The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-01
THOMPSON TO DELVE
INTO SUBWAYCAVEIN
Will Seek to Imcitc Action
Against Lawyers Involved
in Dual Contract Suits.
SESSIONS GO on TO-DAY

senator George +. Thompson, chair
man Of tho legislative investigating COM
mi,tec. which resumes It's sessions this
morning in the Municipal Building. an
nounced last night that he would send
TO the Bar Association and the County
Lawyers Association In A day or two
marked copies Of the committees record
concerning the suits which were insti-
tuted TO test the validity OF the dual
subway contracts. The Senator hopes TO
inclte the grievance committees Of the
associations to investigate the actions Of
certain lawyers In the validity suits.
The committee Intends 10 take up to-
day an inquiry into the subway cavein at
Seventh avenue and Twenty-fourth
street. In September last year. IN which
seven persons were killed and many IN
jured. Senator Thompson and Frank
Moss. counsel TO the committee. held an
extended conference YESTERDAY. outlining
the procedure to be followed by the
committee in the next two months. SEN
ator Thompson said the theory of the
committees inquiry In the Seventh ave-
nue. acciden was that the investigation
by Coroner Israel Feinberg immediately
after the accident was closed pre-
maturely and before all the facts were
developed.
Senator Thompson issued a statement
last night covering the status OF the
committee 10 date In which le said
The legislative committee investigat-
ing public service conditions esume it,
hearings IN the city of Ncw York ON
Monday. Its power to subpoena wit
nesses has been limited to July l and the
policy Of the committee rlust be shaped
accordingly. The committee had no def
mite policy when II started it, inves,i-
CATION except "A policy OF ascertainiug
conditions. reporting tho facts aud per-
forming It's simple duty to the state
under the circumstances AZ developed.
That general policy will of course be
continued. such - course might seem
very easy to pursue. II might indeed
be regarded as the course OF least re-
s~istance, but our experience is quite to
the contrary"
The statement points out that tho
committee has found that what little
power the Public Service Commission
had IN respect to the dual subway con-
tracts the commission failed 70 exercise
for the benefit of the public. senator
Thompson also emphasized "th mass OF
complications In which the contracts
were involved. He charged that tho
Public Service Commission a - nd-
ministere-1 the laws as To have been d
buffer between the corporations and the
public TO the increased advantage Of the
corporations.
In this connection Senator THOMPSON
called attention To III" continued erection
OF "unsightly" elevated structures and
the subway construction at a very slow
pac" a. an e~xtravagiut and in
creased cost over previous similar work
or all the schemes or plans brought 10
the attention Of tho authorities. sail
Senator Thompson. his committee found
that ~" dudl subway contracts w.r.
the most "Ntravagant AMI co-''y to tho
city and thu public. r.. chairman also
criticised the commissioners again a.
'1neiiir,,u'. incapable and r'utrut &C
a great d,il o ~" public service com
mission LAW, cvadinc, iruorHue or Nloldt
ing provisions Of the law Of which they
were famil'ar."