New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-03
In Amiable Way Replies
to Questions Put by
Thompson and Moss.
ONLY HEARD OF
STEVENS CONTRACT
marlborough Director Listens to
Words Between Committees
Head and W. H. Reynolds.

The first of the marlborough direc-
tors to get along smiably with the
Thompson committee proved to be Cor
nelius Vanderbilt. He was on the stand
yesterday for more than an hour AMI
answered the questions OF Senator
Thompson and Frank Moss as fast as
they were fired at him.
Mr.. Vanderbilt said the first time he
heard about commitments and obli-
cations was when the committee
spread the story on it's record. He only
knew of the Stevens contract through
hearsay. and told the committee that
he believed the bonuses to the Inter
borough officials were to be paid by the
company, not the city.
While Mr.. Vanderbilt was waiting to
be called he was entertained with lit
tie explosion on the part Of ex-senator
| William II. Reynolds. Senator Thomp-
son had just anr ounced-for the bcnc-
! fl Of the Mayor that the committee
was through with the overlapping in
ouiry. He added il was a collateral
matter that the committee had thrust
upon it, and spoke in like manner OF
the $4,000 graft trail that developed
two days ago.
Outrage" Says Reynolds.
Mr.. Reynolds, who had been waiting
TO explain his connection with the case,
jumped UP and said:
"Mr. Chairman, do understand that
/ am not to be heard? ?"
Senator Thompson explained that he
would be heard when Mr.. Vanderbilt
and r. A. Gillespie finished. Mr.. Gil
lespic testified for a few minutes. but
his testimony did not help in tracing
a yellow dog fund.
Ex-senator Reynolds when he was
sworn was asked to waive immunity
This he did Then he said:
81 never heard OF any agreement pc
tween the New York Dock Company snd
IN. CITY Of New York until | read OF
IL in the newspapers with my name
connected with it. 1t is an Outrage,
that mans name should he dragged
into an affair like this and his reputa-
tion injured
Tells Of Stevens Contract.
Mr.. Vanderbilt, after taking the
stand. was asked by Mr.. Moss When
he first heard about the stevens con
tract. He replied it was first brought
M in the summer OF 1913.
"I was in London" he said, land the
late William A. Read dropped IN TO
coo me at nv hotel. He told me there
had been a little mix-up in the Inter,
borough and that Shonts had started
!, nv calling a meeting Of the board
~ directors suddenly. He told mo
some directors objected TO one form
Of the Stevens contract and others to
another. and he thought the WORK
ought TO be done by the lntcrborougn
itself. next heard of 1t at board
meeting. I asked: How about the
Stevens contract and some one said
il was all off-nothing doing
what was Mr.. Morgan's attitude on
it?"
az don't know" -,
when did you first hear OF the I'LL
lespie contract
AT the meeting at which IL was
brought up" -,
"Did you follow the working out OF
that contract"
"No."
"Do YOU know that Terry e. Tench,
an unsuccessful bidder, has done most
of the work through sub-contract
from T. A. Gillespie Company"
mo"
"Did you think Mr.. Gillespie was TO
take the entire contract!
81 so understood it," AT this point
Mr.. Moss read figures provided by the
/ Gillespie Fl rm showing the finances OF
! the contract
Same Questions Asked.
"Did you ever say to any one hold.
ing an official position in the City OF
| New York that some one had spoken
/ to YOU about commitments and obligs'
/ tions ~. the witness was asked.
"Not that | remember"
Then Mr.. Moss asked Mr. Vanderbilt
the same series of questions that he
/ has put TO all Interborough directors
who have been on the stand so far,
and that he intends to put 10 all, re.
gardinP the change of attitude OF
Mayor Gaynor and Controller Prem
! dergast on the dual subway contracts.
"Did you ever learn what converted
the Mayor" asked Mr.. Moss.
81 suppose he thought it was the
best contract for the city" said Mr..
Vanderbilt. Mr.. Vanderbilt said he
knew the late Mayor Gaynor well. and
once, in December, 1910, talked subway
matters with him.
"The Mayor said to me: Conditions
in the subway are Notwithstanding
and all that ! said: L know IT.
ride in the subway twice a day He
said: What can you do TO remedy II?