New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-21
Committee Is Anxious to
Hear Dawson on mutual
Friend" Note.
PRENDERGAST DIGS
AT CHAIRMAN
Controller Puts Political Ambi-
ton Up to Senator-lndif'
ferent About Tubes.

tons which tended TO reflect upon the
conduct OF former Mayor Gaynor or
Mayor Mitchell in relation TO the nego-
tiations for the dual subway contracts
Controller William A. Prendergast en-
liyened the hearing bcfors the Thomp-
son legislative committee yesterday By
diverting the inquiry into political
channels at every opportunity. The Con-
-troller occupied the witness chair dur
ing the entire days sessions.
Failure to reach Henry P. Dawson,
Of the Morgan banking firm, with a sub
pnna led Senator George W. Thompson
to announce that the committee expect
ed TO continue TO take testimony after
July /, when the life OF the committee
expires under the ruling of the Legls-
lature. Mr. Dawson is away on fishing
trip, and will not return until some
time after July l."
The committee is anxious 70 question
Mr.. Dawson about . letter supposed TO
have been written to Theodore P.
Shonts, president Of tho Interborough
Rapid Transit Company, on November
80, 1910, by a member Of the Morgan
firm. That was Immediately following
the crisis in the negotiations for the
dual contracts, when the late Mayor
Gaynor and Controller Prendergast bit
terly opposed the marlborough.
"Our Mutual Friend" Note.
The clause in the letter which most
concerns the committee is an alleged
reference to "our mutual friend" who
was in the city government at the time
and had arrived at a decision not to
oppose the Interborough any further
in the Board Of Estimate. ]. P. Morgan
and Mr.. Shonts, when they appeared
before the COMMITTEES as witnesses,
could not remember the identity Of
"our mutual friend"
Early in the session Controller Prem
dergast intimated that Senator Thomp-
son had gubernatorial aspirations. He
declared that the Senator's recent visit
70 Governor Whitman bore out this
conclusion. Senator Thompson modest
ly denied he had any such aspirations
The Controller laughed loudly when
Senator Thompson tried to show by
reading previous record of the hear
ings that he and Governor Whitman
never had any differences TO speak Of.
Prendergest finally declared that Sem
ator Thompson ought to spend more
time upstate right now, as a new state
Controller is about to be appointed
I'm not interested in that" said SEN
ator Thompson.
ooh, yes, you are" said the Con-
troller.
I'm a lawyer. I'm not a fnancier,"
said the chairman.
something, but won't" said Mr.. Prem
dergast.
"Well, hereby decline the nomina-
ton for State Controller" said Senator
Thompson.
do not say that" said the Con-
troller You know, it may be forced
upon you"
"You are looking upstate with a
downstate eye" said the chairman.
At one point of the examination
Frank Moss, counsel TO the committee.
referred 10 the experts on the Board
OF Estimate, mentioning the name of
Mayor Mitchell.
His Opinion OF Mayor.
with all due respect TO my friend,
Mayor Mitchell" said Controller Prem
dergast 81 do not believe he knows any
more than other members Of the Board
of Estimate"
There was a clash between Senator
Thompson and the witness when the
former said that he understood the
Controller had said that the Mayors
attitude in regard to the dual contracts
was not as the record showed.
Il never said anything TO insinuate
that the Mayor was not acting with the
most upright motives" said the wit
ness, "even when | disagreed with him.
| always gave him credit for sincere
and conscientious beliefs. although
might think he was mistaken"
In answer TO further questions the
witness declared that his relationship
with none of the persons interested in
the subway negotiations. outside of the
city officials, had been close.
did you ever meet any of these
gentlemen, Anthony n. Brady, Colonel
Timothy Williams, William G. McAdoo
and others when you were alone with
Mayor Gaynor?" asked Mr. Moss.
mo" replied the Controller, unless
it might have been Colonel Williams.
We had lot of business with him and
he may have come into the room some
time when Mayor Gaynor and were
alone"
Refuses TO Make Answer.
"Did you believe that Mayor Gay
nor's antasonism to the Interborough
plan was a real one2" asked Mr.. Moss.
any personal opinion" said the witness
81 will not be drawn into any contro-