New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-15
JEROME ON THEIR TRAIL.
PROBING THE ALDERMEN.
Bronp Thinks There Is a Joker IN
Grout WeStcheSter Ordinance.

Believing that under all the stories Of graft
and bribery in connection with the hold-up of
the Port Chester franchise there must be some
truth. District Attorney Jerome is digging after
evidence. even II the aldermen did not invite
him to hunt with them. He intends to keep on
in his search until he has found 'grafters' or
proved that all the stories myths. pure and
simple.
The District Attorney will not say word
about information he may have received.
Whatever he gets. however, will go to the grand
jury. He has been in communication with the
Merchants Association. He expects TO talk with
William c. Gotshall this week Another with
whom he would probably like a little converse
ton is Alderman Hayes. of Mount Vernon. who
was asked by a New-York alderman, the story
runs, how much the Mount Vernon aldermen re-
ceived for passing the Port Chester franchise,
and was told that they were fools for granting
that permission for nothing.
Another who could probably give the District
Attorney information is that Westchester man
who at Albany remarked that to grant fran
chises 10 the Port Chester for personal pc
cuniary consideration was bad finance. That
Dave Hennen Morris. the horseman, who is
working TO give rapid transit to The Bronx,
may be asked to tell the District Attorney all
he knows about the lold-up was reported. The
District Attorney will probably have p repre-
sentative at the hearings of the aldcrmanic COM
mittee
Most Of the subpnnas for the first session OF
the self-investigators were served yesterday.
Efforts to reach Mr.. Gotshal were fruitless. the
servers being told that he out of town.
William F. King, OF the Merchants Association,
was served. and viii! appear, probably accom-
panied by his lawyer.
Il shall attend" said Mr.. King but I tell
the aldermen only what I've already told Mr..
T..
but would be glad to communicate any I might
receive to them our committee. in cooperation
with the COMMITTEES OF the Bronx organizations
will formally organize Tuesday, at which
time all question OF funds will be settled, and
we'll know just how far to go When 1t is def
nitely settled that were to carry this investiga-
ton TO the end-to the Supreme Court II neces-
sary-we'n get the information all right. one
man has told US he expected we would; wen
put it into legal form, and we'll know just
where we stand. Until then We're not going TO
make any charges although we've had the gen
eral reports on this hold-up. Just az the news
papers have.
This investigation by the aldermen is a farce
municipal body under charges can't nvesti-
gate itself and come out clean. That's what the
Acueduct Commission tried to do; but we've got
some information on that point-and the Mayor
probably will have before long-which will settle
eTectUally
the aldermen should do is first to take some
action to relieve themselves OF the public con
dep,nation-let them dispose Of the Port Ches-
:er's application adversely If they want to- Il they
. can give good reasons for il. Then, when they've
taken action they cannot be accused OF Il hold
so 40 n ts they make themselves ridiculous
They're taking UP general charges apparently
because they feel the cap fits them.
The Westchester and Boston road has ofl-
t-,ra
INV controller Grout-that compelling the com
! ra,,, 40 snand s.. 100000 on construction within
.ha citv limits inside of two years or forfeit the
! ,,arter In the text of the grant 1t is stipu-
lated that table of these expenditures must De
s,,broitte1 TO the Controller who VIII determine
whether they have been actual poha noe e&-
I nend1tures and report thereon 10 the board OF
Esti1,ate The Westchesters lawyers OBJECTED
a., = ,..ar 70 the Controller to the self-acting
clause then this grant shan cease anu oe-
terpotne" in case the table OF expenditures ulu
! =. -o.ob tho million mark. They want this
, .to,,a, o,,+ and the milder, permisslVe form.
"tba said board"-the Board OF Estimate ana
.-ortionn,ent-"rna declare that this grant
has ceased and determined inserted
,,,or, ,aonIe who are opposed to the West
| beeter road say that this plainly eho"S lhe
! necnlsttve character Of the concern, WHICH II
:, hoI an the money it said it had and in
tended to build the Ioa' "ONd - :, -
.., I,,se as 10 the roads substitute they
.tt,,- 4tot II would be willing TO take chances
o tho board'a declaring void the franchlse' as
the times yher, such action has been taken have
been extremely few
into the Controllers draft Of the ordinance
mas slipped joker say the Bronx people Inc
paragraph reads:
This grant is the exPress osfon Raiiway com
,snv within thirty days after the sag C0anI2aIS tI
has been duly authorized TO operas eIercise Of the
Iehts conferred thereby. shall deposiI Win @ 'he nc
contrc,ier OF the city Of New-1'rA 'N' SUN -