New-York tribune., 1916-06-25
NerrilI Tells Thompson
Prendergast Didn't Stand
by Subway Pledge.
GAYNOR DEFEATED
CITY OWNED TUBES
Publisher Testifies He Won ESti'
mate Board Members Over to
Company'S Plan.

, Bradford Merrill. publisher Of The
New York American" was the principal
witness before the Thompson legisi'-
tive committee yesterday. He explained
AZ length his interest in the dual sub
way negotiations and his efforts TO get
the BOARD Of Estimate to adopt plans
for city owned subways He contra
dicted parts Of Controller Prender-
CASTS previous testimony, particularly
in regard 20 an interview with the Con
troller at Merrill's Office shortly before
The Controller decided 70 vote for the
dual subway system.
Controller Prendergast issued
statement last night about Mr. MeF-
rils testimony. lie said:
'"In the face Of Mr Merrills tesh-
monv. 7 wish 10 reiterate and confirm
everything TO which l testified regard
inc nv interview with Mr.. Merrill at
my Office and also regarding my inter
view with him at The American once
on the night Of July 10, 1911.
Saws Controller was Nervous.
.u.;..oo
"As far as the thompson coi''"'.'''
is concerned, I refuse to discuss II inr-
ther. except 10 say that Mr.. Merrill was
apparently the author Of many ques'
ions put TO me by Nr Moss. His tc'-
timony is nothing more than reci'a-
tion previously framed between h'm-
.fr "a 7-,o,,Deon Moss & Co."
..o ;,+orview be
Coming dow" 'o '"' 80, ,...-.,s +,
.wccn Nr. Prendergast ana hl'HSe.. '''
h.. oefoo of "Tbo American" Mr. Mer-
A.. Co,.~ollcr TO
.Ii sara ne "sN'N .'0
.ome 90 the once OF i"e m
t-,.-es +Ir situation. Nr. NerTI.
-,.1.. L,,,. b. ,,o
sac he asked Li'i -I"''n'. -. -.o .l'l NOV.
coi2I 'o ..,s bo ~ traitor
tar and "h..n,' "o,''N
or Won "r.p ".- ''iN ,,,r,.o,,s 90
Nj ire.. "'I5 80, C-y 80 io,.-
sald ..'. afo,,t The adral
rambling siaIcntI, "Do"' Wv 80
tarcs Of rrc-ce"t i~Te az o'. r'.,.
and the advantages OF l.l'A.is -.'' ir,.
subway win tne pIese"1 s.o,,,', s,,.',';,,-
arguments were the ora 60, Po'"'' .-o
suments used al tne DEl-g.'T -,
first subway and 70 wnlch .Nr. ! 'e'.Uv
gast had been opposed during lhe cam
raign. His manner convinced ne tna'
he had promised TO support the inter
borough
Gaynor statement -N1'"'
The witness said the OohlroHei "a.
down at Mr.. Hearsts desk picNea 'y
some paper and began 70 write a. -.
finishing the statement MI :ne-
said, the Controller turned 10 M" .a
said, We'll, there you are nc
written 1t now; there II Is III O'"0" """
white" .,
81 congratulate you, Mr., MeriI1
said he told the Controller. ou aIf
not Going down In disgrace then. 'u
aro % nan Of YOUR word"
When PrendcrCast was witness he
testified that while he was Wrl.l'-
tho statement In Mr.. MerrllS oIce
John Weier, City Hall reporter I"5
"The American came TO ms Goof ="
handed him Mayor Gaynor Ga'l'Ia".c
rascaIty' statement about (ne me
borough and the subway. Ir. MyIi
said yesterday he had askeo 4r' 9,n " s,vI ,,r
when he had seen ne Oon' o'IS
Weier replied that he sa" Mr' Ie-G
cast some time after he .eit MI, Mer
rilPs Office Nr. Weier told Mr. MerF'4i
he thought the Gaynor statement c@rlc
ont about 10 o'clock that nlghI. -''''
Merrill thought Dir. Neler was III
taken and that the statement did ho'
come out until after il O'Clock.
Puzzled by GaynOrs Change.
4. .bo examination Of Controller
- oroaet Wr Moss intimated that
So-..-oiior nod written his state
.ne g.. NJ Ner~iU declaring his oo-
lneH. lo' 40 f1to2horough plan be.
os'''CH " ca,,ro- statement appeareJ.
Io.e n Sie 80 s,,bn,a,, nocotiatiors. Mr.
ineNl., neNlyw'ts -, .',s ,,.ttb tIa Navo~altv cam
MetIlI 900 rn:,+i,@, ou+ nat tho
palgn OF ivy, Po'-.li'.t Il. ,.ar;o,,s o',,.
preelecuoh PlSsus ~ o;t,. - b,,;Id .od
dldates were IOi 'H' 0''' "