New-York tribune., 1911-01-13


their laughing comments ran all the way
from ASK Gaynor now TO Tell 1t to
Hyde"
To-day he has reconsidered the oues-
tion." Mr.. Mitchell went on, "and he be-
lieves in giving S53,00oo00 of the city's
money TO the Interborough, whom he de-
nounced that night"
There was nothing he would like bet
Ter. said Mr. Mitchell. than chance 10
have the subway question put up to the
voters by referendum at this juneture'
The point raised by the Mayor that the
city owns the present subway brought
another shaft from Mitchell. IF the
Mayor wants the present kind Of owner
ship, I disagree with him." he said ITS
too much like a man who owns house
which he has leased for fifty years-the
house isn't much good TO the owner
especially when he's leased it for moth
ing"
The present kind Of ownership is
monopoly. he continued, and then ne
went on 10 point out how the INTERIOR
ough could have made an offer TO trade
a part Of its present franchise for
rart Of the new lines built by the city
north and south from 42d street in such
way as to give the city a complete
end independent system" He mad
raised that point with Mr.. Shonts'
Mitchell said, and the Interborough
presidsnt's only answer had TO do Win
tho legal difficulties in the way because
Of the mortgage bonds Of the present
system. That objection was oeliteraten'
said Mitchell. by section Of the Inter
borough's bond mortgages. permitting
them 10 make such trades or exchanges
OF franchises as they deemed proper.
One Fare Talk "Gold Brick"
A gold brick for New York" was his
Characterization Of the one-fare argu-
roent Of the Interborough supporters, and
he declared that no one IN The Bronx
wanted 70 get TO the upper West Side OF
Manhattan to work, but that patrons
everywhere wanted 10 get only TO the
business sections and theatre sections
Of ths city from their homes, and for
those purposes the one-fare transfer idea
vas useless.
The modification Of leases offered by
the Interborough, Mr.. Mitchell disposed
ot i'll these words: They offer to re-
duce fifteen years Of the renewal term
they're giving up fifteen years Of ques-
-fon mark for ten years Of certain
profits at il 2-1O per cent"
The city can give Just s quick re-
licf as the Interborough," Mr.. Mitchell
went on to say. "and as 10 operation,
though municipal operation would be i'll
advised If 1t could be avoided. even that
would be better than to surrender to
monopoly"
He cited the case OF the Panama Canal
as great work first undertaken by
private enterprise. but not successfully
carried through until q plain army
man. Colonel Goethals, was put in
charge
If that was the experience Of the
federal government. We DO not need TO
be afraid of the proposition Of city build
ing" he argued.
Ey that time the audience was claror-
ing for him 10 name one Of the private
individuals who had been in charge et
Panama, but Ny. Mitchell carefully left
II TO the audience TO yell "Shonts.'
He took up last the Undertaking
privilege on the East Side elevated lines,
FOR which the InterbOrough. he said,
wanted . 999-yesr lease.
That alone is the richest traction
plum IN the United States" shouted Mr.
Ar1 49, a1 F-
borough wants you 10 give them, as
added compensation for the privilege Of
taking your subways
Might Enjoin Interboroush. SAYS Hodge.
In introducing Mr.. Prendergast Mr.
Hodge advanced the i6es that even "
the Board Of Estimate should approve
the Interborough offer il was a ques-
tion whether the Donnelly antitrust act
of the state Of New York could rot be
invoked 10 secure an injunction against
the Interborough on the 'ound that Il
was a combination IN restraint Of trade.
The Controller announced at the out
set that he was going 10 quote the Mayor,
and you know" he added. IF you put a
comma n the wrong place then you're
guilty Of forgery.
Y wonder what Mayor is guilty OF
7ho puts a City Chamberlain in the
wrong place and can't find hin-but
speak gently OF Charley"
When the audience had howled its de-
Hight TO its satisfaction Mr.. Prendergast
quoted from q campaign speech Of the
Mayors;
ct wouldn't be comfortable IN office
sitting with two men who were being
nudged by Parsons and Woodruff
Now, 7 just want to ask you" he went
on. who's nudging Gaynor?'
The Controller got a succession of
happy roars then with reference to "the
handy-reversible pledge, advocated by
disciples Of Epictetus." and the Mayors
article in magazine, wherein.he declared
himself so unequivocally for city built
snd city owned subways, and asserted
that IL would mean the expenditure of
only s5,ooo.O0o 70 sa.o0o,000 year for
The city TO build a complete system Of
its own. The city, he said, had now
s57,ooO,ooo available for subway work.
This IS a time for plain words" said
2ir. Prendergast, either the Mayor
didn't know what he was talking about
then. or he doesn't know now"
Members Of the Board Of Estimate
were being told every day, the Con-
troller said, that inasmuch as a com.
rnittee Of the Chamber Of Commerce had
approved Of the Interborough route and
recommended its acceptance, the board
~1Ny