New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-31
Disturber Is Jeered to Silence.

contracts IN tnc uoliC SciN'NS N'i'''''iS
sion
Dissurber Is Jeered to Silence.
The meeting was quite regular until 1t
came 10 a vote on the resolutions. Wher
Patrick Donohue of No 223 East I'm
street. Manhattan, denounced Mayor
Gaynor. President McAneny Of the Bor-
ough Of Manhattan and Commissioners
Wilcox as "fakirs" thieves and tools
OF the transit trust" Donohre was
ieered into silence. and was on the point
Of quitting the hall. when a stocky young
man. wearing brown suit, tried 10 throw
him downstairs Donohue stirred up
trouble in the Cooper Union meeting last
Tuesday night.
Mr. Prendergast said he had been too
busy perfecting terms of the contracts 10
waste any time listening TO attacks"
However. he had list Of the charges
made by the 'anti-dual' critics, and in
replying he referred frequently 10 his
dear friend in the Board Of Estimate.
Mr.. Mitchell, he said, in 1911 offered 10
vote for per cent rate on the new
capital Of the Interborough Company.
and as for his criticism OF the acquisi-
ton of the Steinway tunnel. Mr.. Prem
dergast said Mr.. Mitchell knew that Mr..
McAneny and Mr.. Prendergast intended
TO ask for a change SO that the back
taxes would not have TO be paid by the
city.
The charge that the city would lose in
terest and sinking fund IN the new SUD-
way Mr.. PrenderGast said was absurd
and impossible TO conceive unless IL were
based on calculations framed 10 support
the suggestion. The charge that the city
would pay per cent TO cover amortiza-
ton charges was false. he said. AS the
company would pay $50 per cert for its
money, the average per cent for amorti-
cation charge would be, not ! per cent.
but FIVE eighths of per cent. In closing
Mr.. Prendergast had this to say:
Says Delay Now Is Serious
Perhaps the most deceptive argument
that has been used in the recent discus
eions Of this entire question IL that there
is no necessity for approving the operat-
ing contract at the present time, that the
construction OF the subways can proceed
and that even II the contracts are exc
cuted within the next few Gears TINS
would satisfy all needs. j have seen sucn
statement attributed to a member o'
the Public Service Commission. Mr. Malt
bic, although whether he was correctly
reported | cannot say. The fact IS that
the failure TO execute the contracts foi
operation AT this time means the aban'
donment of the dual system Of subways.
The construction that Is now pro.
ceeding represents only part or Wna'
would constitute the dual system. we
must either mako these arrangements
now with the two companies or decide
upon some other course. The Interior
ough Rapid Transit Company will con-
tribute 10 the new plan S5S,C00.0O0 for con-
struction and s22.Oo,0p for equipment. II
we are not TO make any arrangement
amount Of capital is not going TO be in
vested in an extended subway system fol
long time
There must be no nisundersta nding OF
the real situation. The business inter.
ests of the city have been awaiting a
settlement Of this question for nearly
three years. They not only have q RICH,
10 demand that II be settled but IL in due
TO the city's future that a settlement
should be arrived at quickly
II the real estate operations and value.
which have been predicated upon the full.
flment of this plan are 10 be sustained
this plan and none other is absolutely CO.
sential. II the city is 10 be made tn.
beneficiary OF that natural and sure &C.
erection 20 its realty valuations which
characterized its experience when the
Manhattan Bronx subway and the Man.
haitian Brooklyn subway were opened II Il
positively necessary that We should en-
bark upon this enterprise. These accre
tons 10 the city's realty value represent
its ability for many years TO come to dis
charge its obligations toward the citizen
ship In respect to schools. repavng, hos
pitfalls. docks. parks and other municipa
activities.
Thirteen out of the sixteen votes In III,
Board of Estimate are ready 10 be re
corded in favor OF the dual plan, and tn,
men who will cast those votes know tina
they represent the predominant sentimen
OF the city In their advocacy of this plan
NANIANE AKKANKN AnlKInA