei =
Exchange by the officers Of .he company, nd Ger
tain testimony given BY Nj Nreeiaaa IN IN NJ icb
mann. who are accountants MI scnurrnan ,s.at ~,
just mentioned there were no others thPn acces-
It appeared from a close comparison of tnssH
Documents that there were apparently tn fh
sizes IN fhH 5s9offs w6ch We're
readily explicable from the reports themselves
formed them that under my direction this investga-
on had been be1 bef q seemed to
exist and that would have TO call them TO give
an Wiling 70 Do this and thai they you'd
leased and owned by. it. for the purpose OF explain
f tafe 'nesf me- in mixing nq full and thorough nyestss
tor Tnat is nov Il PrSSF9sst ~ tba
Metropolitan Street Railway Company establishes
a precedent Of the greatest public value. 1t shows
that great quasi-public corporations are willing
when proper application IS made. TO give to public
officers full disclosure Of their affairs. so far
may be necessary for such officers TO determine
whether there has has not been Tronsdoing IN
which the public interested. The Metropolitan
Street Railway Company. one OF the largest cor
poratons in the country. being willing to submit Its
books for proper inspection to proper authority It
fuse to do So when proper request IS made. without
exposing them TO the graYest suspicion
Mr.. TceIe. the expert accountant employed by
the District Attorney to go over the Metro
potan Street Railway Company's books, went
to Mr. Jeronne's office in the afternoon and had
a talk with Mr.. Schurman. They went over the
situation generally. and 1t is understood that
Mr. Teele will begrn work at once. 1t Is not yet
settled whether the company's books will be e8-
amined at the Office OF the company or at the
District Attorneys Office.
Paul D. CraVath, of counsel for the Metro
poltan Street Railway Company. said yesterday. .
in response to an inquiry. that the testimony OF
MIR. Vreeland in a litigation. which was re-
ferred to in the District Attorneys statement
was given privately before commissioner In
the case Of q Mrs. Page to set aside the lease or
the Metropolitan Street Railway Company 70
the Interurban Street Railway Company MI
Crayath added: Mrs. Page is represented by
the same counsel who represent the Wormsers
in their suits TO set aside the 1nterurban lease
and the Page case is confessedly part Of the
worn7ser litigation, one of the WOrmsers having
been personally present at every hearing. This
testimony was not furnished by us, and must
have been given out by the other side.