New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-27
EXP. S. c. Head Recently
Denied Finding Graft
Trail in Sideways.
PLAYING THOMPSON,
HYDE LAUDS GAYNOR
/ etter Asks Senate to Choke on
Inquiry-Prendergast to EA'
plain Late Mayors Case.

After conference yesterday DC
tween Senator Thompson and fra"'
Moss. counsel 30 the Thompson com
nittoc. il was decided 20 hold hear
inc TO-DAY 20 inquire further into the
rumor that for 100000 the influence
of "a city official now dead" could be
obtained by the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Compauy.
senator Thompson said last night he
would call William Il. Wilcox as the
first witness. Mr. Wilcox was chair
man Of the Public Service Comms-
sion while the b. K. 7. and the Inter
borough fought over the subway situa-
ton.
According to Senator Thompson, MI
Wilcox told Mr.. Moss that during
talk with Colonel Williams, president
Of the B. r. T., about three wee * ago
he had then observed that he had never
run across any corruption trails wnile
handling the dual subway contract
negotiations. ,
Senator Thompson quoted Colone!
Williams as telling Mr. Wilcox the
identity Of the Official who was I'm the
market"
This angle Of the dual subway con
tracts sand Senator Thompson last
night. sis circumstance corroborative
Of the story told By George ". Young
regarding s2.000,O0O slush fund Tor
the payment Of certain commitments
and OBLIGATIONS incurred by Theodore
p. Shonts, president Of the INTERIOR.
ough. i'm bringing about the signing OF
the dual subway contracts.
To Pursue yellow Dog"
Senator Thompson said he would fol-
low the trail OF the yellow dog FUND
and was hopeful that it would lead 20
some big game. ,
"Thc facts so far shown at the hear
ing. prove that the dual subway con-
tracts as finally agreed on we're the
worst thing for the taxpayers OF the
City Of New York, and, incidentally
tho best for the lnterborough and Is. K.
T -" continued Senator Thompson.
Even the offer said to have been made
bv agents OF the Standard OIL Com
panv an offer I would not accept-"as
infinitely better than that accepted
from the Interborough.
what this committee wants TO know
and what the public wants 10 know IS
why was the worst offer the Inter
borough made accepted by the city :
WHY was the lnterborough ofer OF
March -. 1910. on the so-caiied un-
signed letter of I. p. Shonts with
drawn? This offered TO build subways
with PETERBOROUGH money without any
cost TO the City Of New York
Senator Thompson said he believed
the Standard Oil offer genuine. and
would call witnesses TO try 10 prove II.
Controller Prendergast, 1t Is said, IS
preparing statement telling what he
knows about the rumor that Mayor
Gaynor's influence was made to appear
TO be on sale. This is expected 70
throw an entirely different light on the
whole affair
HYDE Attacks Thompson.
Charles IT, HYDE. former City Cham
berlain, convicted Of bribery, and
whose conviction was later set aside
by the Court of Appeals. stirred by
what he considered the traducing Of
Mayor Gaynor's name. wrote letter
caustically critical Of Senator Thomp-
son and the committee yesterday. Ad-
dressed to E.on r. Brown, majority
leader Of the Senate. the letter asks
for an investigation OF the Thompson
committee. Mr. Hyde was for twenty
five years associated with Mayor Gay
nor.
senator Thompson. when the letter
was read 20 him last night, said:
81 think the people Of New York
know what this committee has done
There is no need OF my replying 10 Mr..
Hyde
Mr. Hyde begins by saying that the
Thompson committee was regarded
by the public as a body ere
atcd to find reason 70 change the
personnel Of the Public Service Com
sion.
"With that done" he continues,
"thev entered on a career Of SANDER,
not only of the living but the dead"
Mr. Hyde added that after "wrang-
ling among themselves and counsel az
to their own conduct their own coun-
sci refused 10 be party TO their
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