New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-21
URGED
MAKING CHARGE
AGAINST WOOD
Told, When Chairman, of
Bride Hint, Says Signal
Company Head.
HEARD COMPLAINT
WAS SENT TO GLYNN
Promise Won Fourth Av. Con-
tract Over Lowest Bid, Public
Service Engineer Testifies.

The suggestion that charges against
Public Service Commissioner Wood be
filed with Governor Glynn was made BY
Edward E. Mccall when he was chair
man Of the Public Service Commission
This was the testimony Of Alfred II,
Renshaw, president of the Federal Sig
nal Company, before the Thompson
committee yesterday.
Mr.. Renshaw also said that at the
time Mr.. Mccall made that suggestion
he had heard that charges against
Wood had already been sent TO Gov
ernor Glynn, but he was not sure that
the Public Service chairman had told
him So
Mr. McCall's suggestion was made to
Mr.. Renshaw after ne had told him Of
the conversation between John T. Cade,
the Federal Signal Company's sales
agent, and Wood in the latter's private
Office. Mccall was more indignant than
surprised, Mr.. Renshaw testified.
When Mr. RenshAw went on the
stand yesterday afternoon the first
question popped at him by Deputy At
torney General Lewis was,
"Did you communicate to any mem
Der Of the commission what Mr.. Cade
had advised you in regard TO Commits
sioner Wood?"
"Yes," Mr.. Renshaw answered. 1.-TWO
or three days after Mr.. Cade had told
me l went to Judge Mccall in his pri-
vate Office and told him that Commits
sioner Wood had practically given Mr..
Cade an opportunity 20 give him a com
pensation for his influence. That was
the pith of it. And. further, that Mr..
Banks had practically solicited q con-
sideration for his influence and that Of
Mr.. Wood to get US the contract"
Suggested Making Charges.
What did Judge Mccall say when
you told him7" Mr.. Lewis asked.
"He expressed indignation, but no
surprise" Mr.. Renshaw answered. "He
suggested that / take the information
and make charges against Mr.. Wood to
Governor Glynn. | did not do that for
the reason that it would he only one
mans word against another's, as there
was no proof other than mere state
ment.'
Mr.. Renshaw said he had made an
effort 10 find out IL the information
that charges were already pending
against Wood at that time was correct,
but he could not find out. He said that
Judge Mccall had told him he would
get the Fourth Avenue. contract be-
cause the bid of the Federal company
was the lowest.
Asked if he was acquainted with the
Simmer system of cab signal control,
Mr.. Renshaw said that he did not con-
slider il a suitable device. SO far as
he knew, il had been tried out only on
a small electric line out West. This
is the system for which the General
Signal Company is said 10 have paid
$4,000 and which was responsible for
this concern getting the contract for
the Fourth Avenue Signal system, al
though the Federal Company was the
lowest bidder.
Clifton W. Wilder, electrical engineer
of the Public Service Commission, tes-
titled that no practical system OF speed
control had vet been devised. He said
the FOultn ANtUNe COHtldNJ nav DCNh
given to the General company because
that concern had promised to expert
ment with speed control devices until
it had perfected a practical system,
which it would then install in the
Fourth Avenue subway.
Experiments Limited TO One Car.
Mr.. Wilder admitted however, that
although the contract was let year
ago the speed control experiments were
confined 10 single car on the Sea
Beach Line.
The Thompson committee expects 10
obtain important testimony to-day, and
will then take a recess over the Christ
mas holidays. Commissioner Williams
had a private conference with the COM
mittee Yesterday afternoon, at which,
Il is understood, no was asked ques-
lions concerning his various bank &C
counts.
sydney G. Johnson, sales manager Of
the General Railway Signal Company,
who testified that Commissioner Wood
had asked for $4,000 10 swing the Cen
TIRE Street contract, was before the grand