New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-14
Prendergast and Mitchell ASK
Borough President to Take
Some Action.
PUBLIC IMPATIENT. THEY SAY
Chairman Wilcox, After Secret
Conference on B. r. 7. Plan,
Gives Promise of Def
mite Action Soon.

discussed for three hours yesterday
afternoon by the Public Service COM
mission and the conference committee or
the Board of Estimate The railroad
company was represented by President
Williams and Walter 6. Oakman ana
Nicholas +. Brady. of the board OF
directors AS usual. the citys repre-
sentstives refused to discuss for pub
Iication the matters under consideration.
There would be another conference on
Tuesday at II a. m. it was said. For
another conference with the INTERIOR
ough officials no definite time has been
set.
Controller Prendergast and President
Mitchell OF the Board of Aldermen had
long talk with Borough President Nc
Aneny of the Board Of Estimate con-
ference committee, in which they urged
the Borough President to do all in his
power TO bring the negotiations TO
speedy termination.
We told President McAneny." said
the Controller later. that the public was
becoming impatient because Of the long
continued delibera ton over the extension
Of our transit facilities. We told him
that the public was likely to hold tho
entire Board of Estimate responsible for
this delay. which would not be fair 10
the other members Of the board. We
urged that they get through with their
talk as soon as possible"
What 3. r. T. Will Do.
II Is understood that at the conference
Yesterday afternoon the officials Of the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit said they would
ne willing to provide that the city could
take over complete lines at the end Of
the franchise period. In other words.
they would be willing TO surrender their
long term franchises on such portions Of
their present lines as might be incor-
porated in new rapid transit routes in
order that the entire route might be sub
ject 10 the indetermnatc franchise under
the present law.
Tn reply to criticisms that have been
made because the subway negotiations
have been conducted in secret. Chairman
Wilcox of the Public Service Commits
sion said We do this because the
negotiations arc informal and we think
it desira bic that these matters Of detail
should be discussed among ourselves.
When We arc ready to report VIC will
have something important to ssy--some-
thing in which the public will he inter
csted."
Borough President McAneny was asked
n when the report was made any citizen
would be able to inspect the evidence
upon which it was based, so as to draw
his own conclusions on the fairness Of
the report. He said that there were no
stenographic reports Of the conferences
on account Of their informal character.
Chairman Wilcox said he had not
made public the offer of tho Brooklyn
Rapid Transit 70 take up the entire tri-
borough system. made two weeks ago.
because IL was private offer. to back
Up which there was nothing i'm writing
Wasn't IT a definite Offer"
To this President McAneny replied.
You must remember that there is a dis
tinct difference between suggestion
and q proposition
President Shonts OF the Interboroueh
would not acknowledge yesterday that
his company had threatened to withdraw
its offer entirely in case the Public Ser
vice Commission considered giving the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit the line il asked
in Manhattsn-that is. up Broadway as
far as 59tA street. IF the Public Ser
vice Commission has any such statement
from us let II produce it," said President
Shonts.
Chairman Wilcox and President Nc
Aneny both said that mo such commune
cation" had been received from the Inter
borough"
But was not such statement made
informally" they were asked.
To which reply was made that they
must refuse to discuss the details of
what had taken place in the conferences.
Reasons for Secrecy Explained.
We have discussed every phase of the
propositions made by the PETERBOROUGH
and by the Brooklyn Rapid Transit"
said Chairman Wilcox. when the con-
fercnces are over the most important
parts of the discussions will be given TO
the public. But ] am convinced that
more progress can be made at informal
meetings, where free and open discussion
can take place without the danger Of
having 1t all reported in the news
papers"
In regard TO the suggestion that the
city's representatives were using the
offer Of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit as a
club to bring the Interborough to better
terms. Chairman Wilcox said il was
just as absurd as II would be to say that
they would use the Interborough as a
club upon the Brooklyn Rapid Transit.
Both corporations are bidding for
valuable concessions" he said "and the
conferrees are earnestly and honestly
striving 10 arrive at decision which
will be- for the best interests Of the city
II the fact that the two corporations are
bidding against each other should result
in obtaining from either a better propo-
sition for the city than would have been
possible without such competition. then
Il is for the best interests Of the city
that such bidding he encouraged"
-D
RUSH FOR BLIND FAIR TICKETS.
The fact that President Taft will open
the Blind Workers Exhibition 20 the
publio on the evening OF April rs has