New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-23
Grand Jury May lnvesti-
gate Gossip limiting Sub
way Votes Were Bought
THOMPSON ACCUSED;
GAYNOR DEFENDED
Shonts Letters Found in City
Hall Cellar Show He Had
Five Broker Accounts.

Swami Controller Prendergast yester-
day wrote 10 was evident the Thompson
committee was trying 10 establish that
certain members Of the Board Of EST
mate who voted for the dual subway
contracts received money from tho In
tcrborough for their votes.
Controller Prcndergas:, who original
" was against the contracts and later
swung with the late Mayor Gaynor to
the side Of the Interborough, directs
the District Attorney attention to the
fact that he was one of those who voted
for the contracts.
He said that he did not feel Ike
awaiting the results Of the committee S
efforts for two reasons. First, that
after six weeks the committee has
not produced a single fact in support
Of the case its leaders are trying 70
construct" and second, because The
Evening Journal has charged public
officials with bribery in connection
with the signing of the contracts.
Appeals 10 District Attorney.
The Controller then calls attention
20 one specific case where the news
paper made what he considered a brib-
cry charge. He asks that the news
paper be compelled TO substantiate its
charge before the grand jury. that in
dictments may result, or TO prove the
untruth Of the charge. so "this news
napcr may be thoroughly exposed as
q fabricator Of unfoundcd and bastard
IS attacks upon public officials
Mr.. Prcndcrgast made public his let
ter 10 the District Attorney. Until he
had. the charge that certain members
of the Board Of Estimate received
money for their votes" passed current
only as gossip. It never reached
more substantial form because Of the
libel laws. Mr.. Prendcrgast has had
member Of his staff in constant at
tendance at the hearings. lie was IN a
rositicn to learn Of this gossip. That
he obtained 10 is evident from the open
ing paragraph Of the letter to District
Attorney Swami, which follows:
"It has been stated on numerous oc-
casions in the public press that you
have been keeping yourself informed
regarding the proceedings Of the
Legislative Investigating Committee, Of
which Senator Thompson is the chair
man. It. is. therefore, to be assumed
that YOU are not oblivious TO the prin-
cipal points which the committee has
been making an effort to develop.
Prendergast's Complaint.
ct is evident that the committee is
aiming 90 establish that the approval
of - contracts with the marlborough
Rapid Transit Company and the New
York Municipal Railway Corporation,
known as the dual subway contracts,
was brought about by corrupt meth
DDS and that certain members of the
Board OF Estimate received money for
their votes. As one Of those who was
i'm Office at the time these contracts
we're ratified. and who voted for them,
/ am stating the case badly, as I in
tend TO have the issue on this question
clearly drawn 10 the attention OF the
public
Mr.. Prendergast next takes an Of
fence at an editorial i'm which he
claims the charge of bribery Is made,
and follows 10 with n newspaper article
Of n month ago In which 10 was stated
that the Thompson committee was IN
possession OF information that the 81
100000 yellow dog fund was split
among five well known iinanciers and z
city official. who is now dead.
Mr.. Preudergast intimates that the
city official in question WAS Mayor
Gaynor, and he rises 70 his defence
and 70 an attack on Senator ThOmp-
son.
Senator Thompson Accused.
1T appears" said Mr.. Prendergast,
that the charge had its source in the
person Of the chairman Of the commit
tee. whose insinuations concerning this
phase Of tho investigation are con-
stantly in advance of facts, which he
promises, but never produces, or in
direct defiance Of facts known and
established.
"He Senator thompson has already
had "A month in which TO use the i'm
mense power of his committee 20 prove
this point. but has failed 10 DO so,
Such methods, used 20 dcfame the mem
DRY Of Mayor Gaynor. call not only for
public reprobation, but in the interests
Of ordinary dccency the machinery OF
the law should be used by you 20 see
tina, explicit charges are speedily tried
out. 20 the end that at least the dead
will be saved from any undue prolonga
ton OF this unmcrited opprobrium. ]
say unmcrtcd OpprObrum because
there is not q man who served in the
Board Of Estimate with Mayor Gaynor
who does not believe that the structures
are false. and ] am certain that they
viii ultimately be resented by every
manly man IN this community.
MAYOR Gaynor Defended.
az Mayor Gaynor were 10 walk into
meeting Of the Thompson committee
] think NO would then see "A dcrnonstra-
ton o. intellectual force over brute
instinct which would settle these
charges forever"
While Nr. Prende,gast was prcpar-
Irg this letter yesterday. Perlcy Morse,
'hc public accountant o. the Thompson
committee. found iu the dusty files I'm
Che ba emort Of The City Hall "a large
number OF letters that passed between
Mayor Gayuor and Theodore =. ShOuts
PRECEDENT of the marlborough. The
letters from Nr Shontf. Mr. Morse
said. were lengthy while The Mayor
replies were mere acknowledgements.
More Shonts Letters Found.
There worc great many letter.
va aI Nr. Nor.c would say when
..Ecd what bearing they bad ON the
taaI .ubHay contracts.
Ur Nor,o and tho letters would be-
t.lreJ oscr 20 Senator ihompfoH when
fr reached irro Tonight Nr. Morse