New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-04
mitchell EXPOSES DELAY
IN STEINWAY TUBE WORK
Charges That Chairman Mccall
Held Up Plans to Aid
IxterborOugh.

John Purroy Mitchell fusion candidate
for Mayor, yesterday pointed out how
Chairman Mccall of the Public Service
Commission and Tammany candidate FOR
Mayor had been responsible Tor nlnc
months delay in the opening OF the
Stenway tunnel lie referred 10 the fact
that the Board Of Estimate had been
Obliged to reject the proposition put for
ward by Chairman Mccall and the Tam
many majority I'm the Public Service Com
mission that the lnterborough RaPid
Transit Company be permitted TO prepare
the tunnel for temporary operation ana
collect 10 per cent OF the cost OF the
work. estimated at 5000.
Mr.. Mitchell said Chairman Mccall had
put great stress on action Oh subway
matters, but he did not believe the people
wanted action" through the modification
OF the subway contracts In favor OF the
traction companies. He added:
Nine months have been lost 10 the
people OF Queens in the actual operation
of the Steinway tunnels because Of the
observation-disclosures attempt TO prevent
public bidding and give the marlborough
u per cent extra profit. Mr.. McCalrs UNI
terborough has meant just nine months
delay for the people OF queens. Inc a'-
ton OF the board yesterday - a striKi!s
regulation OF Mr.. McCaiIs tendency To
acquiesce in notifications Of the subway
contracts in the interest of the companies
and I'm opposition to the public interest.
ct illustrates the operation of govern
ment by contract and the Kind OF trans
action which "A Tammany majority IN the
city government might be expected TO APP
prove. II demonstrates how important IL
is that Mr.. Mccall should not be trans
ferred by Mr.. Murphy to the city Han
and that If he continues as chairman OF
the Public Service Commission theIe
should be kept clear anti dmilldhg
majority in the BOARD of Estimate 10
frustrate these nice little modifying
agreements-whicha Tammany majority
I'm the commission is likely from time to
time TO try to put through.
events are every day making clear
the kind of action on subway matters
which is commanding the most actiVe AT
,ention of Mr.. Mccall and the Tammany
majority in the Public Service IoilihiS-
sion. The voters want subways ana ele-
waited extensions built not extra percent
ages granted or inside contractors Ia
yored. Queens ought to have had the
stelnway tunnel nearly ready for opera
ton by this time. The new Bronx lines
the long delayed jerome avenue line Tor
example; the Seventh avenue line IN
Manhattan. and the much needed lines IN
Brooklyn could well have received the
attention bestowed on the 10 per cent
modifying agreement
Failure to start work on the Jerome
avenue line has seriously held back the
development Of that part of The Bronx
The Eastern Parkway and Eastern DIS
,rict lines are needed In Brooklyn Per
hans. now that the Board of Estimate
has unanimously rejected this 10 per cent
Modification. Mr.. Mccall Will busy him
self with getting these and other impor-
tsnt lines under way, and claiming credit
for great activity in the interest OF the
outlying boroughs. or must we expect
ON each of these lines similar delay while
the company jockeys for unwarranted
percentages"