New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-08
Thompson Learns City
Must Wait for Share in
Dual Subway Profits.
COUNSEL URGES SUIT
TO NULLIFY AWARDS
Violation of Law, He Says
Williams to Testify-Unions
Complain of Wire Tapping.

Before the city draws cent from
its share Of the profits of the dual
subway system the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company will draw Sl,99O,S 800
as a sort Of discount charge for fnanc-
ing one of its own subsidiaries the
New York Municipal Railroad Company.
This was brought out by the Thomp-
son committee yesterday, when it re-
sumed its inquiry into what Senator
Thompson calls the favoritism shown
the B. r. T. by the Public Service
Commission.
Colonel Timothy s. Williams. presi-
dent of the b. r. T., is TO take the
stand to-day, and he will be asked
about this item of some 100000, as
we'll as the $4,000 item in the prior
determination claim brought to light
Tuesday. In this last sum was an item
Of $4,000 described as salary for
Colonel Williams"
MCtall chairman linen.
Clarence Shuster, Of counsel to the
Thompson committee, declared that
both sums were awarded the B. R. T..
in clear violation of the law" and
added the city ought 70 bring suit at
once to nullify the findings of the Pub
lie Service Commission which made the
awards. Edward +. Mccall, ousted
from the commission by Senator
Thompson. was chairman of the com
mission when these awards were MADE.
The testimony concerning the S2,OOO'-
600 award 10 the x. X. I. was brought
out while Adna f. Weber, chief stats
tician of the Public Service Commis-
sion, was on the stand
II was explained that the resolution
Of the Public Service Commission al
lowing the S1,990,S00 to the B. K. l..
for interest charges on its financing
of its subsidiary was passed because
the commission felt it was morally
bound 10 do so, although the contract
the b. K. r. had with the city did not
call for anS such charge.
Bonus Question Up Again.
In answer to a question Of Mr.. Shus-
ter as 70 whether or not the S5O,OOO
item in the $4,000 was not part OF a
500 900 bonus which the b. K. /. PAID
Colonel Williams. Mr.. Weber said:
81 cannot see that we are at al con-
cerned about what the b. K. !. does
with its money. If it wanted 10 vote
it's money for extra compensation IL
had a right TO do so. AS Mr.. McAneny
once said: They could buy peanuts
with it if they wished
Senator Thompson yesterday mad a
conference with labor leaders who
want him to inquire into the alleged
tapping By the police of the telephone
wires Of anton leaders and labor
unions. Senator Thompson Informed
them he did not believe his commit
tee had either the time or the right
to make such an inquiry, but set Mon
dav aside for a hearing for the labor
men.
Wires Tapped Say Labor Men.
The labor men appointed commit
tee to prepare the formal charges IL
wishes to lay before the Thompson
Committee TO show cause why their
grievance should be investigated. This
committee consists of Peter F. Brady,
secretary of the Allied Printing
Trades; Rudolph Modert, president Of
the Central Federated Union; James
p. Holland, president of the state
Federation of Labor; Ernest Bohm,
secretary of the Central Federated
Union; Hugh Frayne, of the American
Federation of Labor. and Edward l..
Hannah and William Kelly, representa-
tiyes of local unions.
Mr. Brady said last night, after re-
beating his charges of the night be
fore, that among the telephone wires
tapped by the police we're those OF the
Ladies international Garment Workers
Union and the Amalgamated Garment
Workers Union, whose members are
now on strike.
When Mayor Mitchell was told what
Mr. Brady said. he made this statement:
81 don't know that any statement
from Mr.. Brady calls for q reply
However. | want to say that If any
wires were tapped it was because the
notice had reason to believe that a
crime had been committed or was con-
templated. | think my attitude toward
organized labor is sufficiently well
known for me TO dismiss the charge
that the Police Department IN this ad-
ministration took sides against labor"