New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-01
Senator Dares City Off
Gals to Have Contract
Investigated
HITS AT mitchell
AND PRENDERGAST
Murphy Defends Control
Ter, Referred To as a
"MOuntebank"

From a SAT- Correspoudent o. Tie IaouLel
Albany. Jan. 31-A conspiracy on the
part of city officials 70 arrange the
Riverside Drive improvement contract
so that the New York Central would
not have to pay the state a special
franchise tax was alleged on the floor
of the Senate to-day by Senator George
f. Thompson, chairman Of the Public
Service Investigating Committee. Re
plving TO Controller William A. Prem
dergast's insinuations against HIM IN
his telegram to Senator Burlingame'
Senator Thompson dared the city ON
Gals to have the contract investigated.
ut is amazing to me-" he said. ito
see certain officials Of the greatest
city in the state, whose citizens really
suffer from taxation while we are try
ING TO make ends meet, conspirlnG so
to arrange the details that hereafter
that corporation the New York Cen
trial shall not be required to pay
special franchise tax don't blame
the corporation. | blame the city and
the state"
Senator Murphy Stirred
Senator Thompson's speech aroused
Senator Charles F. Murphy, of BROOK
lyn. to come to Mr.. Prendergast's de-
fence. He asserted that the Control
Ter had been his neighbor and FRIEND
for twenty years and that he knew MI
Prendergast TO be good pubic ON
cial. He did not think Senator Ihomp-
sons speech matter of personal priv
ilege. he continued, adding that ne
felt Mr. Prendergast would welcome an
inquiry by any body Of the Riverside
Drive contract.
The Niagara Senator was most sar-
castle in his speech. After reading
the telegram referring to "mounte-
banksn and "selt-seekers' on the com
mittee. he asserted that the ControIIeF
"knows and acts the meaning OF
.mountebank," which he Thompson
looked I'D before the session.
He agreed TO leave 1t to the Senate
as TO who fitted the picture OF
"ouack vender of medicines at tairs
and public gatherings, who sells cures
bv haranguing the crowd, juggling and
other acrobatic stunts
Revive Old Testimoy
Then Senator Thompson referred 10
"the gentleman who in the municipal
campagn mounted platform and har-
aprued the crowds and gave them
cures. saving 1T is essential that the
city build its own subways,' and again,
III Mr.. Shonts comes TO the next Board
of Estimate he will come with hat IN
hand" The Senator revived Ihomp-
son committee testimony about the
Controllers change Of mind in the dual
subway contracts. when he and the
Mayor voted for il and put 1t over.
"The question is who is the joker
and on whom is the joke? In my judg-
ment the jokers can be found without
Going outside New York City, and the
Joke is on the people. ] have heard,
OF course. about the good administra-
ton of New York City. II is good IN
many respects.
"They stop splitting on the sidewalks,
and when n man runs into the Mayors
car or the Mayor runs into his, it gets
TO court at once. and sometimes the
Mayor himself takes charge, but these
matters in detail about the New YORK
Central contract they don't want the
public TO know. They take a party of
ladies up the tracks and sec II they
can get it by that way.
Commenting or Senator Thompson's
criticism OF the city authorities, Mayor
Mitchell said:
There is nothing in the Billingsgate
from that little whipper snapper to
which care TO reply
naEr nTETEC Jr-p0AT