New-York tribune., 1908-04-21
NO MET. INDICTMENTS
REPORT BY GRAND JURY.
Big Campaign Gifts Shozcn-Min-
utcs Made Public.

New light was shed yesterday upon traction
affairs in this city when the special grand jury
which has been investigating Manhattan fnan-
CiaI institutions, with the consent Of Justice
Dowling Of the Supreme Court. took what is
said to be an unprecedented action by making
public its minutes. Upon its own request the
one thousand pages Of testimony taken during
its investigation Of the affairs Of the Metropol
ttan Street Railway Company. just ended. we're
fled as 4 part Of the public record In these
pages is tncorporated-the testimony Of Thomas
F. Ryan, H H. vreeland and others who helped
to make traction history here
The minutes show several large contributions
made by the Metropolitan Street Railway Com
pany 10 Tarmany Hall and the Republican
party They show that in the fall Of 1903 the
company put twenty 81 900 bills in an envelope
and sent it by LernueI Ely Qufgg TO Benjamin
B Odeu as a campaign contribution and that
on the same day, and probably the same hour.
another messenger vas sent with an envelope
containing $4,000 to Tammany Hall for a sim
liar purpose thus apparently playing II safe.
as was remarked yesterday The testimony
also sheds much light upon the Wall & COrt-
landt Street Ferries Railway Company deal
From the testimony Of Mr.. Ryan himself and
other traction men II apparently develops for
the first time that Mr. Ryan disposed Of the
entire block Of Metropolitan Securities Company
& CO. forced him and William c Whitney 70
take from them in 1908 and that this stock sub
sequentIy found It's way into the treasury Of
the Interborough- Metropolitan Company
METROPOLITAN OFFICIALS EXONERATED
The special grand jury made presentment on
the Metropolitan Street Railway Company. In
this presantment. which was handed 10 Justice
Dow1fng in the afternoon. the grand jury stated
that after a thorough investigation It had been
unable to find any evidences of crime against
any Of the officials OF the company and no evil
dence upon which 10 base indictments. Nor
could it ind any evidence Of vrongdotng IN the
sale Of the Wall & CortIandt Street Ferries
/ Company.
The jurors said they had come to the conclu-
sion that there was widespread dishonesty in
the dealings Of officials and directors Of cor
porate institutions in New York, with the
ception Of q single group. and this despite the
fact that the witnesses in many instances were
hostile 70 the institutions under investigations
The presentment recfted at length the work
done by the grand jury. the indictments found
bv II and the lines along which it had worked.
The Jury made no recommendations for new
banking LEGISLATION. holding that the SUperin-
tendent Of Banks was better qualified than II TO
make such recommendations. if any were neces-
sary. For the same reason II left it to the Pub
lie Service Commission 70 recommend any nee
essary new legislation in regard TO the laws gov
erning surface railway lines.
Justice Bowling thanked the jurors for their
work and praised both it and them in no
measured terms. He shook hands with each
juror after dismissing the jury
With the presentnent were fled as exhibits
the minutes Of the grand jury in connection
with the Metropolitan Street Railway inquiry.
because the jury desired them made public "on
account Of the great public interest and in ex-
pIanation of the conclusions 1t had reached
The King. Amory, WINS and other charges were
also filed exhibits.
JEROME CONSIDERED INDICATED.
The grand Jurors investigated each charge
saparately and their verdict upon each was that
+ r. was unfounded or there was no evidence OF
crime or that it had become outlawed Down
at the Criminal Courts Building the present
rnent was looked upon a complete vindlca-
tIon of District Attorney Jeromes attitude on
traction affairs and complete whitewash tor
traction officials.
The testimony in the Metropolitan Street Rail
v-av Company investigation brought out the fact
thar in October and November OF 1902 H II.
woodland advanced TO William c Whitney
checks for $4,000 and $4,000 for the Interur-
ta- cor7nanv to be used for political purposes
unon Mr. Whitney's request. How the latter
d,snossd Of this money MI vreeIand did not
know but presumed ii given to political
parties or a political party for campaign eN-
penses-
In commenting upon this transaction the
ond naEe