New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-23
ISSUE is UP TO SULZER
Governor Has Chance to Retain
Public Service Head in Office
to Permit Him to Put Dual
Plan Through on Fun
damental Lines.
CIVIC BODIES URGE ACTION
Borough President McAneny, j. P.
Morgan, Jr., and President Shonts
Join in Conferences with P. S. c.
Chairman in Effort to Hurry
Execution of Contracts.

chairman IN Enort TO hurry
Execution of Contracts.
While maintaining that every effort
would be made TO bring about the sign
ing OF the subway contracts at the ear
liest possible moment, Chairman VIII.
cox Of the Public Service Commission
and Borough President McAneny adj
mtted after :. conference with men,
bers OF the Commission at Mr.. WILL
cox's home last night that it would be
practical impossiblity to complets
the contracts for execution by Fehru-
ary |. when Mr.. wiIlcox's term Of Office
expired. They issued the following
Joint statement:
The Commission and the COMMITTEES
OF the Board of Estimate recognize that
the forms Of contracts as advertised for
public hearings required changes ade-
quately to protect the city. In view OF
the importance OF such changes. neces-
stating conferences with the companies.
It will be a practical impossibility to,
complete the contracts for execution by-
February I. In other words, any i'm!
portance that may be attached 10 exe-t
cution by February / will not be an
excuse so far as we are concerned .a IN
| sacrificing the public interest
| Mr.. Willcox's statement was taken to.
mean that the issue was now squarely
| before Governor Sulzer as TO whether
he (Wilcox) would be retained IN office
after February I, and permitted to put
the contracts rough fundamentally as
they had been drawn according to tho
proposed dual plan.
Continued conferences were held yes-
terday at Mr. Willcox's home with
representatives Of the Interborougn
company, the Board Of Estimate, j. P.
Morgan & Co. and finally by full at
tendance OF the commission for that
purpose.
chairman Wilcox made IL clear yes
terday that nothing fundamental to the
dual system would be changed in the
| contracts.
Protests to Sulzer.
Strong protests were forwarded 10
Governor Sulzer yesterday by the Mer-
chants Association and other CONNER
cial and civic organizations against
any action on the part OF the Governor
that will tend to delay or prevent the
final ratification of the dual subway
plan. Despite the visit Of Commissioner
Williams. of the Public Service Com
mission. and several delegations inter-
ested I'm the contamination of the con-
tracts TO Governor Sulzer Tuesday, no
one apparently gained any definite idea
| of what the Governor intended 10 do in.
regard 10 holding Mr.. Wilcox in office
nrovided the contracts We're not signed
| prior to February /.
! Friends of Chairman Wilcox said It
was his present ambition and strongest
hone to remain at the helm until the
great subway project was reality for
the people. If il was the object OF
The Governor and his political allies
| IN facilitate the signing Of the con-
| tracts. or leave Mr.. Wilcox in Office
| for the fnal signatures only for the
purpose Of making political capital out
of A deluge of criticism Of the project
| afterward. as Albany dispatches indi-
Gated Yesterday, the chairman Of the
commission was more than willing to
face any amount of political intem-
nerance from the Democrats or ths
Hearstites FOR the sake Of getting the
credit of putting the contracts through.
it was said.
| There Is no Intention however, on
1 the part OF the city's representatives
To assume the position Of attempting
To lam the contracts through to pre-
vent opposition. IL it is found the con-
tracts cannot be revised satisfactorily
! i'm the limited time remaining i'm Mr.
| Willcoxs term, then they will have TO
hold over and stand their chances with
his successor. In case the Governor
appoints a new man on February 1.
Mr. Wilcox and the members OF the
commission who are supporting him do
not intend. however, that any blame
! for delay can be laid at their door.
New Conferrees in Situation.
| Several new conferrees were brought
into the situation yesterday. Francis
Lynde Stetson. Of counsel for the Nor
gan banking house; Richard Reid
Rogers. counsel for the Interborough
Rapid Transit Company, and Edward
]. Berwind one Of the heaviest indi-
| vidual stockholders in the Intcrborough
company, besides the usual conferrees,
were at Mr. Willcoxs house during the
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