The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-22
CAN'T UNDERSTAND
WOOD, SAYS BANKS
Man Who Took Over Commits
sioner's Business Balks
Thompson Committee.
GRAND JURY TO HEAR HIM

~ W vi tAS ~
Equipment Company. an electrical sup
plv concern that took over the business
OF the Northwestern Construction Com
pany when Robert Colgate Wood became
n Public Service Commissioner. testified
before the Thompson legislative COM
mittee yesterday that In whatever rela-
ions he had had with John T. Cade Of
the Federal Signal Company he was
animated by the sole desire to enhance
the pronts Of william C. Banks.
Cade had reported to President Rem
shaw Of the Federal company that he
got the impression through talking with
Banks that Banks was looking for a re-
tainer to gain the favor of COMMISSIONS
Wood for the Federal company when the
Fourth avenue subway contract was
under discussion. Banks said yesterday
that he hadn't had the least idea of get
ting anything else out OF It except busi-
ness for his equipment company. which
he thought the Federal would patronize
II 1t were able to land the Fourth ave-
nue. signal system job through his efforts.
Banks was on the stand most of the
session yesterday. and at h end OF the
grilling he received from the committee
he was still smiling m willing TO talk
on anything hat the committee didn't
want to know about. In his analysis Of
the character Of Commissioner Wood,
Banks. who has known the COMMISSIONS
for fifteen years, said he a never been
able to fathom him.
Calls Wood "MystePious."
~ can't make head or tail out Of the
man." he said. "I've been around with
him, but I can't understand him. He Is
q most mysterious a l guess you
noticed that when he was on the stand
here. He says things and does things
that I can't fathom. You get any Of his
friends down here and they'll tell you
the same thing. They don't know any
moro about him than l DO"
banks admitted that he had been
angry at the Commissioned ever since
he learned that the Commissioners didn't
let him In on the $1,000 he got for help.
ing the Union Switch and Signal Con
pany to n contract.
Then why should YOU try to cover
him up?" asked Senator Thompson
I'm not trying TO cover hun up. Why
should !? What would there be In that
for me?'
at is just possible that you may be
involved in some OF the things that he
Is involved In"
"Oh, don't worry about me. I'll take
care Of myself all right"
Banks said that he did talk with
Wood while the Fourth venue contract
was pending. but that all he did was
to let the Commissioner know that Cad.
had promised him "a piece OF change"
II the contract went to the Federal COM
pany. The 'piece OF change" he said.
didn't refer to any specific amount Of
money. but to the business that might
come to his concern.
Banks said that Wood told him the
reason the contract for Installing a sig
! nal system In the Fourth avenue SUBJ
way went to the General Railway Sig
nal Company was that the Il. r. T.
wanted the kind OF speed control appa-
ratus which the General company prom
ised to develop. He said ne was much
surprised when the Federal company
failed to land the job.
"Do you think that Commissioner
| Wood ought to he In jail?'' was asked.
WELL" replied Banks, II don't like
to see anybody 80 10 jail. but II he Is
| guilty OF q crime let him co.
DO you think he Is guilty.
That's up TO the District Attorney 10
prove. That is not within my province
to say"
But do you think from what you
! know that he ought to be in jailT'
III he did what ohnson says he did,
I don't think a bit In Jail would do him
any harm"
When he found he could get nothing
F, Of value from Banks. Senator Thompson
told him to go home and talk things
over with his wife n to be back again
to-day to be questioned.
John r. Cade was called to the stand.
but was Immediately excused until this
| morning when he refused to sign a
| waiver OF immunity. Both Banks and
| Cade have been s~ubponaed by the Grand
Jury for to-day.