New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-05-23
'O'BrienCharged
With Falsifying
BY Prendergast
+. ;. {. Chairman Accuses
Corporation Counsel of
Distorting Truth in Gas
Case to Play Politics
Tells Him He Blundcrs
Matter Closed and Your
Noisy Activities Futile. He
Informs Hylan Official

direct charge Of attempting TO dis
Ioft and tasty matters affecting the
Public Service Commission for "en-
Nfely political reasons was made yes
terday against Corporation Counsel
'ohn =. O'Brien by William A. Prem
dergast, chairman Of the commission.
The charge follows a series of letters
and statements from Mn O'Brien CON
cernIng cases before the commission,
especially the case of the New York
and Queens Gas Company Chairman
Prendergast declared that some Of Mr..
BrIsn' S statements were wholly mis-
leading and false The gas company
case, he informed the corporation
counsel, was closed and would rema in
so despite his NOISY activities"
In his letter 10 MIR O'Brien, Com
nj ssloner Prendergast said
I'm your letter concerning the New
York & Queens Gas Companys rate
case, No. IA. YOU complain that the
case was closed on April ID 1922, with
out any attempt upon the part of tn.
commission TO enforce it's subpoena di
''S N''e S"S hp"iF W fIoNuOc Us
books and records for examination by
repre- entauYes Of the City OF New
York, and also ask that the comm SIS on
issue an order directing the gas com
pany 10 open its books and plant TO an
no" ~ your once
Attempt to Distort"
"Y our letter is another attempt tc
dstort and falsifv the facts concern
ing matters affecting tins COMMISSION
here was nothing secret about the
u.ose .. lne case Oh Apf'l - o0
coso p 10. 80, "nI s"e
- ,-o,,,. ,. ".s'. .'I' } ~ H''UN 'eue
- go = "oV"' '''c las
a ror'',oa, f 'pU, 49, Ia ''"s pTe'
49, 49,. - ~ 10y "0O" '.'n
oe po'H'''.eu 70 ''Ie ortc'
,;n,o r4 ""s 'es YEA " 90 ~ 20 thlS
t,nn If 'rViv ~ 'o1 even .he suegeS
tbs. 10y /! o"I lepIcse'' " I'VE
dons ~ + I","S ~ e''"lueN 20 ot
j., arv o,t,a,. ,,t o"0P'T"" VI
,on,. cl,'' ,, ~. N"1e. Wa
interae, ro,,,;,oa no. '"T pu -
mattsrs Of H. .fo,,,,,,n',, nav 'n'
poona and no ayn,,,; ,a,i -. '"u
nanv.e hnnl.s az, ',Ia 80 W "a col''
fully cIeared avay hsfoHo o 10 G',.Ir W
was closed Aftar ITO e,,i,.a,,o, - !
practically mon.b fyom fho c(as,nc
Of the HEARING Won sond ia vor, w.,
lated protest.
1T is we'll urGerstood nv all n,o,,},
who have the sliob,os, l.r,or.lod
the operatiors of Son, donor,,,,ort -,
your nurnose N vr,tiro ,n,r 1,,t., - :"
Nav r was an en,;rai f '' M. ;eo, -.
as the record in the casr shous ~ .,
YOU have no valid grievance ~, gro,,n,
Of complaint"
Saw H.. on
'"'e "'o"u''eo
ina rman Prendergast quoted Thu
the commission last summer issued ,
subpoena ct the request Of the Cor
poratlon Counse s office requesting thu
appearance OF the secretary of the New
orh ana queens Gas Company The
cna lman charged that through The
olunderihg OF the Corporation Counsel
once 'he subpoena was not properly
served. inaIIy' when the secretary
uid appear ne refused to answer Ques
IONS put TO nam by the city repre-
scnVa'IVes on 'he ground that the CITY
l ' no ga s'andlhg IN the case. / ms
Cr,'E REPRESENTATIVE according tt
INA imam frehdergast, made no effort
~ eStao!'sh GROUNDS Tor contempt
piocceulng against lhc gas company
~ a, :, W. US pCLoi
Uhe case was o'hcla ~ closed, on Feb
ruarE a. assistant Corporation Counse
rerls appeared at the nearing and an
hounceo mat the city had closed its
case ana mad notnlng further to offer
no" is II inquired Chairman
frendersast IN has letter, IF you really
CONSIDER TINS subpoena question live
matter that Mr.. Fertig should have
overlooked, or omitted or neglected
pressing 1t for attention. especially al
a time when mention Of it would have
been ADMISSIBLE.
Save C,o u;l Co.. r,,
r, "'e VIZ quay N'oseo
ne chairman pointed out that nc
pubic utility corporation IN the state
{ has ever refused to permit the Public
Service Commission full access to its