New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-08
MAYOR WANTS WILCOX ALL ON HUNT FOR LOOT
Urges Sulzer to ReappoInt Pub
lice Service Chairman.
mitchell DID NOT SIGN
President Connolly of Queens
Also Balks at Estimate
Boards Endorsement.

Urging the reappointment of Chairman
, Wilcox of the Public Service Commits
| sion Mayor Gaynor and the other mem-
! bers of the Board of Estimate. with the
exception % President Mitchell OF the
! Board Of Aldermen and Borough Presi-
dent Connolly Of Queens. have written TO
( Governor Sulz"r.
! II was pointed out that Chairman Will
cox has been in the forefront Of all. the
I negotiations leading To the important CON
: tracts for the dual transit system tina
are about to be signed, the argument
/ being advanced that the proper interpre-
4 tation of these contracts and the letting
i Of construction work in accordance there
with is no less important. and that the
success of the plan is vitally bound up
! in the keeping OF man experienced AS
! is Chairman Wilcox at the head Of the
! Commission. -'"+
! President Connolly explained that he
was in thorough accord with the Idea
I that Chairman Wilcox ought TO be kept
| at the helm. at least until the contracts
were signed and the work we'll under Nay.
/ He would write personal letter To the
, Governor expressing those views. How
/ ever inasmuch as he mad written 10 Gov
/ ernor SulZer urging the appointment OF
! Queens man to take the place OF the
! chairman he could not veryNHell sign the
| letter asking for the disappointment o'
Mr.. Wilcox
TO have my name missing from ms
| letter is personally disagreeable to me
/ said President Mitchell. II told the COM
mittee some time ago that would not be
able TO sign the letter. individually
have nothing against Chairman WILCOX.
! Indeed he is good friend Of mine
! However in view of the stand that have
| taken from the first in regard to the way
/ negotiations have been carried on with
| the marlborough Rapid Transit Company
| could not sign the letter. Ny signature
would be interpreted as AN Endorsement
of the way in which Chairman Wilcox
has handled those negotiations, and
could not have that happen.
| The letter OF the Mayor and his COL
| leagues on the Board OF Estimate reads
as follows:
| The Public Service Commission for the
Isl District and the Board OF Estimate
and Apportionment OF the city OF New
York-the two bodies charged oy hm
A
! for the construction, equipment ana OPP
| Grafton OF rapid transit railways Vlthin
! the city limits-have come 10 an hBree
| ment upon a comprenenslVe pan, seIN,ms
| tlre entire city and extending the pensnts
IT a dve-cent fare 10 every borough. Inc
/ contracts with the operating companies,
| framed as result OF nearly Two years Oh
negotiations, viii be ready TOT eAeculion
| AZ some time within the next Few weeks.
\ As soon as they have been signed, the
public Service Commission viii enter
| unon 81 new period OF relations Win the
| comnanies. during which the terms upon
| which agreement has been reached must
/ be properly interpreted ana enLorceo'
! sub-contracts negotiated 1or po.m In,
s,ruction and equipment. issshnaa ,9'
! given TO various routes esseniiai 70 me
system that have not as yet received tne
anprovaI of the courts: the entire vast
undertaking. in short. brought properH
under way. II Is hardly necessary 70
! nojnt out that. TO the city OF New YORK
This period Will be of scarcely less I'M
| nortance- than the period OF contract
] making that has been passed. ,,..---,.-.
The undersigned memSsri Oh urge ,a that
| the contamination Of this great work
shall not be iinperiled. nor its progress
/ in any wise delayed, through change
in the chairmansmP bs OF prs sse eSairman.
William r. Wilcox, has held this post
! throughout the entire period OF translt
! negotiation. and has been In constan'
touch with the representatives OF we
BOARD OF Estimate and Apportionment IN
| those matters in which the two bodies
have. i'm effect a common part.
we believe that the loss. at TINS crflca,
| tin,e of his highly trained services. and
/ of his knowledge Of the situation with
which the city authorities must continue
10 deal. would ne a municipal misfortune.
II would. in our judgment, result. newt
ablv In confusion and delay at time
VIXEN the people have been definitely
nromised that the system upon which 10
| much preparatory labor has been spent
would be pressed 10 an carly compile
| ton ,.,t o.
Commission are appointed for terms OF
"ox was originally appointed expires on
February l. For the reason that we have
urged. we repeat cur earnest nope mat
} vo', will see AZ to reappont Mr. Wilcox
4 let ha now holds