New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-14
Prendergast Asserts
Thompson Commit
tee Should Call Him.
REGRETS SHONTS
DID NOT TESTIFY
Truth Should Be Known
About $2.000,000 Slush
Fund Charge.

came out last night in defence of the
dual subway contracts. which have
been under the Thompson committees
fire for a fortnight
Mr.. Prcndergast asserted that IIor-
ace VI. Fisher. secretary Of the Inter
borough. who has been daily on the
stand befor, the Thompson committee
for more than week, does not under
stand the dual subway contracts. The
Controller. in an interview following
the giving out Of a statement. said
that as a result of the inability of Mr..
Fisher to answer questions put TO him
by Bainbridge Colby, counsel 20 the
committee. erroneous impressions had
been created.
"If the Thompson comm ttee wants
TO know the truth about these con
tracts. particularly the city's relation
to them, why does not the committee
subpoena to the stand George A. Nc
Aneny. who recently resigned from
the Board Of Estimate, and myself?
We know all about them, and We won't
have 10 reply Il do not know when
we are asked concerning them
Mr.. Prendergast said it was uu-
fortunate that Theodore p. Shonts did
not insist upon taking the stand when
it was testified tn there was a slush
fund Of s2.OOOOOO needed to pay of
certain commitments and obligations
Shonts Incurred IN making the dual
contracts with the city.
at is to be regretted that upon the
publication of this charge" said Mr.
Prendergast. "Mr. Shonts did not i'm
mediately demand a hearing for the
purpose of meeting the charge and cx-
planning it thoroughly. ] hope that
this charge Will be sifted to the bot
tom. The Thompson committee will
deserve commentator for disclosing
the truth
No City Money in Il" Contract.
an that contract which Mr.. Shonts
wanted TO give John f. Stevens for
third-tracking and extending tho IL
lines 1t has been maintained that the
contractor would reap q percentage Of
profits estimated at S2,OOO,OOO.
"This much must be understood. how
ever: The city had nothing TO do with
making that contract The work was
TO be done entirely by the railroad com
pany with its own money, the city not
contributing dollar"
This work. Mr. Prendergast added.
was done under contracts let with the
approval Of the Public Service Commis-
sion
One point that Nr. Prcndereast om-
phasized in his statement was that he
believed the s927,oOQ which the Public
Service Commission allowed the Inter
borough TO charge to construction was
a fair allowance. and a small one. as
the city was allowed TO charge four
times that amount for work il had done
n the four wears of negotiations that
led mp TO tho signing Of the dual sub
way contracts. lie adds. however, that
if the Shonts bonus Of SljO,OOO is con
cealed i'm .his allowance ID Is an lm-
proper allowance.
"I'm not q lawyer" said Mr. Prem
dcrgast. but ! believe that if the In
terborouch has charged any imprope.
items 20 the construction account, and
through Misrepresentation or other
wise these payments have been allowed
bv tho Public Service Commission.
there are many ways of compelling the
lutcrborough 10 return those sums out
Of its treasury
Laughingly Mr. Prcndergast referred
10 the daily discoveries that private
capital was to receive preference M
respec, 20 interest and carry
charges"
"This point was so thoroughly de-
batcd from 1910 to 1919 said Mr..
Prendcrgast. "that 20 have % now
brought forward as q matter Of Glscoy-
cry indicates only that Rip van W ink4c
has walked after another long sleep.
Mr.. Prcndcrga,t lntlmated that ne
would give forth daily statements for
the nurpose Of educating the Ihomp-
Aneny were called to the stand to give
true account Of the terms of the dual
subway contracts.
Nr. Prendergast's Statement.
I'm his statement Mr. Prendergast
said:
"A the result of the work of the
Thompson committee. the newspapers
of this city for the last few days have
been filled with mass Of Inaccurate
and misleading statements regarding
the dual subway contracts. A. "a mem
her Of the BOARD of Estimate who
voted for those contracts, deem II
my duty. not only as a city official but
acting iu the interest OF truth and ac-
ouracy. 10 raise my voice against tnis
storm OF misconception and. rn some
cases. malicious misrepresentation.
As far as The Thompson committee
is concerned. hope 10 viii pursue
every line Of inquiry and dig deep INTO