New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-14
DERISI0N FOR OPPONENTS
Delay Seems Sole End Sought
in Present Action, and When
Shearn Starts to Place
Blame Strap Hangers
Cry Hearst"

ton This slogan. printed IN conspicuous
letters. decorated the hats of many in the
big crowd which taxed the capacity OF the
chamber.
Fully a thousand persons swarmed into
the City Hall bent upon attending the
hearing. Less than half that number
squeezed into the chamber. The reserves
from the Elizabeth street station were
called 10 maintain order. An enthusiastic
representative of Queens rushed down TO
the office OF the Mayor in an unsuccessful
attempt TO obtain permission to address
an overflow meeting on the steps of the
city Hall.
Chairman Mccall presided at the circu-
lar bench" OF the Council Chamber.
around which were seated Commissioners
Williams. Eustis and Maltbie. Borough
Presidents McAneny. Miller and Connolly.
controller Prenderesst. lie Roy T. Hark
ness. Of counsel to the commission. and
Travis Whitney. the commissions secre-
tary.
Final Action in Few Days.
Frederick ". Hinrichs and Magistrate
John F. Tfylan. OF Brooklyn; Mr. Shearn
position 10 the contracts. Mr.. Mitchell
had not finished when Chairman Mccall
adjourned the hearing until II a. m. to-
DIV. II was noticeable that most OF the
argument presented seemed TO DE more
for the purpose of further delay than with
any serious idea On the part ct The oppo-
ri,ion that their suggestions would be m
corporate1 i'm the contracts. Chairman
Mccall indicated prior TO the hearing that
the commission would be ready to take
nnal action on the contracts in very few
days.
The chairman took strong exception TO
the presentation of certain figures 10y Nj.
Mitchell at ore point of his argument. 'ui-
der the cuise that they were official h@-
ures of the commission. Mr.. Mitchell ISao
from a table of figures. which nc said
we're based upon the marlborough COM
pany's own figures. and compiled o$ the
experts Of the Public service Commission
purporting TO show that deficit oi $50
aco 900 would accumulate on the city in
ycstinent at the expiration Of tne con p
tracts. Mir. Mitchell said ne had obtained
The figures from M Mallbic.
Chairman Mccall arose at this point
and said:
Il want 10 ask whether these figures
which were given YOU by Mr.. Malt
bic were taken from the records OF the
Public Service Commission?
No" interposed Commissioner Maltbie'
they were figures furnished mean esti-
mate OF the earnings and the income OF
the Interborough-and ! lad the table
compiled for my personal use.
Then. as chairman of this commission.
] shall have to dsavow these nsures'
said Chairman Mccall. FOR they are not
the official figures Of the commission.
That does not necessarily mean that they
are wrong. and ! know that Nh Mitchell
is not in the habit of making statements
lie does not believe 10 be tue.
Mr. Mitchell explained that he had not
intended 20 convey the impression the
figures were official. lie anaiyzed the
contracts. and protested against the pay
ment OF the s5.52J, 900 preferential TO the
Intorborough company. saying II had not
been accurately worked out and repre-
scented 4 padded profit. lie suggested that
the bonds could be sold at par TO the pub
lie, and urged the city TO build and oper-
ate it's own subways IL better terms could
not be obtained from the present operat-
Ing companies.
Associates HeckIe Mitchell.
A feature Of the hearing was the re-
peated heckling Of Mr.. Mitchell by the
Controller and Mr. McAneny. who took
exception 10 many Of his statemen,s.
controller PrendcrSast accused Mitchell
Of Topping" on the terms TO which he
had previously committed himself. lie
declared Mitchell had agreed at one OF the
old conferences that the Interbororsh
should get u per cent on old capital and
& Per cent on new Mr.. Mitchell denied il.
The Controller said Borough President
McAneny would support him in the state
ment Mr.. McAnery nodded affirma-
lively
We'll, Mr.. Prendergsst. IL il comes 10
question OF veracity between us. | sup
pose il must be drawn" SAID Mr.. Nit
chel
Don't you remember that at a secret
conference held at Mr.. McAneny's house.
on the night before one Thanksgiving
DAY" said Mr.. Prendergast, 1T was dis
tinctly stated by Mr.. Dawson, banker.
who was present that the cost OF getting
new capital would be ga per cent.
President Mitchell did not answer Al
cnee
You must remember that night said
the Controller. "for that was the night on
which YOU agreed TO guarantee the COM
panys deficit. and II took US months to
get the company away from that expec-
iation. because II. = said that you had
bound us TO it,"
This reference to Mr. Mtchers part in
former conferences was the signal Tor
hilarious cheering and jeerine by the audi
ence.
Mayors Attitude Attacked.
Mr.. Hinrichs, the first speaker. attacked
the Mayors attitude, saying he had shift
ed since election. and now was willing to
associate with and confer with the very
traction men whom he condemned as GRIM
mails when he was running for Office. lie
bitterly denounced the part OF the Brook
iyn Rapid Transit Company IN the pro-
posed contract and severely criticised
Colonel williams. president Of the COM
Dany. who sat near by smiling at the
speakers words.
Monopolies are not popular In these
days, said Mr. Hlnrichs, "but you are
about 10 create the greatest monopoly
that this city or any other city has ever
known. rho .ime has come wher we must
say that we Nil operate our own sSosays