New-York tribune., 1915-11-09
'M'CALL ADMITS
INTEREST STILL
In WIFE'S STOCK
Statement Before ThOmp-
son Committee May Be
Cause for Removal.
WITNESS IN TILTS
WITH LEGISLATORS
Testimony ColOred. Public Ser
vice Chairman Says-TO
Show Shares To-day.

Chairman Edward +. Mccall OF the
Public Service Commission admitted
on the stand yesterday at the Thomp-
son legislative committee hearing at
l65 Broadway that his interest in the
3S7 shares OF Kings County Electric
Light and Power stock now in Mrs.
McCall's possession was just as great
as if he were the owner
This confession" probably will be
one Of the main points in the recon-
mendation for Mr. McCal's removal
which il is said the Thompson commit
tee will draw up at the close OF the
hearings. This stock paid s3.O96 an
nually in dividends.
Chairman Mccall and Commissioner
Robert {. Wood were the only WIT
nesses Yesterday. Mr.. Mccall left tn.
stand after about one hours testimony
on the demand by the committee that
he produce the stock certificates lie
went away. promising to produce them
at 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
The committee waited until o'clock.
and on the failure OF the Public Ser
vice chairman to reveal what progress
he had made in his search for the
stock Merton +. Lewis. Deputy Attor-
ney General. counsel for the commit
tee. telephoned to him. Mr.. Mccall re
sponded that he would not be able TO
gain possession of the certificates be-
fore i0:3O o'clock this morning, when
he will again take the stand.
Says Testimony Is Colored.
Seemingly convinced that the com
mittee is out to force his removal, Mr
Mccall accepted every opportunity to
battle with his uuestioners, asserting
that he would criticize the members OF
the committee when he felt justified
in so doing, and charging that his tes-
timony was being colored.
He began his testimony with the
statement that Mrs. Mccall was nov
the owner of the Kings County stock
which he rad owned prior 10 becoming
member of the commission. but ne
didn't know where the certificates were
Nr. Lewis suggested that Mrs. Mccall
might be called to clear this up, but
Mr.. Mccall said that it would not be
necessary 20 summon her-that he
would produce them.
II was denied by the Public Service
chairman that ne had bought the stock
from Andrew Freedman.
at was in 1903 or 1904 that | got
the stock" he said; 81 bought it
through !. s. Bache e. Co.. brokers"
How did the name Of John j. Mackln
get on the certificates, and that OF
Freedman as the man who had turned
the stock over to Mackin?"
"Now let me tell you about that so
it will be clear" Mr.. Mccall exclaimed
"You know what position Mackin held;
he was merely my confidential officer.
| lust had the stock put in his name.
There was a loan on the stock at ne
time from Freedman, and the stock was
given to Freedman as security for the
loan. When the loan was paid on
Freedman turned back the certificates.
That is all there is to it. Mackin didn':
know anything about the transaction;
he didn't know any more about IT than
your child"
Asks Purpose of Question.
The transfer TO Mrs. Mccall. the wit
ness said, was made prior to his en-
trance into the Public Service Commits
sion in February, 1913.
After Mr.. Mccall had testified at
the quarterly dividends on the stock
amounted to STA Senator Georgc F.
Thompson, chairman. said:
you had just as much interest in
it if il was Mrs. McCalps as you could
have had if it had been yours, didn't
you?"
"Just as much; just as much" the
witness replied. Then he suddenly
said;
81 don't know what the purpose Of
that question is. What do you mean ?"
well" Senator Thompson answered,
T haven't any particular definition OF
it,"
81 want to say" Mr. Mccall remarked,
in an unfriendy tone. that this idea
that I bought the stock from Freedman
gives the transaction d bad color. and
also want to say that whoever gives
that impression in questions about 1t is
wrong"
This committee" Chairman Thomp-
son said sternly. Stands back of every
question that Mr.. Lewis asks. | won't
have what he has done criticized or
anything that this committee does
criticized.
"Well. shall criticize anybody who
says that bought the stock from
Mccall retorted.
81 didn't say you had bought the
stock from Freedman Mr. Lewis said,
and that tilt was over. But. later on.
in discussing the examination of
Mackin the witness angrily complained
that that questioning had been unfair.
Commissioner Wood Testifies.
Commissioner Wood went on when
the session was resumed following
luncheon. He said that before he be-
came a Public Service Commissioner
he was in the brokerage business and
MS firm handled public utilities stocks
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