New-York tribune., 1907-07-30
WILCOX AFTER MERGER
LIGHT ON STOCK DEALS.
T. f. Ryan May Be Called Back
from EurOpe to Testify.

After a conference yesterday between Chairman
Wilcox and William NJ. Ivns, special counsel the
Public Service Commission announced that the nrst
hearing on the marlborough Metropolitan merger
would be held in the City Hall on Thursday after
The investigation will be from the very start
a comprehensive and far reaching one Every
phase OF the merger will be gone INTO with Ille
greatest eXactneSS.
MI WINS in preparing his case, has studied the
marlborough Metropolitan from the time OF It's
formation the present day. He VIII call on the
present officials Of the merger TO explain all lts
financial deals; he will investigate with particular
care the handling of stock, the profits that were
made by such manipulation and the men VINO
got the profits which are said to have been made
He will look into the legality OF the merger itself
and Of its franchises, held and claimed The IN
vestigatiOn, then will be OF the broadest scope. ana
will be pushed without regard TO whom 1t hits or
what It's effects may be ultimately.
The task OF preparing for this investigation has
been an enormous one Mr.. WINS Is well equipped
TO handle tho case. Commissioner Wilcox believes
as he has devoted much time TO the study OF the
merger and has followed its history with interest
Since his appointment he has been working night
and day tho case. To his assistance he mas
called expert bookkeepers and accountants
A long list Of officials OF the corporation and men
who have been more or less closely connected with
it has been prepared. Subp9nas are also ready 10
serve on the whose testimony Is wanted Al
though the list is kept secret. IL is known that
every prominent official of the company. with the
possible exception OF Thomas +. Ryan now travel
ling In Europe. viii be called.
II has not been decided definitely yet whether
the commission will order Mr. Ryan 10 appear
before not. But Is considered certain that Il
MS testimony is needed he will be ordered 10 return
from Europe. In this respect the remark OF Chair
man Wilcox. I'VE want all the facts we can get
and wo intend 10 get them. too. may be sigIlncaht
Among the first witnesses VIZ proosoIy % ,ia Cie
Root ir Theodore 2. ShOnts may also DO called
to the stand Thursday, but this does not seem
probable. - .~ -
examine each man in turn In such a manner that ina
will be necessary TO recall MIN 10 the stalu
The Investigation is primarily intended 10 bring
about as soon as possible some Improvement In
the transit facilities OF the eInterborough-Metropoi
ran lines But as every phase OF the merger VIII
have TO be dealt with and carried on at lhe eaiho
time physical remedies may be delayed for q tline
1T is hard predict what the outcome or thls
investigation will be-, said prominent lawyer
Yesterday but that there will be sensational do
velopments from il seems assured Whether the
result will be a dissolution OF the merger itself Is
Impossible TO say. but that result does not seem
10 be beyond the realms OF possibility although
doubt it,
poration experience. took different view or the
investigation He said: Il doubt the wisdom or an
investigation of the InterD9rousn a 1',,
company such the Public Service COMMISSION non
ia nreparing 10 make. II the thing is carried out
TO the bitter end. II may mean an order TOT inc as
solution Of what some call the merger. NOW. nLp
nosa that was done what would be the resultP
The result would bs simply this: Each OF the
,,I,oarous small lines that 60 to make UP the sys-
tenn vyould be divorced from the system ana woud
he independent of all other transit lines In the
citv We would have deluge or Ittle hhes from ON
ore IN fourteen miles in length. each operating IN
denendently and each charging It's own rare ma.
ooiIid mean only chaos-utter absolute chaos-and
Il would not be long before there "ouiu oe 'i
ynendous howl for the old system ,,
NOW II the Public Service Commission W. MouIu !i
conene its investig alton TO finding out JUST no" G
merger fails in its duty OF glVlhs tte ''.y - |
1roner Kind of rapid transit at falr prices, men
would heartily approve the step peAeNe sht dLao
a.,;aa P,rnfsbed by this system Is bad ana lhaue-
nd
Saiieve that the company would be WiIhng anu
ready to cooperate with the coil''iii7i0i ~ 'N
these conditions ,,o, .bo hearings
iii he held is working overtime to get eVeryt'IIs
In readiness for Thursday he anu A' -''
freouentlv in consultation. -, 49,.
George w wickersham. counsel for the nlsero esao
horouph and Paul d. Crevath caled at M ue u ~
~ the commission yesterday ana haa % tone Ta
~ oonco nth Commissioner WILCOX MT WINS ans"
i.aS talk over the phone with Iheooore +
Shonts. -, .ro oor,rnission yester-
An, Sommissioner Bassett presented torln Tor iop
renorting accidents TO be useo DS go s,,nissi0n
IePO o,dar the jurisdiction of the commission
caIie t ,+ Dstrict A resolution was passed ADOPT
iol i th,e form and ordering the common carrier
corporations TO comply y.;tt, Ti' its provisions.
Irdar his information of every accident shali
be sent to the commission hy n,SnOt bannens
dia,elv after IL occurs or II the acciueii, 20,
hatween II o. m and s a. M WORD snail Do s ssiie
or given 10 the commission by a. IN. ihs & no.lso @
must be followed by a written stateiIen. WIZ ,.StU
rmnrebensve and detailed information WITHIN
tHae davs OF the accident. This order Is to take
effect on August 8, 1907 ..,o -, Tho
A letter from the Taxpayers Association OF me ~.
Rronx in regard to forcing all steam Hhes ~
charge one fare OF five cents for passage o'eI IL
lines within the city limits was received anu re-
TERED TO tho committee Of the whole me laro
charged at present exceeds mat amount =" sumo
cases. , 49,, ,,,,b.r of cottIe
90 he hacked in a car. but there seems to be no
lou concerning the human being. and we ask your
ha,orable commission TO investigate THIS matter
"a con,nel the Union Railway Company 10 give
&c our lust rights-that IS. run their 'Wiilams-
hr,dge cars to the city line, as heretofore wrote
Jan,es {. Smith. secretary OF the Taxpayers Am
once in a long complaint 10 the commission yester-
a., Mr. Smith went to give in detail rapid
,asit trials and trbulations OF the Bronxites ana
- tho commission give them some relef His
u y,as referred to the committee OF the whole
.,h.rt II Walker appointed an assistant
oo,,nsei IN the commission at salary OF $500 a
.aor , Mr. Walker is a graduate OF Amherst College
,here he made a special study OF history and po-
1,tcai economy. He for some years on the
80 ., ~ 1.-THE New York Sun" before he was admit
ted 10 the bar in 1886 and has made special study
., matters pertaining to transportation and fran
chise questions In tbs city. -