New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-09
TO TAKE
BANKBOOK TRAIL
In P. S. INQUIRY
New Evidence, Uncovered
by Accountant, Goes
to Prosecutor.
WOODS EX-EMPLOYE
LINKS CONTRACTS
Commissioner, Known as Mill
ionaire Baseball Player"
Owns a Park.

District Attorney Perkins has been
asked to take hand In the investiga-
tion Of the Public Service Commission
now being conducted by the Thompson
legislative committee. The assistance
Of the District Attorney was asked by
Senator Thompson, chairman Of the
committee. after Perley Morse, its ac-
countant, had reported that he had un-
earthed some startling disclosures in
his examinations.
Mr. Morse has been making an ex-
animation of the bank accounts Of the
various commissioners and also has
been looking over the books of the
y. W. Equipment Company, Of which
". c. Banks, former employe Of
Commissioner Wood, is president. This
company is the successor Of the North
western Construction Company, which
Wood owned before he became com
missioner.
Senator Thompson had long con-
ference with Assistant District At
torney Stanley Richter Yesterday af-
ternoon, during which the evidence un-
earthed by Mr.. Morse was discussed.
Railroad Agents Thirsty.
W. c. Banks, president of the y. W.
Equipment Company, was called before
the comittee at o'clock last night,
after the committees accountant had
spent almost the entire day trying 70
get him to explain certain entries on
his books. SIR. Banks proved to nave
an excellent knowledge Of the appe-
tites and thirsts Of railroad agents,
which he declared to be enormous. His
knowledge of various entries on his
books, however. was extremely bad
what various entries in the books Of
the company under the heading Of COM
missions meant. This account ran up
70 between $4,000 and $4,000, but Mr..
Banks couldn't remember, except in
isolated instances. the name or names
of the persons who received the COM
mission. He declared that there were
no entries on his books in the name
of Commissioner Wood.
Thompson, that all Of the accounts in
the name of i. Erskine Wood are really
payments to Robert {. Wood"
It was explained by Mr.. Banks that
when Wood became "A commissioner he
bought the Northwestern Construction
Company. which Wood owned. through
p. Erskine Wood, the commissioners
brother. He changed the name to the
\. W. Equipment Company, which he
declared was owned by himself and his
brother-in-law, II. J. West.
"What was this account for?" Deputy
Attorney General Lewis asked, pointing
to the heading commissions"
ooh, ] drew money for entertain
ment and charged it 10 that account
myself You know, you have got to
spend money 10 get business, and these
railroad agents have enormous appe-
tites and can drink like fishes. Why, |
was out with a couple of them last
week and one Of them ordered six bot
ties of wine and told the waiter 20 give
me the check
Banks admitted, however that the
business OF the company consisted IN
supplying batteries and battery sup
plies TO railroads. and that since Wood
had been a member of the Public Ser
vice Commission the business Of his
company had greatly increased. run
ming as high as $4,000 month. He said
il had dropped 10 about $500 a month
since the Investigation was going on.
Safety First Won Trade.
He denied, however. that Wood had
influenced the lnterboro to give has
company any business.
81 got that business myself" he de-
clared. "by giving them something they
never had
What was that?" asked Senator
Thompson, dryly.
"Why, safety first Banks answered,
proudly
Mr.. Banks further admitted that he
saw Commissioner Wood every Sunday.
but that he had only seen p. Erskine
Wood, from whom he said he bought
the stock, once since June 2 last year.
He said that he had met Wood yester-
day morning, at the latter's request,
and that they had talked over business
done with signal compan es and also
about some cancelled checks OF =. Frs
kline Wood. the commissioner brother.
Mr.. Wood and Mr.. Banks are .old
2 4