The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-30
HOW TIE CITY WAS ROBBED.
coyrryUx TTON or WM M TWEED'S As
FOUNDING REvELATIoNs.
49,. More Testimony About the bribery or
seustors-The Origin OF n Miiiion-Dciiar
water Meter CInim-.Jones a. Co.'S Big
Thing on Stationery Buying Rcfo-mers.

xy.ter Meter Claim-.Jones a. Co.'S Big
Thing on Stationery Buying Rcformers
william NJ. Tweed was again examined,
,s,erday. by tho Committee OF the Common
roupcil. who are inquiring into the Ring
frauds. Tho attendance Of Tammany polit-
,,,ns was not as large ns It has been at previous
.,sslons OF the committee. They may have
thought that the ex-Boss had too thoroughly
,e,reshed his memory from the list Of tho Tam
u.nv General Committee. which had been
furnished TO him. Mr.. Tweed began by assert
inc that the Navarro Water Meter claim was
fraudulent. and showing in what respects the
c,a,ms O, william Nelson. Jr.. for sewer pipes
furnished to the city. and the stationery and
prInting claims Of Edward Jones & Co. and W.
r Rogers 4 Co. we're fraudulent His nsse rtion
that those stationers presented to the Ring and
M heads OF bureaus. saddles, brides. libraries.
pictures gold pens. writing desks. and other
fancy goods and recovered ther cost by raising
their bill afforded much amusement to the poll
,icians. What he knew about the Tenth Ma
,ional Bank claim for $3.50 900 was next given.
This was followed by his expression of willing
ness to testify for the people in the suits pend
in: against Thomas Conan and John ODon-
nell. He was then asked TO namc persons who
held snecurcs under the Ring. His answer
that he paid ex-Polce Commissioner Disbecker
$50 a month for near year for doing nothing.
md tE X. Apgnr. Deputy Secretary OF State and
Secretary Of the Democratic State Committee.
small salary for "spodtinG and making stump
speeches. caused smile to play on the faces OF
the Tammany politicians.
Mr.. Tweed then turned his attention to his
dealings with editors and managers OF news
papers. and gave detailed account OF the cor
rut methods used by the Ring to obtain for its
legislative measures the support Of the Albany
Argus and the Albany Erenin9 Journal
Just before the close OF the session Mr.. Cow
ing. the Republican member Of the committee.
drew from Mr.. Tweed the fact that he. A. Oakley
Hall and Peter B. Sweeny were the authors Of
the telegram to which Samuel J. Tlden's name
was attached. that was sent 10 the country dis
ticts in 1868. asking that the probable result OF
the election in those districts be teegraphed to
New York at the close OF the polls and before
the vote had been counted. Encouraged by his
success. Mr.. Cowing asked why the telegram
was sent. The old Tammany chieftan smiled
rs he naively replied: To keep the telegraph
lines busy. that the returns in the interior
could not be made to beat our majority in the
city. We believed that this had beon done in
previous years. especially in St. Lawrence
county. which usually returned three votes
against us for every one that was polled."
The committee having been called to order.
and the reading of the minutes formally dis
pensed with. Mr.. Tweed occupied about twenty
minutes in corrections of the stenographer s
minutes OF the last two preceding sessions. The
investigation then proceeded as follows:
Q.-what are the facts concerning the
method by which the tax levy Of 1870 was
passed. Alt was paid for.
THE BRIBISG OF SENATORS.
Q.-But as you have made some corrections
In your testimony reported, would IKE, 70
have you restate the facts A.-As ! stated nj
the last meeting that money was paid for the
passage OF the tax levy. stated that was un-
Able 10 say who had paid i TO- but did name
those whom | was confident Of having paid
money to for other purposes, and whom had
every reason to believe paid in this matter.
o..You are repor'e9,d as saving that, you paid
Harpending and Wood? Al paid money Il
each of them for some purpose and think for
the tax levy. / may us well say here that we
paid men not only for voting. but paid them
with the understanding that their votes would
not be called for If they were not necessary
They were ready to do so II required. but
where they did not want 10 go on the record as
voting for measure were not required TO do Sc
II their votes were not necessary.
Q.-But you mean 10 say that you paid money
10 those Senators 10 influence them to vote fol-
some bills; Ayes. some bills. either the tax
Q-B!lls concerning the city and county OF New
York A.-Yes i their votes were necessary
they were 10 vote for us.
Q.-Do you know anything about 4. Inter
rupting Allow me to say right here that
sometimes we paid those men to help US, and
they did help us ia the Committee Of the Wholt
open session. tor the reason that they did no
wish to go upon the record ms voting Tor oui
measures. After a bill got through the Com
through.
show the real attitude OF the member voting
Alt shows the final vote. but not the mauipu
latons 70 procure that vote;
Q-There is "A suit brought against the city b.
one Navarro. or by the assignee of Navarro L
recover for large number of water meters
doyou,know anything about that suitf Al do
Q.-Whie you were a member Of the Senate
IT. 1870, was your attention particularly callet
70 clause in the tax levy Of that year author
izng the Commissioner Of Public Works 4
place meters in buildings in the city of Nel
York; Alt was done after consultation will
Q.-were you consulted with regard to tina
.nusc before 1t was inserted in the tax levy
Al was.
Odd you know Jose F. Navarro person
tllyY Al was introduced to him in the wnte
,Q,S.Ahout the time Of the passage of tho ia
hin, also about the time Of the passage Of tn
tax levy. He was there a number of times dur
lug the winter and always came 10 SEQ me.
md before March 20. 1870, did You cause tn
iptroduction II that clause in tho tax levy au
thor:zing the Comptroller 10 pay for water me
terst Al did.
BIG wATEI-MLTER JOB.
Q.-Did you converse with Mr.. Navarro con
ceIni1g that clause Al Nd.
.,Q5-Did you in August, is7l, as Commissione
-IaF "a tYlf ss4Ia Il IA los