New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-24
Low Writes to Sulzer for Wilcox.

Former Mayor Seth Low sent long
letter to Governor Sulzer Yesterday
strongly urging that he retain Mr..
Wilcox i'm office until the present sub
way contracts were executed. He told
the Governor that il would be fla
grant branch OF the home rule policy
which Mr. Sulzcr has advocated If he
replaced Chairman Wilcox with some
man unfavorable to the contracts and
thereby defeated the subway project as
now formulated. Mr.. Low wrote in this
regard:
need not point out TO YOU that. II YOU
consent to do this. under All the circum-
stances yCu will take upon yourself fun
responsibility for everything that may
happen 10 the city OF New York by rca-
son Of this decisive action; Let me point
out To you what | think these conse-
quences will be:
First Of all. YOU will give the'city's
righteous demand for home rule as 20
all questions local TO itself slasscr-
ing blow. II is true that the Pubic
Service Commission. which prepares
the contracts. Is a state body. ana thar
YOU will be entirely within your rights
i'm changing its composition but 20
far as the dual subway plan IS con
cerned. il is equally true that TINS
plan has been developed in two years
OF constant consultation between the
Public Service Commission and com
mttee Il the Board of Estimate anu
AppOrtionmeni.
The Board of Estimate and Appor-
tonment IL made up entirely OF ON
Gals locally elected. and, with the *
coption OF the President Of the Board
OF Aldermen. this body ~ unanl-
mOusly In favor of the dual plan. Th'
MAYOR Of the city. the Controller OF
the city and thu President of every
borough I'm the city wish to see II con
summated and each has done. and u
doing, everything In his power To Sc
cure for the city, in the execution OF
tho dual plan. the best possible terms
from both OF the companies with
which the city is purpOsing TO cooper
ate ! submit that II the Governor or
the state. by changing the comp9siloh
OF the Public Service commission OF
the 1st District. whose duty II ~ 10
prepare the contracts for the execution
of the plan and to sign the contracts
after they have been approved ny the
BCard of Estimate and Apportion-
ment. makes II impossible 10 carry out
the plan. which has been devised as
much by the Board Of Estimate and
Apportionment as by the Pubic Ser,
vice Commission. the Governor VIII
have substituted for home rule in this
entirely local matter Of vital interest
to the greatest city in the state the
rule OF the state and the determine
ton OF the Governor OF the state for
the determination of the Board or
Estimate and Apportionmcnt
With all respect ! venture To say
that the Governor of the state or New
/ York received no mandate 10 do such Il
thing az this The Board OF Estimate
| and Apportionmcnt. however, was
elected by the people of the CITY OF
New York 10 do the very thing that II
| s trying to do. and that IL will do
! unless as Governor Of the state OF
| New York, you prevent II. In my
judgment the people Of the city OF
! New York will have Just grievance
II this thing is done.
Commissioner Maltbie. Of the Public
| Service Commission. who does not IA
vor the form Of the proposed contracts
enumerated Yesterday some of the
more important changes which. in his
| opinion. should be, made. He men
toned ten items which purported tc
/ afford a saving TO the city Of severa
million dollars and correspondingly In
crease the burden Of expenditure OF
| the operating companies
Mr.. Maltbie's suggestions were prac-
| tically the same rs those made by
| President Mitchell Of the Board of Al.
! dermen at the public hearing on TIT
| contracts carly in tho week