New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-24
WILCOX DENIES
SUBWAY BACKDOWN
Will Not Be Stampeded by Pub
lie CIamor or Cry, Declares
Head of Public Ser
vice Commission.
CONFERENCE WITH B. R. T.
Good Progress Being Made, De-
clares McAneny - Secret
Meeting at Union League
Club Is Rumored After
City Hall Visit.

Club Is Rumored After
City Hall Visit.
Unconcerned with the political talk
and criticism which have been directed
against any seeming delay in the con-
summation of the subway contracts for
the dual system, Chairman Wilcox and
his associates on the Public Service
Commission and representatives of the
Board of Estimate and Apportionment
who favor The contracts fundamentally
as formulated went ahead yesterday
with the conferences with the repre-
Sentatives of the operating companies
for the purpose of facilitating atera-
ton of the contracts to conserve the
interests of the city. The day was
given over TO conferences with the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit peopte' Con-
ferences with marlborough company
representatives will be resumed to-day
Chairman Wilcox and Borough Presi-
dent McAneny emphatically denied that
their admission of doubt as TO ;he pos
sibility Of completing the contracts Tor
execution prior to February l. when
MI WilcoXs term of office expires
could be construed as "backdOWh on
their part. They were merely going
ahead. carefully considering the sCg-
gested changes i'm the contract with
out regard to public clamor or cry, they
said Whether Mr.. Wilcox went out
of office or not on February ] would
make, they said no difference in their
plans.
The conferences led To the Mayor
office yesterday afternoon, Wheh 'iiah
man Wilcox. Borough President Nc
Anenv and Controller Prendergast were
closeted with Mayor Gaynor for a snort
time. They admitted afterWard that
they had talked over subway ahalrs'
hut declined to go into detail When
the Mayor was asked about the con-
ference he said. positively:
Il am not going 10 say one Wofd
about this subway situation.
Won't Be Stampeded,. Says Wiillcox.
Some significance was attached TO
the fact that 1t was said at the Mayor
office that he expected To dine WIN
Controller Prendergast last night. 1t
was said that the dinner was to be PR
vatc at the Union League CLUB III this
city but. on inquiry AT the club, 1t
vas said no such dinner was held
thcre. Chairman Wilcox also sald ne
was going to dine out" bat he would
not say where.
Those who attended the conference
q, chairman WiIcox's home yesterday
were Commissioners Maltbie' Eustis
and Williams of the Public Service
Commission. Borough President Nc
Auenv and Controller Prendergast OF
the BOARD of Estimate and President
4. s. Williams, chief Engineer Men
den and George ID. Yeomans, counsel oil
the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company.
After the conference Chairman Wilcox
said:
cannot tell whether or not NC can
get the contracts through by February J.
There are several moves yet to be made
before final action can be taken. ana We
shall not he stdInpeded nor VIII we delaN
the work one moment longer than ncccS-
sarv TODAY we went over IN detdll the
various points that have been raised IN
regard 10 the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
contract. and considered carefully all me
suggestions for changes. No single I'M
portant change stands out, but there arc
a great many changes in phrasing, little
things here and there.
The chairman said that the INTERIOR
Ough contract had not been consldcieI
during the day. but that further CON
ferences with the representatives OF
that company would he held to-day.
He said that he had not heard Of any
developments from Albany or any
where else.
Mr.. McAneny declared that, while
much progress had been made at ;lIe
Brooklyn Rapid Transit conference. AS
well as at the conference with the In
terborough representatives the day be-
fore. he did not think it would be pos
sible to have the contracts signed by
February !. He said:
Very good progress was made OF the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company con-
tract to-day. but | do not think We can
get them through by February /. ! do
not think IL can be done. ] do not pro-
pose to press the contracts forward at
the cost OF the city.
To take up the contracts al the
earliest possible moment after they are
submitted by the Public Service Com
mission. the Board of Estimate adj
journed it's meeting subject to the call
Of the chair. A motion to that effect
made by Controller Prendergast was
passed unanimously.
BIames Politics for Delay.
Commissioner George V. :. Williams.
of the Public Service Commission, came
out Yesterday with an emphatic state
ment that the fight on the subway con