New-York tribune., 1907-11-27
B. R. T. TO POLITICIANS.
SHEVLTN GETS BIG SUN.
Vice-President Maintains. Ho1ceCcr
Fund Vas Legitimate.

Transit Company there came to light yesterday
yellow dog fund of nearly 100000 Will
tam NJ WINS brought out that S167 500 was
paid TO James Shevlin, the Brooklyn politician
and others, lawyers and politicians, for services
in procuring and protecting legally' certain
franchises. This item was charged 70 construc-
ton account.
Colonel Timothy S. Williams, vice. president
of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company MAIN
tained that the expenditure had been perfectly
proper, al that while great deal OF the money
had gone for legal expenses and similar things
it was a proper item for the construction ac-
count.
1T was case of politicians on the one hand
ana reformers headed by Tom l. Johnson on
the other hand and they made an alliance for
acoomplishing certain results The motives and
the methods which animated them 1 have no
means of knowing about" declared Colonel
Williams.
OF the politicians he said:
/ nave too much respect for the politicians
who are interested in this deal to believe that
they ever used dollar OF that corruptly."
1 do not think that answer Will tend to break
the relations with them,' commented Mr. WINS.
Mr.. WINS brought out the yellow dog" pay
ment in delving into the history Of the Mas
sau Electric Railroad Company. He turned
up . voucher under date of May 90, 1868, for
money paid to James Shevlin according to q
bill attached thereto. This was pursuant to
a contract Of May 20. 1903, which was sup
Elemental to agreement Of November .. 1898
between r. T. Wilson and Tom L. Johnson
and Patrick II. Flynn. The payment was
$f67, 800.
As explained by Colonel Williams this was
one Of the contracts assumed by the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit with the Mas
sau Electric. 1t dated back. he said TO
The construction contract between John
son and Edwards and the Atlas Construction
company, which practically was Flynn, where
by the Flynn people We're TO obtain and per-
feet the necessary franchises and consents
Tor the construction Of the Nassau routes
Most Of this had been done before
the Brooklyn Rapid Transit acquired the
Nassau, but there still remained the
Union street line involved in litigation
which the Flynn people were defending About
this time the court rendered a decision which
MADE II seem proper for the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit people to release" certain moneys held
back for these people. so the S167,OOO was paid
There still remains in dispute about $4,000,
held by the Brooklyn Rapid Transit, pending
the decision Of other litigation.
1t was perfectly proper to charge this to the
construction account, Colonel Williams went on.
because all legal expenses relative TO the b1iId
ing OF a railway line were proper charges on
construction.
"of course don't know what part Of that
vent for legal services pure and simple" said
he. but IT was the balance that was due TO
them on their general construction account a 8
figured out by others, and what part of it
vent to them for their individual services and
what part went to lawyers 1 have no means Of
sscertaining"
James Shevlin explained this transaction last
night by saying that he had advanced a large
sum Of money to the Jersey Water Company
This was a concern in which he, Flynn and
Michael J. Cofey, another Brooklyn politician.
we're interested It to build a water1orks
system for Jersey City By some means the
Flynn peopIe-that is, the railroad crowd-came
into the transaction here since they assigned
this debt 10 the Brooklyn apid Transit at the
time the Nassau was taken over. and the Brook
lyn Rapid Transit paid the $4,000 to Shevln,
presuma bly, in return for the money he had
loaned to the Jersey Water Company. He de-
cllned TO make clear the way in which the
Flynn railway people came TO assume the debt
acquired by the water company.
You'd better ask them about IT," said he.
Mr WINS brought out some items Of interest
concerning the purchase by the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Of the South Brooklyn Railroad which
was acquired from w. Bayard Cutting It ap-
peared that a check for 100000 had been drawn
10 the order of c. A. Severance. a lawyer, for
transmission TO Mr.. Cutting Mr. WINS insisted
that the record did not show that Mr.. Severance
had paid this money to Mr.. Cutting He did
not insinuate that the money had not been paid,
but said the record did not show such pay
meut.
At the beginning Of the hearing Mr. WINS took
ND several complaints made TO him by lawyers
that they could not tell the proper company to
sue in case Of accident, because of the compli-
Gated system Of companies within the Brooklyn
Rapid Transit Colonel Williams said this must
be due chiefly 10 the ignorance Of the lawyers;
II was certain that the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
never refused such information when 1t was
requested properly
Transfers were taken up next Mr. WINS
cited points OF intersection of railway lines
where no transfers were issued, and asked the
railroad official why none was given there
Transfers were IAN act of grace and a hope OF
rront" according to Colonel Williams He SAID
that the transfer habit was one which grew,
ike all other "extravagances yet he beheved
there was little complaint about the lack Of
transfers in Brooklyn. He said that there were
seven independent operating companies within
the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company and tho
management did not consider it obligatory TO
give transfers where the lines OF these compa-
,,ies crossed. though it was done in some cases.
He pointed out that by route to Coney ISL
and fare of 15 or 20 cents each way might be
charged legally, under the decision OF the Court
Of Appeals arguing from that that his company
vas not disposed 10 i'll treat the travelling
public.
Mr. Wins then shifted his question TO the cost
Of maintenance. declaring that while with the
trunk line railroads he had found the percentage
of maintenance TO receipts was from 20 to p.
S,f aaf inf lena grOS