New-York tribune., 1919-01-09
Shonts Sought Interview,
Says Mayor, Asserting
Meetings Were Open
Attacks Whitney;
Warned to Retract
State Inquiry Into City
and Traction Affairs
Urged by Chairman

secret negotiations with lnterborough
officials revealed at the Public Service
Commissions hearings into the traction
situation The Mayor denied he had
called Theodore F. Shonts, president of
the Interborough, into conference at
the City Hall, stating that Shonts had
invited himself"
Another outstanding development in
the transportation crisis yesterday was
an emphatic statement by Travis H.
Whitney, chairman of the commission,
that there should be a legislative in
vest;gation into the tangle. He sug-
gested that the investigating body
should examine the city administration,
the traction officials and the Public
Service Commission itself, and should
pay particular attention to any Wall
Street angle of the situation.
The Mayor, in his statement, charged
that Public Service Commissioner
Whitney was being protected by, the
lnterborough, and that, as the ever
ready advocate" of a so-called "trac-
ton ring" he was being aided and en-
couraged in his attacks on the city
administration.
After reading Hylans statement
Whitney last night sent the following
telegram to the Mayor at his residence,
9je Bushwick Avenue, Brooklyn:
81 have seen statement issued by
you this evening which. like several
other statements recently emanating
from you concerning me, is gross and
malicious libel. l demand immediate
withdrawal and retraction of the
same"
A copy of the telegram was also sent
10 the Mayor at the City Hall.
Whitney Wells Plans
Commissioner Whitney stated that,
although he had been in Albany yes
terday, he had seen no legislators in
regard to an investigation in this city,
and he refused to state whether he
would take any active steps to get such
an inquiry under way. He gave it as
his opinion that city traction affairs
during the last six or eight months
would furnish a fruitful field for The
examination.
Mayor Hylan's statement, issued
Colonel Roosevelt. was his first utter
ance on the traction situation and the
revelations of city-lnterborough rela-
tions since he referred last Friday to
"a man by the name of Shonts" at
Board OF Estimate meeting
The Mayor denied categorically the
sworn testimony of Mr. Shonts and
James l.. Quackenbush, the INTERIOR
ougn counsel, 10 the effect that Shonts
was summoned by telephone to the
Mayors office at the City Hail, where
conferences on form of municipal
ownership of the transportation lines
started
Says Shonts Asked Interview
Never was there more gross mis-
statement OF fact" the Mayor declared
at was Mr.. Shonts himself who, with
out any suggestion from me, invited
himself 10 call at my Office at the City
Hall, requesting an interview"
The Mayor declared that because of
the city's great interest in the Inter
borough and the New York Railways.
OF which Shonts is head, he gave
Shonts the interview, without secrecy
and with witnesses present. He said
that he opposed all plans calling for
higher fare, but called in Granville S.
Macfarland. the Hearst lawyer, to work
on plan for municipal operation like
the one in Boston.
The Mayor defended his plan of
trustee management" but said the
protocol drawn up by Quackenbush was
"'preposterous." He quoted letter he
had written to Corporation Counsel
BUR. IN which he stated that the elm
lnation of watcrcd stock and excessive
rentals would solve the situation.
Mayor Attacks "Traction Ring
Throughout his communication, the
Mayor attacked the Interborough Of
ficlais az part of "traction ring" and
referred to Commissioner Whitney and
the Puh@ic Service Commission as be-
ing under the thumb of the Inter
borough
Although the Mayor corroborated in
the main the testimony of Shonts.
Quackenbush and Burr. his statement
brought forward sharp variations in
iacts connected with the motives for
tne negotiations and the personal re-
iaIsons between the parties to the CON
ferences. va
Mayor Hylan'S statement follows:
In the current daily press Attorney
Tnuacsenonsn, OF the Interborough and
aiiied companies, Of which Theodore
Snonts IS president, is quoted as stat.
ing peiore the Public Service Commits
sion that had invited Mr.. Shonte 10
VISIT me to discuss the question Of in,
creased fares for the New York Rail
ways and the Interborough system.
Willing To BE interviewed
Never was there more gross mis-
statement Of fact. II was MIR. Shonts
himself who, without any suggestion
from me, invited himself to call at INV
Office at the City Hall, requesting an
interview.
because the City Of New York has
an interest Of $3.50 900 900, invested
mainly in the roads of which Mr..
Shonts is president, | accorded him the
interview he sought. That meeting and
ali other meetings With him were held
st my Office in the City Hall publicly
during the business hours Of the Of
flee and always in the presence Of wit
nesseg.
There wag absolutely no occasion or
desire for secrecy on my part, and my
distrggt Of the representations OF Mr.
Sbonts was good thing for the public.
No amount Of Newspaper caniou-
Hage on the part Of the Interborough
interests or their Public Service Com
mission agents IL going To force the
sfsyor or other city officials TO saddle
IN Increased rate of fare on the New
York purIjc ~ cradle the payment OF
dlyjdsnd3 on au oeean u watered trac-
sion gtfeE.
u want 10 be perfectly fair with