The Washington herald., 1907-10-15

New York, Oct 14-William NJ. WINS,
counsel for the public service commits
sion. in the marlborough Metropolitan in
vestigation, has undertaken to reconstruct
the Metropolitan's missing books from
1892 to 1902.
This is the period which covers all of
the mergers OF the surface lines The
Metropolltan's officers have testified that
the books for this period were sold in 1903
10 junk dealer, with the understanding
that they were TO be destroyed. The rea-
son given for the destruction of the books
was that they took up too much Office
room.
The public service commission has
traced the sale Of the books and has sat
isfied itself that they were ground into
pulp Without some approximation to
the records contained in these books, it
would be impossible for the commissions
lawyers TO bring out theIaets about the
various mergers.
Mr.. WINS has a small force Of ac-
cOuntants at work and the reconstrue-
ton is well advanced. The necessary
information for the work has been OBJ
tanned after dilgent search in minute
books. stub checks, official reports, vari-
Gus financial publications and other mis-
ceilaneous records. The accountants.
when they get through expect to have
a set of books that will show at least
the details of merger transactions. and
that. in the opinion OF the commission,
is the most important information con-
tained in the destroyed books.
Testimony to Be Delayed.
This work. and a number of new clews
that have been found by Mr. WINS. will
probably prevent the taking of any testl-
mony this week
According 10 news items which have
been coming out from Philadelphia for
several days. P. a. B. widener was due
to-day 10 appear at the Offices Of the
commission with the formal announce
ment that he would be willing to 20
on the witness stand whenever the com
mission wanted him. Chairman Wilcox
said at the close Of his Office hours that
he had not seen Mr.. WiGener.
1t is doubtful if the commission would
put Mr.. Widener on the stand unless he
would waive all right 10 the immunity
which his appearance would confer upon
him.
That is the stand which the commits
sion has taken in regard 10 several OF
the other prominent Metropolitan direc-
tors.
Secret Conference Held.
Wall street heard that Mr.. Widener.
Thomas Dolan, Thoraas F. Ryan, and
other Metropolitan people concerned in
the Wall and Cortlandt street ferries
deal met on Sunday at the home of
Thomas A Nevfns. in East Orange. II
was said that the conferees desired to
get each others opinion as to where they
stand as a result Of last weeks s disclos-
ures.
Undoubtedly one Of the topics dis
cussed was the impression created by the
Widener-Doian explanation that the
Anthony \. Brady checks for 81, 60. IS
received by them were in payment OF
loans which they had made 10 William
c. Whitney.
District Attorney Jerome conferred
with Chairman Wilcox. OF the public
service commission, for about an hour to-
day but neither had anything TO say for
publication in regard to the meeting.
Mr.. Wilcox did have something TO say
in regard TO the published reports that
the commission has already taken up
with Gov. Hughes the advisability of ap-
pointing a special prosecutor for the
traction case.
We have not made any such request. -
said Mt Wilcox, nor nave we any COM
munication TO Fhe governor bearing upon
the subject. We have sent day by day
full report of the testimony taken at
the investigation to District Attorney
Jerome, but further than that I do not
care to discuss the matter at present"