New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-29
Both Will Try to Delay Final
Approval Of Subway Con-
tracts at Star Chamber
Session of P. S. Board.
MERCHANTS TO BE HEARD
Mass Meetings in The Bronx
and Queens Tonight Will
Urge Prompt Execution
of Dual Subway Plan
for Rapid Transit.

The Public Service Commission will.
meet in executive session to-day to
consider the revised drafts Of the con-
tracts for the dual subway system.
Chairman Wilcox said last night all
the objections I'd amendments agreed
upon with the operating companies.
would be taken up one by one and.
voted upon. He hardly thought 1t pos
sible, he said, for the commission TO
finish this work to-day an pass upon
the contracts as a whole so that they
might be turned over to the Board OF
Estimate for approval by that body at
its regular meeting tomorrow. Com
missioner Maltbie said he would op-
pose any attempt to rush the contracts
through without full discussion. fS
The contracts have to be voted upon
and passed by the commission in open
meeting. Whether the commission will
reach the point to-day where it can de.
clare the meeting open and take such
action will depend a good deal upon the
length Of argument which the "oppos-
ton commissioners, Maltbie and
Cram, insist upon in regard to the pro-
posed amendments, it was said. Com
missioner Maitbie said yesterday he in
tended to ask for more time to con-
slider the contracts. 1t will be his
privilege and opportunity to indulge in
a lengthy discussion OF the changes be-
fore they are voted upon. If he so de-
sires, at to-days meeting.
Chairman Wilcox and Commission
ers Eustis and Williams are in accord
in voting for the adoption OF the con-
tracts as now formulated. So far as
they are concerned matters might he
at to-day's meeting and the.
documents passed along to the Board !
OF Estimate, but they are hound 10 !
listen to the suggestions and objections
of any Of the commissioners who wish !
to make them.
Sharp Words from MaItbis.
Chairman Wilcox and Commissioner
Maltbie exchanged a few pointed re-
marks on the situation yesterday in
the formers private Office. The chair
man did not admit afterward that their
words ran high, but he said Mr.. Maltbie
thought the commission should have
more meetings to consider the con-
tracts. He said he had not been pres
ent at some Of the recent conferences
and did not know what all the proposed
changes were. It Is understood that
the chairman corrected Mr.. Maltbie to
the extent of declaring that he MALT
bie) had been at some Of the con-
ferences when the contracts had been
gone over At all events, Mr.. Maltbie
was told, il was said, that he would
have ample opportunity to offer any
suggestions he desired at to-dsy's
meeting.
Commissioner Maltbie indicated, after
his spirited talk with the chairman,
that II an attempt should be made to
nut through the contracts to-day he
would oppose It.
What I will light for" he said. 'is
reasonable opportunity to see the
things that are to be voted on. I don't
suppose that they will refuse suoh
reasonable request. II the contracts arc
good the more they are examined the
better they will stand UP. II thay are
bad the less they arc examined the
easier it will he to pass them"
Mr.. Maltbie declared he had attended
every conference on subways to which
he had been invited, but that for
period Of considerable length he had
not been at any conference, nor had he
been invited, nor informed that such
conferences were TO be held. He had
chanced, he said. to attend an AFTER
noon meeting at Chairman Willcox's
home at which the points at issue had
been discussed.
Calls Bond Price Absurd.
rh. commissioner attacked certain
narts of the statement issued by j. r.
Moraan e. Co. in regard to the financing
q, the Interborough company oonds'
ord stated that II was absurd to IN.
.,r,o,e that the new bonds OF the In.
t.rhoroush. which are to be sold to the
Morsan firm for e3la per cent. will poe
=. i,st as good as the old subway
honds Of the company which are now
selling at 1O4Is. This statement was
printed in a late edition Of The Tribune
yesterday.
coronation Counsel Watson, Con.
,rol,er Prendergast. Borough President
McAneny and former Judge Morgan J.
o,Brien were callers at the Mayors Of.
Ace Yesterday. It was said they had
discussed subway matters with the
Mayor. They declined to discuss the
nature OF their conference.
Mass meetings will be held tonight
in Queens and The Bronx. at which
the immediate signing Of the contracts
for the dual subway system will bo
urged. Civic organizations Of The
Bronx have arranged for a meeting %
the North side Board Of Trade. It u
expected that William McCarroll. for.
mer Public Service Commissioner
public Service Commissioner Eustis.
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