New-York tribune., 1909-09-04
CURTISS AGREED TO FLY
HUDSON FULTON CON
TRACT HELD BY BECK.
Local Men Cannot Understand COrt-
landt Field Bishops alleged
RepudiatiOn an Paris.

The Paris dispatches published in yesterdays
newspapers in this city contained the first
statement of doubt that has appeared since the
announcement was made some weeks ago by
the Hudson Fulton Celebration Commission
that contract had been secured from Glenn H
Curtiss. the aviator. to fly here during the cele-
bration
Cortlandt Field Bishop. president of the Aero
Club of America. was quoted saying that
Curtiss had not signed any contract with tie
Hudson Fulton commission. The committee on
aerona utics of the Hudson Fulton commission.
(which August Q authorized the announce
ment concerning the Curtiss contract. is made
up of the following: James NJ. Beck. formerly
Assistant Attorney General of the United
States. chairman: William Berri editor of The
Brooklyn Standard Union: Theodore p. Gilman.
former Controller of the State of New York;
Peter Cooper Hewitt. grandson of Peter Cooper
and son of former Mayor Hewitt. and William
]. Hammer. a prominent consulting electrical
engineer, who is secretary of the committee.
few days ago this committee was aug
mented by the commissions appointment of
Major General Leonard Wood. commanding the
Department of the East. on August 23 the
committee made the further announcement that
a contract % fly here had been signed by Wilbur
Wright
Mr. Beck sent to Mr.. Bishop the following
cable message yesterday;
Cortlandt Bishop. care Munroe. Paris: Gable
dfspa tCheS this morning quote you denying Hud-
tract signed August 4. Your reported statement
puts commission i'm false position. Kindly cable
denial If any is influencing Curtiss To
break faith with people New York, kindly use
your Influence 10 contrary
Up 10 a late hour last night Mr.. Beck had re-
ceived no reply at his summer home at Sea-
bright n j Mr. Beck said at his Office, at No
- Wall street yesterday that he was astonlshed
on coming up on the Sandy Hook boat in the
morning to read the denial that was made on
the authority of Mr. Bishop, and that until he
heard from Mr. Bishop in reply TO his cable
message he did not feel that much could be said,
except that the commission held in its safe two
valued contracts. namely. those signed by
Messrs Wright and Curtiss
And I want TO say right here" continued Mr..
Beck. that the Hudson Fulton Commission
never would have secured those contracts if il
had not been for the pertinaCious and intellt-
gent efforts of William ]. Hammer. l know
from nv own experience abroad the difficulties
in securing contracts with aviators. which make
the troubles of an operatiC impresariO sink into
Either the foreign correspond
ents misunderstood Mr.. Bishop he has been
misinformed.
dated and executed on August /. 1909, with Mr.
Curtiss under which Mr.. Curtiss agrees to con-
str,ct and operate an aeroplane during the ap
preaching Hudson Fulton celebration. and 10 at
tempt to make flight in his aeroplane from
Governors Island up the Hudson 0nG around
the buoy or other mark near Grants ToIab, and
return to Governors Island and in the event
of this not being practicable he agrees To at
tenpt flights across the Hudson River from
some Mace such as near Grants Tomb To the
Palisades. on the Jersey shore. and return"
Mr.. Curtiss had already received first pay
ment on account of his contract, and il was
therefore wholly impossible Mr. Beck said that
he should have authorized any denial of the
existence of such contract
1t is even more improbable that Mr.. Curtiss
would even IL he were otherwise So disposed
break public contract with the people of New
York for that which is essentially public ser
vice The Hudson-Fulton Commission has pub
Iiclv announced the engagement of both Wilbur
Wright and Glenn Il Curtiss." he said. and.
while MT Curtss would put the commission in
q false position by any violation of his contract
he would do his own great reputation irrepara-
ble harm by such course His reputation is
the best guaranty that Mr.. Curtiss will fulfil
this contract" Mr.. Beck added
AT the rooms of the Aero Club the subject was
freely discussed II was pointed out that Mr..
T,Ishop was a heavy stockholder in the Her
rine-Curtiss company, at Hammondsport " Y,
and had done more. probably. than any one else
to bring about that consolidation of interests
Mr. Bishop should. therefore. II shown
know what Mr. Curtiss had To perform in the
way of fulfilling contracts. and as he and Mr.
Curtiss were living almost in the same room
abroad the tendency yesterday was 10 accent
MIR. Bishops denial meaning exactly what il
stood for. and not representing any error in
reporting.
nj ght:
III Mr., Bishop has been correctly reported.
then there can be no doubt that he has said ex
actlv what the facts will prove. We have heard