New-York tribune., 1916-03-16


the commission.
Sent Letter from Senate.
The first letter OF Senator Lawson
read:
"The Senate Of the State Of New YORK
Albany. February !, 1916.
"Mr L. F. Reuter-, Local, Com. Mgroc
n. Y. Telephone Company, No: lO5V
Gates Avenue. Brooklyn, y. !.
"Dear Mr.. Reuter-: ] inclose here,
with. to be receipted. telephone bills OF
October ] and November l which paid
on December 8 total amount. S6.el ::
This includes total charges OF sLo
which apparently go back TO June "a
and June -. do not understand why
these toll charges should be added 70
an October bill. IN fact, think they
must have been paid on the July bill.
Will you investigate and oblige?
81 also inclose herewith check for
.s6.67 70 cover December and January
bills. would ask that all these bills
be receipted and returned 20 me at "a
Woodbine Street, Brooklyn.
"Now, with reference 20 an e1ten-
sion az my home, which subject ] took
up with you during the conversation
we had on December 9, is there no pos
extension TO be installed so as 20 obvi-
ate the necessity of running up ana
down stairs to answer the telephone
at my home? You promised 10 take
this up and let me know. but up 70 TINS
time have heard nothing from you
at is a continuing nuisance 10 nave
10 run up and down stairs day and
night every time my telephone rings,
and | don't want 10 move II TO the base
ment for the reason that we are ap-
stairs at night and II is more conven-
lent 10 answer from that point, but IN
the daytime IL puts Mrs. Lawson to
great deal Of inconvenience TO have 20
run up and down stairs; and at the
same time, while | desire this exten-
sion. do not feel ar though ! should
have TO pay Sc year for 1t.
Threat for Telephone Company.
Neither do want 20 introduce leg
islation which would compel your com
pany to supply without additional cost
one extension at least TO every SUD-
scriber desiring same.
al will say. however. that II you
cannot arrange 10 give me an eXten-
sion to the basement ! shall be com
pelled to throw out the service alto
gether and for the benefit Of those who
come after introduce legislation TO
remedy the situation.
"Kindly take this matter up with the
powers that be and see II you cannot
arrange an extension such as desired
during the current month, and obllge.
IL remain. with best wishes, cordial
ly and sincerely yours,
"R0BERT r. LAWSON
The telephone extension was not put
in free during the current month, as
Senator Lawson requested. Nor did he
introduce any legislation inimical TO
the company, as he threatened.
On Monday. March 6, he sat as vice
chairman of the Thompson Committee,
prying into the fsvors shown 10 those
with influence by "the powers that
be- The following day he was in Al
bany. That night in Albany he had
talk with one of "the powers that be"
in the New York Telephone Company,
Mr.. Beatty, tax expert employed by
the company.
Writes Second Letter.
II is evident that he told his trou-
bles TO Mr.. Beatty from a letter Sena-
tor Lawson wrote the following day
70 Mr.. Reuter-, manager of the Brook
lvn branch Of the telephone company.
This letter, dated March &, also on
Senate stationery. read:
Dear Mr.. Reuter-: inciose here
with check for s6.52 in payment for
February and March accounts. Kindly
have same receipted and return 70 me
at "a Woodbine Street, Brooklyn.
"T spoke last evening here 20 one OF
your attorneys, who represents your
company in Albany, and | believe he
can adjust the situation in New York
with reference TO the extension that
requested Of you. In any event. he is
going to take up the matter, and pre-
sumo that you will hear from head
quarters before long with reference TO
same. II you do hear favorably, ] wish
YOU would take Immediate action so as
10 eliminate the troublesome situation
that now exists with running up and
down stairs 10 answer the telephone.
I remain, sincerely yours.
ROBERT r. LAWSON.
"Gnclosure0"
Another letter that lent interest 70
the situation yesterday was one written
by William Y. Wilcox, former chair
man of the Public Service Commission.
70 Senator Thompson. 1t was in reply
70 statement made by the Senator re-
ferring TO Mr.. Wilcox as "an ex-com-
missioner who had graduated into an
Interborough lawyer and probably
would be a successor to Quigg."
Mr. Wilcox, after asking Senator
Thompson to give him the source Of his
information, denied that he ever re-
ceived a cent, directly or indirectly,
from the lnterborough, and was not
and never had been, under any retainer
from the Interborough.
"Since left the commission wrote
Mr.. Wilcox, 81 have appeared several
times in matter. opposed to the Inter
borough Company"
George W. Young Returns.
With the return Of George w. Young
to town word was Immediately con-
veyed TO Frank Moss, counsel TO the
Thompson committee, that the former
Interborough director would be ready
70 testify when the committee wanted
him.
There will be public hearing OF the
Thompson committee tomorrow in the
City Hall. st which representatives OF
civic bodies. and others interested In
rapid transit matters will air their
views on Senator Thompson's proposal
20 take the supervision of transit work
in New York City out Of the hands Of
the Public Service Commission and