New-York tribune., 1919-05-09

on March ID, 1918, in the executive
chamber. He said the Governor had
declared on previous occasions that he
would sign the bill if it came to him.
He said that on this particular day
the plight of the street railways, which
then were facing bankruptcy, was again
laid before him.
self?" asked Mr.. Moss.
"Not very much" answered Mr.
Choate. "He nodded his head. 1t was
favorable"
"Under the Table"
Cup or down or sidewise ?"
CAS- if he was in favor. 7 think he
was favorable to our face and pulling
under the table the otner way"
At this the entire room broke out
in roar of laughter. Most of the men
present were familiar with ALBANY
affairs.
"What was that ?" asked Mr.. Moss.
"I think he was favorable to our
face and pulling under the table the
other way. He did not make a Strong
impression on me-"
He said the railway men then visited
Speaker Sweet, who, he said, "did not
pull under the table the other wav,''
and called his attention to "the dread
full financial condition of the street
railway" Speaker Sweet said he would
help.
General Vanderbilt testified that he
had suggested that the firm of Whit
man, Ottinger G. Ransom be retained,
following a talk he had with the for
mer Governor at the Vanderbilt home
early in March.
Asked to relate his conversation with
Mr.. Shonts, he said:
81 said, as we'll as I can remember,
something like this: Il have been away
been away for over a year and a half,
and / find the condition of affairs in
your company in very very bad state,
so much so that we are threatened with
rcceivership. have thought it over
very carefully / have gone into the
reasons for this change from great
prosperity, which the company was in
when | left, to threatened teceivership
when l came back; l have got a large
investment of money in it myself; /
represent, as director, other security
holdrs, and it seems to me that it
would be a good thing to get in some
new legal and technical advisers
81 also found that there seemed to
be considerable difference of opinion
between the city authorities and the
company, and there should be some
means of more close cooperation be-
tween the two in regard to an inter
probation of the contract.
Did Not Seem Just
II said I have seen it stated in the
papers, / believe, that the city intends
to take the subways and to force them
into a receivership and then to in
crease the fares, and that does not
seem to me fair or just on what is my
Interpretation of the spirit of the con-
tract. l further stated, if we have a
receivership there will be innumerable
lawsuits in regard to the interpreta-
tion of the contract, and other suits,
and I think it is my duty as director
of this company to suggest that you
bring in new legal and technical ad-
visers.'"
General Vanderbilt said that Judge
Ransom's familiarity with rate cases
appealed to him as we'll as Mr.. Whit
mans experience.
Mr.. Moss asked him if he did not
know that year before Mr.. Whitman
had killed the Pratt bill, and that Mr.
Ransom had been constantly quarrel
ling with Mayor Hylan and the city
officials. General Vanderbilt replied
that he had been in France year and
a half and never had heard of the
Pratt bill until to-day.
Other witnesses yesterday were
Charles M. G. Thomas, treasurer of
the Consolidated Gas Company, and
Anthony N. Brady, of the B. r. T.