New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-22
WOOD A SUBTLE
IVAN WITH MASK
TO GRAFT SCOUT
Banks, Who Says He Asked
for $500 Share, Was Told
to Forget 1t.
AM | IN ON IT."
GENERAL GREETING
Johnson's Story of $4,000 Bride
Sounded True TO Him,
Witness Admits.

NltneSS huli,ltS'
To his close friend, William {.
Banks, Public Service Commissioner Il
c. Wood is "a man with mask" Inc
Thompson legislative committee
whacked at Banks. who is head Of tue
Northwestern Equipment Company, al
day yesterday in an effort to learn
whether he had ever seen the commits
sioner with his mask of. He admitted
he had At the end Of the days grill
ing Banks was told TO go home, confdc
in his wife. rcminisce a bit aud report
in the morning of what occurred when
Mr.. Woods face had been revealed to
him.
Banks was asked whether tie money
he had been promised Tor using PEI
sonal influence on Nj. WOOD vas to be
used in a matter Of bribery" lie an
swered that il might be interpreted
that way"
But" he added. with a note Of re
greet. 81 didn't get him
you mean" interrupted Assembly,
man Burr. that Cade, vice-president
Of the Federal Signal Company, toid
YOU TO 20 to Wood. and that + you did
there would be piece Of change IN l,
Tor your
well. you might put it that way,
wanted the Federal Company TO gel inc
contract. so that through IT couid
get some business
Didn't you tell me in the other
room this morning" asked Senator
Thompson, that you believed S'dney
Johnson's story was true?'
Sidney {. Johnson testified tha'
Commissioner Wood had asked HIM lo'
bride Of $4,000 to favor the Cnloh
Switch and Signal Company IN the
Centre Street loop.
Banks Answers Warily.
81 said it sounded true" replied
Didn't you say it all seemed true
to YOU insisted Nr. Thompson. .,
~ sounded true 10 me-, hedged
Banks. "thc way he described W oods
Office in Eychangc Place and all that.
Banks also testified that IN com er-
cncos and talks with Wood the latter
had explained that he had voted against
the Federal Company and IN favor OF
tho General Railway Signalling Com
rany because the B. r. 7. wanted the
second concern 20 get the contract
Senator Lewis asked Banks If he nae
sent for John Z. Cade. vice-president
Of the Federal Company.
"Yes. Right after Cade got the Cen
tire Street loop contract for the red
cral Company. ! congratulated MN on
getting the contract. and said that ].
he could use some of my materials
could supply him. He said there was
no chance; the people who helped him
on the bid would supply IT,
Banks then described the converse
ton between Cade and himself regard
ing Wood 80,
"Do YOU know that fellow Wood"
Cade asked. according 10 Banks. .,
"Yes." replied Banks. "He's hail
fellow we'll met"
81 wish you'd arrange for me to meet
him"
"A few days later" Banks told the
81 read that the Federal
Company we're low bidders on the
Fourth Avenue subway contract. !
asked Cade. Am | in on it?' meaning
would | get some business out OF the
work. He said to wait till he got his
contract and added: by the way, you
know Wood. Put in a good word for
me. II could get the contract I'd see
that you got in on it and got a piece
OF change
Banks said that Wood informed him
before the contract was awarded that
the General Railway Signalling Com
pany had purchased the Simmer patent
and that it was 2 great improvement
over what the Federal Company could
offer. Banks admitted that he did talk
the matter over with Wood and that
after the contract was awarded he
turned TO the Commissioner and asked:
How in Gods name did you give the
contract to the General Company"
Award Explained by Wood.
Wood according TO Banks, answered
tho latter that the Il. +. 7. people
wanted it and that he had been forced
TO give in.
Senator Lewis then asked Banks
number of questions, trying 10 pin him
down TO telling Of conversations with
Wood.
az ] talked Is much es you think
did I'd be tongue-tcd." said Banks.
you are tongue-tied only when you
are trying 20 conceal something
snapped back Senator Lewis.
"i'm trying to tell the truth an
swercd Banks plaintively. Then he
told Of meeting Wood last Friday night.
Wood got 81 500 from the Union
Switch and Signal Company said
Banks. "IIe gave $500 TO Sydney John
son that | ought to have had. told
him about il and he threw up his hands
and said, I'm sorry; ! forgot about
you. Forget it. too
did YOU ask Wood about the thou
sands that had?"
Not then; but will before | get
through
"You were sent TO get Wood, and
there was piece Of change in II for
you?"
"Ycs. ! couldn't get him because no
sum had been named"
"Do you think Wood ought TO be in
iail?"
"Well. if he called up Johnson and
had that talk with him about that
5000. as has been published. ] think
q li.tle iail wouldn't do him any harm