The New York herald., 1921-10-27
CURRANC|VESHYLAN
nine DIRECT QUERIES
ON SEVEN CENT FARE
Demands That Mayor Tell
if He Invited Shonts to
Conference.
TESTIMONY is DUG UP
Man Who Put 10 Cent Rate
Into Boston Called to
Meeting Here.
KEPT SECRET LONG TIME
Coalition Nominee Asks Why
City Executive Tried to Sell
Out People in 1913.
KEPT SECRET LONG TIME

Henry TT. Curran. coalition candi-
| date for Mayor, in six addresses n
Brooklyn last night asked Mayor Hy-
Ian nine questions concerning tbe
Mayors asserted secret dicker with
the late Theodore p. Shonts, then
president of the Interborough Rapid
Transit Company, TO establish a seven
cent fare on the traction lines of New
York city. Mr.. Curran read from the
sworn testimony of Mr.. Shonts re-
garding a conference he had in C!ty
Hall with the Mayor and with G. S
r. MacFarland. attorney in Boston f)r
William Randolph Hearst, and the
man who put ten cent fare into
effect in that city.
Then he demanded that the Mayor
answer these questions:
1. If you did not invite Mr. Shonts
to your Office. how did it happen that
when he came there he met Mr.. Mac
Farland. Mr.. Hearst's traction ex-
pert in Boston?
2. Who told you to call in Mr..
MacFarland, and who certified to his
knowledge Of New York traction
matters?
8. When you called in Mr.. Mac
Farland, did you know that he.
through Mr.. Hearst's newspaper, the
Boston American, was largely re-
sponsible for the adoption Of the So
called Boston trusteeship plan?
4. When you introduced Mr.. Mac
Farland to Mr.. Shonts In August.
hat bn
MacFarland trusteeship plan car
fares in Boston had already been
raised TO cents?
3. Jf you did not encourage Mr..
Shonts to believe that you favored a
cent fare. why didn't you say so
specifically in your statement of Jan
uary 3. made when Mr.. Shonts was
stil alive?
6. What inducement did you hold
out to Mr.. Shonts that he should keep
calling you up on the telephone,
speeding action on the plan you and
Mr. MacFarland were working out?
7. What did you mean when you
said: 'I did therefore make a.
counter suggestion to Mr.. Shonts that
some temporary relief plan might
possibly be worked out?'
s. IL there was no desire for Sc
crecy on your part when these con-
ferences were OH, why was IL that
Mr.. Shonts's testimony under oath.
five months later was the first in
formation the people Of this city had
OF your dicker with the traction pro-
moters?
9. Are you still convinced that the
traction lines of the city should be IN
the hands OF trustees appointed by
the Governor or the Mayor?
Queries All Based on Records.
"Thcse questions are based upon pub
lished records of the DEAL said Mr.
Curran. "They require specific answers.
The people have a right to know just
what was going on in the City Hall
three years ago.
"Wil Mr.. Hylan tell why he attempted
to sell out the people of New York in
a secret conference held at the City
Hail with Shons and Boston Mac, who
handed his own city a ten cent fare
gold brick?"
Mr.. Curran said that he hoped Mr..
tiylan would help clear the minds OF the
people of New York on his dicker with
Mr.. Shonts regarding a seven cent fare
Since I made the whole thing public
several days ago" he said. ''Mr. Hylan
has berated me, as usual. That won't
do He has to be more specific This
Is serious business when the head OF
this great city of ours is held up as
having attempted TO put over. in secret.
some sort of deal with those whom he
would have US believe were his dearest
enemies. the traction companies.
Here is the story that / brought to
your attention. and which / have de-
clared. and do continue 20 declare.
absolutely ref,:tea Mr.. Hylan's claims
that he never considered anything but
a flve cent fare.
Says shonts Proved Case.
"On January 3, 1919. the people of
this city were astonished TO read In the
morning papers that the late Theodore
y. Shonts. had appeared before the Pub
lie Service Commission on January Z.
and had testified that more than four
months before he had peen In secret
conference with Mayor Hylan in an
effort to work out some plan of relief
for the traction company. Mr.. Shonts
asserted that some time In August.
istS.' Mr.. Hylan had invited him to his
office. and that he had met there Mr..
MacFarland. to whom the Mayor had
Continued on Page Seven.