New-York tribune., 1921-10-23


tees to he anonted by the Governor,
or by the Mayor.
-, Here is the statement which Mr..
Shonts made, under oath:
1.-The Mayor (Mr. Hylan), l re-
member, said to me that "the people
will stand for an increase Of fare If
they know they are going to get the
benefit of it themselves, when they
would not if they knew private
corporation was going to get the
benefit"'
"Mr. Hylan has never denied the
truth of this assertion, although he most
vigorously berated the interests when
it was published. But to get back 70
our story: Mr.. Shonts swore that he
received telephone call from the
Mayors office asking him to call. The
Mayor said afterward that Mr.. Shonts
had called of his own accord. Well,
what's the digerence? The door
Hylan conferred together to put over
seven-cent fare. Let US read Mr..
Shonts's testimony right here:
The Mayor took me into his office,
and gentleman followed ME in, to
whom the Mayor introduced me. He
said, I want you to know Mr.. McFar~
land, of Boston, Then the Mayor said:
"'This gentleman wants to help you
get a seven cent fare for your various
lines, and think under certain con-
ditions he can succeed I told him
that sounded very good. He said:
"'Before we go further I want you
to know who Mr.. Mcfarland is. He rep
resents Mr.. Hearst's interests in New
England. He is his lawyer in New Eng
land.
1.-THE Mavor then said to me that
Mr.. MacFarland was probably more re-
sponsible than any one else for the
adoption of the Boston solution Of the
rapid transit lines Of that city, and
asked me if | was familiar with the
nature of that arrangement. told him
that l was only in general way. The
Mayor then said that Mr.. MacFarland
was then working on similar solution
of the transit situation in Chicago and
wanted to know if l knew what was 60
ing on cut there, and I said that I did
not.
"The Mayor said he would like then
if l would listen to Mr., MacFarland's
views. l said that I would be very
glad to, and think listened for the
better part of an hour to Mr.. MacFar-
lands elaboration of the things that
they had done in Boston and what they
were trying to do in Chicago.
"Now, remember that at that time
august, 1918, according to the testi-
mony) not person in the city had any
inkling of these conferences between
Mr.. Hylan and the TRACTION magnate
except the confcrees. Mr.. Shonts and
Mr.. Hylan were very friendly, go
friendly, in fact, that Mr.. Hylan prom
ised Mr.. Shonts that if the plan went
through the trustees would see to it
that Mr. Shonts did not lose his Job
Here is Mr.. Shonts's testimony on this
point:
"The Mayor asked me how I person.
ally felt about the situation. and SAID
that all could say was that until Mr.
MacFarland's views were worked out
concretely l could not say any more
than that I would be in a receptive
mental attitude. The Mayor then made
some complimentary remarks about
did not necessarily mean my elimina-
tion from the situation.
During these conferences Mr.. Hylar
kept dangling out the seven-cent fare
and Mr.. Shonts kept calling on the
Mayor, urging him to hurry MacFar-
land up, so thot the Irterborouoh could
begin to get the extra two cents. Mr..
Shonts testified that the Mayor said:
"'There must be some solution of
this whole problem, Mr.. Shonts, and
think we should lay aside all our
prejudices and get around a table and
get down to facts to figure out a solu-
ton; ! think that is the way to do it,
"And this statemen Mr.. Hylan has
never denied. What happened to the
plan I do not know. But do know
what is happening under the McFar-
Ian plan in Boston. III tell you about
that tomorrow night. Here is what
Mr.. Hylan said about his plan for a
seven-cent fare when the story Leaked
out and he was caught with the goods!
"'The abnormal conditions created by
the war are not going to last forever
did, therefore. make a counter sug-
gestion to Mr.. Shonts that some tempo
rary relief plan might possibly be
worked out of the best features of the
Boston plan and of the one suggested
fer Chicago. having in mind mainly the
| operation of the traction lines by trus-
tees to be appointed by the Governor
of the state or the Mayor of the city,
with proper regard for the public in
! terests'
"Now where is Mayor Hylan's FIVE
cent fare issue?
"'Our people VIII stand for an in
creased fare said the Mayor.
II tell him now that they won't
/ whether he runs the railroads or some
h. ..t<.-