The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-01
WITNESSES REVOLT
IN SERVICE INQUIRY
Weary After Weeks Of Wait
ing, Many Voice Protests
Against Delay.
%"OuTRAGE," CRIES ONE

When Senator George r. Thompson
announced at the conclusion OF a near
ing Of his legislative COMMITTEES yester-
day that all witnesses under subpoena
would be expected at 1876 broadway
again on Monday morning there was an
uneasy shifting Of feet. a lot Of scowl-
ing and suppressed groans and then
finally an o~utspoken protest. Some OF
the protesting men had been attending
the sessions OF the committee every day
for the last three weeks.
p. s. Simmer, owner OF the patent
speed control, device which is being In
stalled In the Fourth avenue subway:
was the hrst to voice his protest Az
sorts OF stories have been printed about
..slush funds" and discoveries" that
never took DEFINITE form and Mr.. Sim
mems name has been connected with
them.
II have beer under a cloud for the
last two weeks" he said. You nave
caused 10 be printed certain statements
about me and my company. In 'he
eyes Of the public I am a grafter. now,
all I want is a chance TO tell my side
% this case, am here with my attor-
w. iii VIII
to tell you facts. hut you don't CIV us
a chance. I am a busy man and dont
think n Is fair to keep me here ike TINS
All | ask Ia that you name Inc time
when you want me. | Will be on mana
them"
senator Thompson said that he would
not let Mr.. Simmer make a statement
Mr.. Simmer would he called wheh 'he
committee was ready to hear him ana
-.-.tl .t..- H...a IN .hl MOO 10 eNDlHlU any
thing he wanted to-. said the Senator
Calls Delay an "OutraGe."
81 am in the same situation" said
w. W. Salmon. president OF the Gen
eral Railway signal Company am
ready TO tell YOU everything l KNOW
about, his business. Here Is my ch'et
engineer, he will tell you all ne knows.
II YOU want facts you can Set theni
without, all this delay. | think II " an
outrage 10 keep these men AROUND mere
week after week like this
William II. Wilcox. former chairman
~ the Public Service Commission anu
now counsel for the General COMPANY
smoke along the same lines and with me
same eject. He was waved aside with
the assertion that counsel didn't have TO
-emain unless they wanted TO, but that
the witnesses s~ubpDnacd must De on
hand on Monday morning, all OF 'heW"
Mr.. wilcox waxed wra;hful over the
situation. He declared that apparently
Senator Thompson and his committee
we're on a shing expedition and were
irving to create the impression that II
big scundal was to be uncovered.
W. are here with the men VINO AN
give the facts. but the Thompson com
m,t,ee doesn't seem 10 want facts, ne
said. Now I will tell you that II this
farce keeps up much longer We VIII set
forth these facts ourselves In spite OF
this committee"
Nothing was lone despite the protests
and the committee will meet again on
Monday morning. Senator Thompson
! said that the bank accounts OF Com
missioner Wood. his mother and his
! brother are being examined and that
charges would not be laid before the
| Governor until this examination was
! completed. He could give no definite
, time when tine Commissioners removal
would be asked for.
/, Fights 10 Guard Private Papers.
, Arthur J. Baldwin. who sold 10 the
| General Railway Signal Company a sig
! nal paten, which he had bought from the
| inventor, Hannibal c. Ford, produced Il
check for $4,000 which he received
/ from the General company IN payment
| OF royalties. He refused !" let The COM
mi,,ee see his bank books and other
..z,, holding that while ha WAS