New-York tribune., 1907-09-16
INTER-MET. REBELS.
WANTS GOVERNOR'S AID.
Officials THinE Road Hast Be "Set
RighV zcith Public.

Officials Of the Interborough- Metropolitan system
feel that crisis in the affairs of the company is
impending They think that the time for decisive
action has come They know that the system
must "be set right in the eyes OF the Pubic ana
the initial steps Of what promises to be compre-
hensive campaign to accomplish this result nave
already been taken. Included in these step are
Paul d. Cravaths visit to the Governor on satur-
dav and President Shonts's letter TO Public Ser
vice Commissioner.
In his letter Mr.. Shonts IS said to have made a
tentative offer to sell the Belmont tunnel for
sso00OOO to the city, and at the ssms time TO have
informed the commission that It should reimburse
the transit system the great damage. which, he
held. It had caused IT.
Travis Whitney. secretary to the commission.
said yesterday no formal offer had been received
by the commission
Mr.. Cravath. after visiting Governor Hughes,
went directly to Locust Point. Long Island where
he spent yesterday He did not to discuss
his visit except to that it in regard the
Public Service Commissions investigation OF the
merger. II is understood Mr.. Cravath was sent 10
Albany the result OF a conference. including
President Shonts, H. H vreeland. Oren Root. jr-.
and other officials Of the transit system.
Officials of the road feel that the testimony
taken at the hearings does not rebound TO their
credit. They also think that William NJ. WINS
has conducted his examination in such way that
the evidence brought out must prejudice the public
against the roads and leave what they assert to be
an erroneous impression. and one that they insist
is not IN accordance with the actual facts al
though Mr.. WINS has extended to every witness
permission TO make any statement he might
TO.
At the conference IT was decided that Governor
Hughes should learn the Interborough- -Metropoli-
tan's side. Mr.. Cravath was selected for the mis
sion He went to Albany armed with synopsis
OF the testimony taken. and with verbatim ex-
tracts Of IT He made no appointment with Cow
ernor Hughes until he reached Albany.
II is understood that Mr.. Cravath protested
hemently against certain phases Of the investiga-
tion. He told the Governor II IS said that the in
qulry had already done the system great harm. and
that it would do It even greater injury before It
be attributed the depression in the
values of the mergers stock to some extent TO the
commissions inquiry
Mr.. Cravath. it is understood. told the Governor
that something should be done 10 set the system
right IN the eyes Of the public He wanted a
modification OF the policy Of the Public Service
Commission toward the company. Mr.. Cravath
discussed at length the legal aspect Of the
He gave the systems Interpretation OF the testi-
mony. He explained. 1t is said each transaction
that has been brought out so far 10 show the
Governor that Mr.. WINS had been mistaken in his
belief that they furnished ground for criminal pro-
ceedinGs and to show him that they were on the
other hand legitimate business deals, entered into
for the good Of the component cOmpapies Of the
system and hence for the welfare OF its stock
holders. It also learned that he protested
against Mr.. WINS making public statements Of
such a nature holding that they would not be al
lowed in common law practice: that they did the
Interborough- Metropolitan great harm; that until
proof Of their truth had they should not be
permitted
He also pointed out Il IS understood. the fact
tha. charges had been made against the system
and that an investigation had been made by the
District Attorney and that that fnvestisa1ion hao
failed TO substantiate the charges
Whether Mr. CraNath gave the Governor any
idea of the attitude OF the road toward obeying the
orders of the commission could not be learned He
refused to answer any questions N regard 10 tnat
phase Of his visit to the Governor but 1t IS said
that he discussed the public service act generally
and pointed his views on some OF tho provisions
Of the measure indicating certain amendments
that he thought should be made in justice 10 the
corporations over which the commission fas Jurls-
diction.'
Mr.. Cravath also told the Governor of the efforts
that were being made by the Intarborough-Metro-
pol.tan on It's initiative to better transit con-
dftions in New York and to furnish the city with
greater transit facilities
II was rumored yesterday that Mr.. Cravath
would meet the chief officials Of the road either
TODAY or tomorrow and give them full account
Of his visit the Governor after which the Ques-
tion of turning the books of the company FOR
the inspection OF the commissions expert account
ant would be discussed.
Special significance is attached TO the Albany
visit, as this week the commission will give the
Interhorough Metropolitan its day in court on the
orders that IT intends issuing 10 the SYSTEMS COM
increased
and other changes. It will give it opportunity
10 show cause why the orders should not be issued
and the changes carried into effect Whether Mr..
Cravath went into these orders IS not known. No
official of the system counsel for il has ex-
pressed any opinion to the reasonabIeness OF
them.
The Belmont tunnel. which will soon be ready for
operation. is proving a perplexing problem 10 the
orough-Nletropolitan Company. The system Is
willing and anxious. It learned yesterday. L
sell the tunnel the city. But whether the Public
tho tube is another question. None OF the commits
sioners would discuss the question. There are
many who think the commission would not even
consider the purchasing of the tube. as the city
now has a suit pending which will decide whether
or not there is a franchise for the tunnel Then.
too there is physical connection with other lines
at either end. To obtain il will be necessary
60 get permission from the commission
Some weeks ago delegation from Queens County
called on Commissioner Bassett and appealed TO
him to force the owners of tunnel 70 give five
cent fare from Queens to points in Manhattan A
little later William NJ WINS. special counsel for
the commission. brought out the fact that fare of
three cents would be charged through the tube Ap-
peals were made.to the commission from residents
in Queens and people in Manhattan as we'll TO force
the 1nterborough-M Metropolitan Conpanv TO make
physical connections with Manhattan and Queens
lines, and give a hve-cent fare from points In
Queens to points in Manhattan The commission
said IT would consider the question