The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-14
FULTON ST. CHARGES
STIR SERVICE BOARD
Whitney and a Deputy Engi-
neer Accused Of Showing
Favoritism to r. r. T.
QUICK DENIAL rs MADE

-
Herbert L. Carpenter. presiderf oil
the Fulton Street Protective Leagse OF
Brooklyn and chairman of the Fulton
Street Property Owners Association
created a stir at the meeting Of the
Thompson legislative committee yester-
day by asserting that Travis II. Whit
ney. secretary Of the Public Service
Commission. and Daniel L. Turner. dep.
uty engineer In charge of construction,
Ind aligned themselves on the side of
the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company
and had constantly been active against
the public interest in the matter OF
third tracking the elevated railroad In
Fulton street.
Az soon as he heard of the test!-
mony given by Mr.. Carpenter Secre-
tarv Whitney hurried to the meeting
OF the Thompson committee and In
sisted that he be heard. He denied
each and every one OF the charges made
by Mr.. Carpenter and last night after
seeing a stenographic transcript of the
testimony he issued a statement deny
Ing in greater detail all that had been
alleged against hin COMMISSIONS
William Hayward at the same time is
sued a statement supporting that of
Mr.. whitney. declaring that to his per-
sonal knowledge Mr.. Whitney had given
the Fulton street matter his most care
full attention This Is the first time that
any charge has been made against Mr..
Whitney In connection with his work,
and he has been secretary to the COM
mission since It's organization.
Injunction Obtained.
Before taking the stand Mr.. Carpen-
ter a obtained from supreme Court
Justice Callaghan an injunction re-
straining the Public Service Commission
from giving final consent to. the third
tracking of the elevated In Fulton street
from Nostrand avenue to Cumberland
street and directing the commission to
show cause to-day why the Injunction
SHOULD not be made permanent.
Mr.. Carpenter contends that TO con-
inue the construction with solid steel
Virdep will shut out the light and air
TO which property owners along the
street are entitled. The commission has
already given An order permitting the
continuance OF the work. the Il, r. T.
having agreed not TO work further east
than Cumberland street for six month
in order TO give property owners a
chance to devise a substitute for the
elevated.
M. Carpenter began his attack by
saying that he believed great pressure
had been brought TO bear on certain de-
partments OF the Public Service Com
mission to get its consent TO let the
railroad company go ahead with the
work. This consent was given on Janu-
AIRY 8 last. the b. r. T. contcnding that
unless It got such consent it would he
unable to take advantage OF an option
on construction steel needed for this
work. Deputy Attorney-General Mer-
ton Z. Lewis asked what departments
Mr.. Carpenter referred TO.
81 believe" he said. that the attitude
OF Mr.. Turner of the engineering depart
ment and OF Mr.. Whitney. secretary to
the commission. in apparently opposing
any action by the commission contrary
To the interests of the transit umpany
materially Influenced the action of ths
commission, particularly In view OF the
new members. who, being in office only
q short time, might not grasp the situa-
ton fully"
sticks TO His Charges.
Mr.. Carpenter asserted further that
when he was serving members of the
commission yesterday with copies OF the
injunction granted by Justice Callaghan
Air. whitney declined to advise him as
TO how such service should be made. NJ.
Carpenter had previously admitted tha,
MS counsel had left him because he did
not pay the fee demanded. He also
charged that at a Board OF Estimate
nearing on the Fulton street matter Mr..
Whitney conferred with chief counsel
for the y. Il. T. and that both opposed
having the matter referred to the Cor
poration Counsel for an opinion.
Senator Lewis drew the attention Of
the witness 10 the seriousness of the
charges he was making. but Mr.. Car
penter stuck TO his proposition. declar-
Ing at the close that he considered the
attitude OF Mr.. Whitney and Mr.. Turner
was against the public interest.
Il will appear before the committee
Tomorrow morning. said Mr.. Whitney
last night. ito answer these charges in
detail, because as 10 every one of them
i can prove by the testimony of others
and by documentary evidence that he is
absolutely wrong and Is merely attempt
ing to besmirch other people because he
did not like the decision OF the commits
sion itself on the Fulton street matter.
when all the facts are known IL will
De plain that a more perverted state
ment OF my real attitude could not pos
efbly have been made"
II am free to say" Commissioner Hay
ward said. that Mr.. whitnsy has at ali
times manifested a disposition of earnest
sympathy IN behalf OF the citizens and
property owners affected by this struc-
ture. and hav never once seen him in
any manner attempt to favor the rail-
road company in the controversy. I
know that he has had many conferences
with the citizens of Brooklyn as to a
satisfactory solution In tho matter. The
reason why plans advanced by Mr.. Whit
ney could not be adopted was because
Of legal restrictions.
What I have said about NJ. Whitney
. also true about Mr.. Turner"
The Thompson committee will con-
onue its hearings this afternoon. For
mer COMMISSIONS Robert c. Wood will
probably be a witness.