New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-12
M,CALL ASKED
70 oQuT, REPORT
At INVESTIGATION
HasWhisperedConfer
With ThompsonAfter Ses-
S;on-Refuses, 1t Is Said.
o1TST WHOLE BOARD
IS PREDICTED VERDICT
D s. c. Chairman in Rage at
Questions Regarding Connec-
tion with Hammerstein Case

tion with Hammersteln Iase
rI., Chairman Edward +. Mccall
-. ,hs Public Service Commission, left
=. stand yesterday afternoon in the
,.,.,,ication by the Thompson legis-
,..,v. committee Senator George F..
Thompson, chairman Of the committee
.,.nped quickly to his side. as Mr..
y,csl was making for the door and
a,.nsd whispered conversation that
,..,sd about FIVE minutes.
A short time later it was rumored
,,.. Senator Thompson had asked Mr..
Mccall to resign as chairman OF the
commission -,
~. there anything in that rumor !"
s,,s.or Thompson was asked.
81 won't discuss it in any way he
-,nlisd and numerous questions de-
,iepsd to bring out either confirmation
A. denial we're similarly answered.
There is no reason to doubt that this
MINOR was well-founded, and there Is
.,.,,.ly any reason to doubt that
Chairman McCall's reception OF this
,sousst took the form of a refusal.
gs believes, and his associates on the
commission believe, that when the
Tbomnson Committee makes its report
70 Governor Whitman it will urge the
removal Of every member of the service
board.
II is possible that prior to the render
ing of general report a special recon-
nendation that Mccall be ousted will
be sent TO Albany. This recommends
lion will be based, it is understood, on
vhst the investigation has developed
On the stock interest in the Kings
County Electric Light and Power Com
uny. which Mccall says he turned over
10 Mrs. Mccall.
Mccall a "Somnambulist."
The Public Service chairman was
again a witness yesterday. His exam
nation was provoked by second letter
sent to the Thompson Committee by
Oscar Hammerstein, who on Tuesday
advised the committee that Mr.. Mccall
had argued a case against ham in the
Supreme Court while member Of the
commission. Hammerstein's letter yes
:erday declared that Mccall. in testify
ing on Tuesday that he had been in the
Hsmmerstein case for more than a year,
was incorrect. adding that "this seems
70 be an instance of the somnambullsm
which Mccall seems a victim to-" The
case, Hammerstein wrote, did not come
Up more than two months ago.
"TLe history of that proceeding is
this" Mr. Mccall testified. "ln April,
1918, was called into a conference
about contract between Hammerstein,
the Palace Theatre and Keith, | think,
advised that a settlement be made,
and this action was taken. A new con-
trae. was made and then | agreed TO
take part in any further conferences
hat might be necessary.
This year. can't remember just
when-one Of the parties TO the con-
tract claimed that one of the other
parties had violated the contract"
Merton z. Lewis, Deputy Attorney
General, and counsel 10 the committee,
interrupted the witness TO read from
some papers which recorded that an
application for an injunction in the
proceeding was verified on September
.. last, and that the rejoinder TO this
application was verified a week later.
The answer seems 20 have been pre-
pared BY Morris Goodman" said Mr..
Lewis. "Did you act for Goodman ?"
i did not" Mr. Mccall replied.
Hammerstein's "Crazy Screeds."
Did you have any part in preparing
this psper7"
no, nor in preparing any other pa
per. ! simply argued against the mo-
ton"
the motion was denied. see. You
fought 70 have the application for an
Injunction denied?"
Yes, ! sought hard"
" hen this case comes 10 trial will
sou participate"
That will depend on whether I'm
able TO-"
take part"
N"otfi Fiek " lynx ny pAi ~
p1iion will depend on whether I'm able
70, u I'm able 70, III try the case"
Referring 20 the questions that were
,s,so On the Hammerstein letter, Mr..
Mccall ssid:
can't see any necessity for an
%enng his crazy screeds."
DID the controversy between the lit
.sahts IN the Hammerstein action have
'Aytning % do with subway features ?"
All qpestions affecting the subway
mat case we're up 20 subway en-
hssrs. didn't know anything about
3, fietoria Theatre, and cared less"
bst N tais case u might be neces-
- iof Hammerstein 20 depend on the
~mony o. engineers Of the Public
'sf.lee CommissiOn? ?"
Probably"
~ Lewis then implied, in his next
,.s.ton' that Mccall would be in a
al"on 70 use his influence on sub
Witnesses.
=. won't dignity that question with
.asNer; itk too absurd"
,,,,is said Senator Thompson, "but
"ht u truef"
Witness In Rage.
~; Mccall straightened in his chair.
ehstks colored with Indignation.
~ " isnt truei" be shouted. what
L.; nave you % ask me such a ques-
49,, ~ u silly. You should know
~ ~ th@n 70 ask me such a question"
ysty,ssht the fact that you are "A
nsssT osrylee COmmissioner give un-
bsssi, Ns'zht ~ your legal services In
EssilW % client In subway matter ?
t,s,ght It be possible for you, in the
ss,.,s capacity, 70 hold up subway
snl. witness seemed about 70 ex-
t,a.ys ipst come down her. and try
"''A ~ subway worEls he exclaimed.