New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-31
mitchell TAKES PARTING
WHACK AT THE ENEMY
Quotes P. S. C.. Records to
Prove Mccall Would Abro-
gate Subway Contracts.
DISCUSSES STEINWAY TUBE
Decision of Commission to Give
Interborough 10 Per Cent
Profit Cited as a Bad
Precedent to Set.

John Purroy Mitchell fusion candidate
for Mayor, in a statement issued before
he started for his vacation In the Adiron-
dacks, and made public yesterday, under
took TO prove the truth OF his assertion
that already a disposition has been
shown by the Tammany candidate Tor
Mayor to abrogate the terms OF the SUD-
way contracts and revise them In the IN
terests of the traction companies TO
do so he quoted the records of the Public
Service Commission.
Mitchell indicated also that II Edward u
Mccall. chairman of the Public Service
Commission intended 10 try 10 make
capital for himself by a statement that ne
had expedited the progress of the Work
Mitchell would have something to say IN
opposition. He believes that so far the
work had been so handled as TO give tne
Interborough the advantage over the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company In the
way OF getting down 10 work promptly
II can understand said Mr.. Mitchell,
exactly why Mr. Mccall seeks to dis
cuss the subway question rather than the
Tammany city borough and county
tickets or the audacious attempt OF
Charles r Murphy 10 seize the govern
ment Of the city and state. NO amount
of discussion by him OF any other issue
can confuse or conceal the true Issue.
that Of keeping public contracts and pub
lie functions out Of the hands OF those
who would use them for private and par
tisan purposes.
But If Mr.. Mccall is correctly quoted
rs saying that mo such modification OF
the contracts has been proposed. and
that the statement which 1 made TO the
Independence League was 'untruthful
and without the slightest basis in fact
I1 need only point TO the records OF the
Board of Estimate and Apporuonment'
They prove my statement"
Mitchell cites the offer Of the Inter
borough Rapid Transit Company TO re-
construct the Steinway tunnel at cost,
plus 10 per cent. This was in violation
of the contracts. which stated that those
doing the work should receive only the
cost thereof. He refers TO the fact that
the Public Service Commission finally de-
cided to approve contract for the Work
which would give the Interborough COM
pany 10 per cent.
Mr.. Mitchell said that this 10 per cent
would amount only 10 &4,S0. but were
the precedent established larger sums
would doubtless follow IN instances where
the total cost was greater This Is indi-
Gated by the developments regarding the
proposed Stevens contract as TO elevated
railroad reconstruction. under which the
added percentage is estimated to give
the company 100000 more than 1t could
otherwise charge the city for the work
in question"
When the Steinway tunnel contract was
under consideration, Mitchell points out
Mccall was in favor OF giving the COM
pany the L. per cent asked, being quoted
as saving: 81 am willing 10 take fun re-
sponsibility for my vote and grant them
Is per cent now"
"These facts" declares Mitchell, "sus-
tain my statement that the Tammany
candidate for Mayor has shown disposl-
ton 10 modify and revise the dual con-
tracts I'm the interest OF the traction com
pauies Instances like these cited show
some of the reasons why Tammany Han
and it's allies seek TO elect "A Vammany
MAYOR and Board OF Estimate and why
the voters are unwilling to let this Tam
many plan carry at the polls"