New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-09
Calls Wilcox tenient.

Calls Wilcox Lenient.
The only criticism that can be lev
elled at Mr.. WILCOX" he said. lis that
he was too lenient with the obstruction
lists. If he had wanted to use stern
means he might have been accused by
some of SteaN roller methods, but he
could have got these contracts through
three months ago. and ! believe he
would have had the best elements III
our community back Of him
Mr. Williams said he believed that
some Of the obstruction tactics nave
heen caused by certain persons who
thought they might possibly be able to
run President Mitchell of the Board OF
Aldermen for Mayor on an Independent
ticket with municipal operation plat
form.
1t is a downright outrage said
Commissioner Williams. that as the
result of a low lived conspiracy Mr..
Wilcox. who has given the best years
Of his life TO this great work. should
be unable to afx his signature to these
contracts. | have been with him on the
commission for q year, and during that
time his sincerity and devotion to duty
and his broadmndedness have been
above question.
IF any attempt has been made TO
create political capital by getting Mr..
Wilcox out l am sure that the attempt
will fail l do not believe any political
party can go before the people as the
advocates of a situation which has re-
suited in blocking rapid transit.
IF there had been any doubt as 10
the squareness of this transaction do
you suppose the chairman would have
advocated it? The position of Presi-
dent McAneny Is further proof That the
contracts are all right. He would split
a postage stamp if he believed the city
ought 10 have half of it, You may rest
assured that if | had been chairman
OF this commission | should not have
allowed these chickering's 10 delay the
contracts"
Chairman Mccall has asked Charles
A Hickey. his secretary when he was
on the Supreme Court bench. To act as
his secretary in the Public Service
Commission. The salary Of the former
place is $1,000 year while that of
secretary TO the chairman of the COM
mission is $1,000 Mr.. Hickey. who is
a lawyer. is thinking about beginning
practice, but has promised 10 think
over the request OF Chairman Mccall
that he remain with him.
There was little new in the legal as
poets OF the subway case yesterday.
Counsel for the city had handed in
their briefs to the Appellate Division on
Friday. In the course Of the day Mr..
Shearn prepared a thirty-page brief.
which he said last night he would hand
in the first thing tomorrow. No de-
Tuesday at the earliest.
Annexed to the brief Of George :.
Coleman, counsel for the Public Ser
vice Commission, is a statement from
Mr.. Wilder, who was an assistant 10
Mr.. Connette when the latter was
transportation engineer. Mr.. Wilder
SAYS the estimate Of when the proposed
new subway system might be expected
TO become self-supportine, which Mr..
Connette originally made, was based on
wrong premises. This statement. how
ever, has been used by the opponents
of the system 10 show that the city
could never hope To get any profit from
the system. As matter Of fact. Mr..
Wilder says, when Mr.. Connette's at
tention was called TO the error he with
drew the report and prepared another,
which was much more favorable 10 tho
city.