The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-24

The attack OH the Thompson commit
zee by Comptroller Prendergast on
Wednesday nisht became a ~broadsids
yesterday.
Former Public Service Chairman Will.
lam X. Wilcox and Col. Timothy $. Will
Jams of the u. X. I. Joined in the fusil-
lade. following a letter which the Comp
trOller addressed to Senator Thompson
yesterday noon reviewing his futile at
tempts 20 a the witness stand. The
Comptroiler's letter to the chairman is
the Thompson coipmittec' which he un-
dertook a little more than a month w
The second--his letter to District Attor-
ney Swann-was written. II was learned
yesterday, after Mr.. Prendergast had a
talk with the widow Of Mayor 6aynor.
In his letter to Senator Thompson the
Comptroller reiterated his charge that
the committee's Investigation has been
carried on In q way ito distOrt facts and
evade real issues" The Senator's state
ment In Albany OF Wednesday night. oc-
casioned by Mr.. Prendergasts letter to
Judge swami demanding "a Grand Jury
investigation of bribery charges In rela-
ton to the dual subway contracts. was
DTaVOeu w Tue SOtlDtToiitT nj a NOWe
! urdly attempt to give a dishonest twist
20 the situation"
Mr.. Prendcrgast insists again that he
and Mr.. Wilcox be heard by the COM
m.ttee. 1t IL evident. asserted the Comp
~tro,ler. that Senator Thompson 'is act
ing a. the tool of a certain newspaper"
WILCOX Takes q Hand.
The letter which former Chairman
-, At la AlyAa
issue with the latter's statement In Al
bany on Wednesday night. In which he
was quoted as saying:
1T does seem to me. however. that the
work OF the committee could be greatly
lessened we're Messrs. Prendergast and
Wilcox and others who had charge OF
subway matters for the city TO come out
futile Efforts TO be heard BY the COM
mittec. dating back to the committees
early activities. He maintains in his let
ter that Senator Thompson's statement
would seem to indicate "an UNWILLING
ness on my part to give your
any information ! may have regarding
the subjects In question
The statement OF Col. Williams points
out that the taxpayers Of New YorS
actually received in cash last year divi-
dends ag%gregating A.l1S.,H1 as a resuh
Of the u. II. T.'s subway contract OF
March 10. 1918, for It's part Of the dua|
system. This information. Col. VIII.
Jams said. has beer available TO the
Thompson committee. but the fact thar
=: was overlooked by the investigator
may have been due TO the failure OF the
|, committee to discover the features OF the
) contract which show the hard bargain
. with the railroad companies which ms
/. city officials drove. or II may be acrib
uted TO an indisposition to make publ,
facts OF this kind"
The Prendergaat Letter.
= The letter which the Comptroller ad
. dressed 10 Senator Thompson follows
I'm the statements I have heretofore
. de.ned il necessary, TO make regarding
:. the subway controversy ! have charged
that you AVE been conducting the in
v~es;igation in such a way as TO dis'or'
? facts and evade real issues. have
before me. IN a statement attributed &c
. YOU In a morning paper. absolute con
armation OF the opinions ! have sx'
pressed regarding our work. You say
IN a paragraph which bears quotation
marks and is apparently a direct state
i ment by you. that the work OF yon'
! committee will be greatly lessAned were
e Messrs. Prendergast and Wilcox ant
others who had charge OF subway mat
l tiers for the city To come out IN th'
I omen. This statement On your par
Is a cowardly attempt to give a dis
honest twist TO the situation.
ION Sunday. February .. YOU mad'
Y certain remarks about ms connection
with the subway matter which wer'
based upon utterly slanderous and lyin,
statements appearing in a New forl
newspaper. When told OF what yoI
had said I informed the reporters tia
would be glad to appear before you
. committee Il any time and educa''
YOU upon the subway question. You i'm
med.ately took official cognizance o
my remark by issuing a subpoena 10
me the following day. To have sen
this subpoena was simply a cheap ex
e hibition OF your power In the matter
because YOU knew that no cit" ofhcia
a would refuse TO appear before Yon
committee IL ne were requested 10 d.
SO and that a subpoena was entirel'
Unnecessary.
"The subpoena called for my appear
ing on the following Friday. Februar'
II, I went TO the committee roor
promp.ly and after being detained a.
hour was informed that ] would not b
required that day. but would probab'
be called upon to testify the following
. Wednesday.
- Promised Chance by Colby.
''Tuesiay mig h February Is. in IN
presence of Deputy Comptroller RroueI
Secretary MORGAN and Chief Accounta'
Machines of the Finance Department.
-. - ,.o, than counsel. RalnDriIg