New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-10
AID TAXI GRAFT HUNT
New Witnesses Offer Help to
District Attorney.
INVESTIGATION POSTPONED
Lawyer for Big Company Ad-
mits He Submitted Ordl-
nance to Aldermen.

Several witnesses were on hand at lie
District Attorneys Office yesterday To 90
before the grand jury I'm the beginning OF
the investigation of the alleged attempt
Of certain aldermen and the taNicab com
uanies To- block legislation IN regard To- "A
new taxicab ordinance. The grand jury
inquiry was put over until Monday how
ever. owing = tie unfinished Stl"eH
case before that body.
Some new evidence iu regard Co. passes
and other privileges. said To have been
Granted 10 certain city officials by tn"
,aNicab companies was brought 10 As
sistant District Attorney Du \Ivi'r. VINO
is conducting the investigation. uy Volun-
tecr witnesses yesterday wired =.
Youker. assistant secretary Of the 'Iu-
zens Union. called ON Mr.. Du Nlr!ei and
offered the assistance of the Union ~ The
investigation.
\ committee Of the CiuZens Union has
been investigating the taNicao situation
for several months, Mr. Noukcr told tnr
Assistant District Attorney. and he turned
over evidence that his organization had
obtained during that time. II was said
ia be 10 some extent corroborativc OF the
evidence already In the hands 81 the DIS
trict Attorney. Alderman John j. Mea-
CHER Of Brooklyn. offered mis- services I"
Mr. On Vivlcr. Because OF his former
connection with the special iaNicab oral
nance committee. he said he might nave
information which would be oi Value 10
the investigators.
ACCOMPANIED boy George W. Whlteside.
Of counsel for the Yellow TdAicao COM
many. four OF the minor ohclals "i tha'
concern who are under subpoena Tor the
Grand fury. were at the District Attoi
pe,,'s office YESTERDAY. Aldermen Bolles
and Marks. of the special committee
were also on hand 70 90 before me srHho
Jury. Edwin +. Banta former ooh'ra''
agent of the yellow TaNicab company
was another prospective witness.
According 10 benedict Holden. OF coun-
sci for the taxicab company, Banta was
instrumental in bringing about the pres
tint situation. lie said that Bania had
been discharged by the company "hen IL
,y.s learned that ne was dcvOtlng some
~ his time 10 the interests of rival com
NAMES The discharged contract agent
wrote letters threatening the oH'cers Vi
the company unless they reinstated hiin'
the lawyer gdld. " men ll' H'N'''N''''
paid to these letters the disgrnntied en-
Move went TO the District Attorneys OF
flee with complaints against the com
pany. Mr. Holden declared
Mr.. Holden admitted that he had drawn
an ordinance ana submitted II 10 members
of The special aldcrnanic committee lie
said he considered it within his pFo'ince
as counsel for the company to present us
side of the matter In that FORM as otheIs
had done including the officials oil ms
License Bureau. He denied that ne mao
had any secret meetings with members oil
the aldernanic committee. but declared
that ne had buttOnhOled them ana TAXED
to them about the ordinance whenever lie
found the opportunity. He said he wouIu
be glad If Alderman Grimm. chairman %
tbe committee. had Incorporated MS SuS-
gestions in the nnal draft MI. iolueh
ordinance contained no provision Tor the
regulation Of rates or private stand PRIV
l,p,e he asserted cOntcnding uiht ihe
Hoard OF Aldermen had no such powers.