New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-06
WILCOX REAL HERO
Of SUBWAY CONTRACTS
Mccall Declares Work Of For
mer Service Board Chair
man Perfect.
HONORED AT GREAT DINNER
Mayor Gaynor Lauds Upstate
Man Who Came Here and
Fought Hard for City
Transit Plan.

William r. Wilcox and his work as
chairman of the Public Service Commits
sion. with particular reference to his WORK
i'm the present subway development. re-
ccived the plaudits of five speakers. three
letter writer's and some five hundred
guests at testimonial dinner 20 him al
the Hotel Aston last night
Justice Hughes, of the Supreme Court
who as Governor appointed Mr.. Wilcox
10 office: Borough President George Nc
Aneny. who worked with the chairman ON
the subway problem, and Seth Low. all
sent letters expressing regret at their I'M
ability to attend the dinner and commend
ing Mr.. Wilcox and his work
Mayor Gaynor. Chairman Edward =.
Mccall. former Commissioner McCarroll,
Justice Frederick +. Crane, and Charles
II. Strong, as POSTMASTER, all Joined in
the appreciation of the former chairman
and Of the great task. well accomplished
which he handled IN the recent subway
negotiations
His Work Perfect, Says Mccall.
Chairman Mccall who began by saving
that he would not discuss subways' paid
perhaps the highest tribute to his prede-
cessor when he declared that the much
maligned contracts left by Mr.. WILCOX
for his perusal were practically perfect
Fl studied and worked TO find those de-
fects which were so loudly heralded." said
Mr. Mccall, of the contracts. Il thought
there must have been some fire where
there was so much smoke, but when J
finished found that ] could not. IN con-
science dot an a. or cross p 20 long
for the opportunity ana watch eagerly
for the chance TO voice my appreciation
of the former chairman and of his great
and patriotic work. IT can never oe IU'S
appreciated.
Mayor Gaynor declared that he wanted
70 certify that Mr. Wilcox had been cor
rect ON the principle of the subway ques-
ton from the beginning He said that he
had talked with the former chairman ne
fore he was elected Mayor soon AFTER ne
was nominated. I'm fact. and found then
that Mr.. Wilcox believed the proper
course was to extend the present system
I'm accordance with the original plans
rather than to have the city engage in
competition with the present subway by
building the tri-borough route.
Mr.. Strong. i'm his Introductory remarks
noted that Mr. Wilcox was born in
SMYRNA. y y. which moved the Mayor
to some characteristic remarks as to his
own upstate origin
Much Good from Chenaneo.
Wilcox was born in Smyrna. the toast
"a
I'm Chenango County. 1 don't know
whether some Of you New Workers can
pronounce that. l was born just about
forty miles. as the crow flies. from there
and Big BIZ Edwards came from near
there also SO you see we great men
come i'm punches. l wouldn't part with
Edwards for anything, not for all the
bowling newspapers I'm the world.
IL never thought I'd come TO New York
but when I was a boy up there / wrote
10 Horace Greeley. II took the combined
intellect Of the neighborhood about a
week TO decipher his answer, and then
found that he mentioned Florida and New
Mexico and other places as good places
for a young man to 90 TO, and he ended
by SAYING: But. whatever YOU do. don't
come uOWI 10 liilN iipAtAit A'eA'f Ap4it -'N'-
/ did and so ] happened to be here TO
help Wilcox huild a subway
The Mayo said that the passage of
the Public service Commissions act in
this state was one Of the greatest things
ever done in his time. lie mentioned the
names Of Alexander +. Orr and his col
leagues on the old Rapid Transit Board
as the original planners of the future sub
way system Of New York. and when the
mention Of the names brought a round OF
applause, he added:
I'm glad 10 hear you applaud there
because we. as a matter Of fact simply
carried out what they laid out. Why. this
very Lexington avenue subway was al
laid out and confirmed by the courts nine
years before / became Mayor"
Mayor Gaynor ended with the remark
that he knew OF no public officer who had
taken hold Of a great and intricate prob
lem with a better grasp than Mr. Wilcox