New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-22
BROADWAY AND 14TH-ST.
SQUIRE EXPOSES THEM ALL.
HILL, GRACE AND IVIES sCHBMiNG.
THE GOVERNORS POLITICAL NTRIGUES
LAID BARE.

4 TELLING INVESTIGATION BY THE SENATE
CoMMiTTEE-THE CITY oHAMBERLA1NS
eMoNEY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SPENCER TEsTIFIEs IN REGARD no
THE AoUEDUCr CONTRACTS
AND THE APPOINTMENT
OF THE NEW Score
TARY. .
The committee appointed by the State senate
10 investigate the various departments Of the City
Government and especially the relations Of Gov
ernor Hill to the Aqueduct Commission and con-
tractors began their session yesterday morning, In
the Chamber of Part II. Of the Superior Court.
1t was continued, with the exception OF brlef
intermission throughout the day, and proved
great deal more interesting and damaging to the
Governor than his friends had predicted This
was chiefly due to the presence on the witness
stand of the former poetical commissioner Oh
Public Works, Rollin NJ Squire.
Mr.. Squire's appearance in the case was pain
full surprise to the friends of Mr.. Hill, but his
testimony, partcularly when he gave an apparent
" truthful, unreserved account OF his lntimate
dealings with the Governor proved still more
alarming The frankness of the witness at tunes
was so embarrassing that even Senator Fierce,
who made himself the Governors special DEFEND
81 in the committee, was at loss how 10 act,
until he and his Democratic colleague, Senator
McNaughton, had been coached" in open court
by Contractor JCnU " Drlell. HNcH Ohch OnNy
made a poor showing in their efforts to break
the force of Mr.. Squire's startling revelations.
ME- HILL, KNEW ABOUT THE LETTER TO FLYNN.
Thb ex- commissioner showed for example, that
Hill was not only aware of the existence OF the
infamous letter written by Squire to Maurice Is.
Flynn, promising to run the Public Works De-
partment in the interests of Flynn but that months
before ITS publication the Governor expressed his
entire satisfaction with the explanation" of the
document as given by Squire. He also related In
the most matter-of-fact way the details OF his
association with Hill during the campaign OF
1886
1t was announced that the inquiry would begin
at 10 o'clock but owing to some delay on the
part Of the committees counsel, General b. r.
Tracy, of Brooklyn. and A. B. Boardman, in
getting to the rooms it was nearly ii o'clock
before the session was opened. All the members
of the committee were on hand early. Senators
Pierce and McNaughton, the two Democrats, ar
rived first, closely followed by the three Republican
Senators, Mr.. FasSett, Mr.. Van Colt and Mr.. Hen
bricks
THE INVESTIGATION BEGUN.
Mr. Fassett presided and did most of the active
work. Mr. Pierce confined his efforts chiefly to in
terrupting the counsel whenever opportunity
presented itself and protesting against every line
of examination that led TO the eXpositons Of Mr.
Hills methods. O'Brien & Clark, the contractors
were present with their counsel ex-senator Thomas
and E. T. Lovatt, of Tarrytown. De Lancey
Nicoll dropped in, in obedience to a subpoena
which had been served upon him, but, on being
assured that he would not be called for q while
at least, he went away. The city officials
represented by Corporation Counsel BeelSman.
4 Queduct Commissioners Ridgway and Spencer
dr. Sherman, the Commissioner of Accounts, James
w. MeCullOh former secretary of the Aqueduct
Commission, and his successor, John w Sheehan.
The Sergeant-at-Arms was the veteran John w.
Corning
As soon as General Tracy arrived, Mr. Fassett
opened the proceedings by reading the resolution
Of the Senate authorizing the investigation and
defining its scope Then. President Spencer Of
the Aqueduct Board was called to the stand, but
before he was sworn, Corporation Counsel Beck
man arose TO explain that he was present to assist
the committee I'D getting at the whole truth OF the
matter under investigation. His offer was not
received with any marked cordiality by majority
Of the committee. Apparently they did not ap-
preciate the generous spirit in which it was offered
We do not propose to allow counsel to appear
for any one" said Senator Fassett in reply adding
that while the committee welcomed all prohered
aid ii did not intend that any but its members
should take part In the examination of witnesses.
The committee further desired, he said il to be
understood that they had no objection to counsel
Tor witnesses or others Delhg present as amicus
curiae. Mr. Fassett said that IL might as well be
understood now, later that the committee de-
sired the investg cation 10 be as thorough as pos
sibe. The majority OF the committee like the
Senate were Republicans but that fact would not
interfere with the wish OF the committee for the
investigation to be "a thorough one
DATES. FACTS. CONTRACTS AND DOCUMENTS
President Spencer's testimony was confined prin-
cpaly to the history of the AQueduct Commission
from its inception. He fairly deluged his audience
with dates facts, contracts documents and other
matters of detail connected with the work. Among
other things he submitted printed condensed
statement Of all the contracts made. taken from
the minutes: a copy Of blank contract, and he
promised to produce copy OF all the advertise
nents which the bids were invited. or the
nrst ten contacts awarded. four were given TO
Brown, Howard & Co. and six TO OBrien e.
ozark The bill to reorganize the Aqueduct Com
ntsslon did not, the witness said, originate with
~'nA nor did he know with whom IL orr dnatAd