New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-24
his yoting FOR giving o,Bren s. Clark Section ] .

and the Controller out of the Board, Mr. Loew
said had its origin with O'Brlen d Clark, at least
so he always understood. He had from time TO
time opposed this firm in the matter Of contracts
He had been asked by Judge Muller to vote IN IN
favor Of O'Brien d Clark. Muller told him that II
he could consistently SO vote 1t would please some
Of his THE witness,sj friends Mr.. Loew said that
he told Mr.. Muller that he could not vote to give
those contracts TO OBrien d. CLARK Inc reason
he supposed the bill to reorganize the Commission
was directly aimed at himself was because he had
refused to pay the contractors bills until he was
satisfied by the report Of his own engineer tnae
the bills were right He supposed that his action
had been particularly Objectionable to O'Brien a.
Clark end Brown, Howard d Co. These con-
tractors had not received their money so promptly
because of his investi CATION, and for some months
before the bin was introduced there had been
rumors of what might be expected in consequence
Of the stand taken AXE BY the Sssn
solely by the desire to protect the interests OF the
city Senator Fassrtt asked the. witness TO say
whom Judge Muller Sfssrsd whsn Re S sS wo ma
'plehse some Of his own friends. Senator f1erce
opposed this inquiry. Mr., Loew said he would
rather not give the names but IN compnance VIII
that. q of course Mr. Muller referred TO Governor
Hills Muller was angry Mr. Ioew continued, at
his refusal to vote for UBren OirK anu soH
HIS RELATIONS WITH o'BRIEN CLARE
Mr.. Loew said he voted to give the contract Tor
Section l2 to O'Brien & Clark for much the same
reasons as Mr.. Spencer gave. One OF the on,e1
reasons he said, for making disallowances on tne
bills of O'Brien Il Clark was that the charges IN
them were made in advance Of the complexion OF
the work Much of the proposed brick lining OF the
Aqucduct, which was to cost s1,60O,0Oo, MI. Loew
declared was unnecessary, and he had taken that
position on the Commission
Some light on the history of Muller was sought
from David O. Robinson, Of Elmira, q son OF ex-
Governor Robinson. He said that the
firm OF Smith & Hill was dis s.lN;1a
In 1870. Hill practised for awhile
alone, with Muller apparently as managing
clerk He did not think any open partnerships
ever existed between them Since hia IN aaa a oeeH
his headquarters.
THE HIGH.PRroED WINS ON THE STAND.
The twenty-five thousand dollar City Chamber
lain, William NJ. IvIns was then sworn to testify
about Squire's removal Mr.. lvlns SAID
that he was the Mayors counsel when Mr. Grace
took office. They talked about getting rid OF
SQUIRE, because they considered him menace to
the city, wins had Investigated Squire's record
in Boston and found it unsavory. The witness
added: .-.
Hubert o. Thompson learned Of the investigation Of
squre's once, and although there was no friendship
between u.s. he came to me and offered 70 70 a%
what the Commissioner OF Accounts had dlScovsrsa
eom nS the lawyer bad copy Of letter containing
sauires resignation from office, and that ne thongh
said Squire could be removed but without the letter hs
aid not think that any charges against squire "ouio
Finally Thompson declared that he had the
original letter in lis private safe in deposit
vault In February Mr.. WINS went TO Albany
and talked with the Governor about the matter.
Tie told Hill about Squires wiekedness, his ap-
Violation Of the Civil Service law He failed.
however, to impress his listener
Senator Fassett-Did the Governor express any
Tvins-No he. did most Of the llstsnIng and l. as
that time precisely what his action would be In case
Of ef @y visit f Being to protest. against What
e 'Se Governors srSs hst he OBJECT Of the Bruins Bin would
be to hand nearly every city department Of New
York into the control of Squire again poipsed ou'
what an improper person he Was
THE SQUIRE LETTER A CURIOUS" ONE
Odd you show him the Squire letterl Al
showed Governor Hn copy. He expressed his
opinion that It was q curious letter He took down
from a shelf a volume of the Penal Code. and after
reading two sections said that Indictment based
upon the letter would not be sustained in court OF
law.
Odd the Governor at that time say anything
elsef Ale said there had been enough scandal In
the Democratic party, and he hoped there would not
be any more. The people had had enough Of the
Doodle business and he hoped that it would not be
necessary disclose the contents Of the letter 10 the
public. / told Mr. Hill that he had IT in his power
sou ies 70 ' Resigns and further told him that he
Squire people were carrying matters With nlgh
p si Of the Governor lie replied that he did not
think It necessary or advisable TO Interfere IN the
He said further that he would consider It dslOya for
party Ike me to bring such matter out, and
that he would see that the party would hold tho man
what aid you say to that A. told told alTseI
Of Tliden, Who made his fame by exposing the
rupOn within bis own party ~ remember Sor
then e1iy aa sd' now SS' SeTe different ''
,1sl about Aa hare fns ssr WYE the
ernor Hin said that ought not to go ahead with my
aOa S 81 T u sa be did o bcgo
man would be fool enough 10 give up the original,
as II might cause him to be subject for criminal
Indictment
HILL ANXIOUS TO HUSH UP THE NATTER
Mr.. WINS said he told Mr. Hill that he had
Thompsons word that the original letter was in
existence. The witness said that if he could
get it he would turn it ovef to the proper authori
ties, with a view to securing Squires removal.
The Governor and the witness then examined the
Penal Code together, and after doing so, the Gov
ernor expressed the opinion that the letter itself
would not be sufficient ground for an indictment.
A meeting was arranged between Flynn, Thomp-
son and Twins. Flynn came in ahead of Thomp-
son and told WINS that the publication Of the
letter would ruin him. lie went away before
Thompson came in an angry mood. Flynn went
to see the Governor about the matter and then
met Distrct-Attorney MARITIME. General Tracy
asked what the Governor said TO Flynn. The
witness objected to answering this question, but
finally declared that Hill had advised the sup
preston of the letter -" In the interests of the
Democratic party" In the meantime the Aquedu:t
Commission had been recognized and Squire left
Thompson repeatedly about the letter together
and separately; there was always Q difference of
opinion on the subject between Thompson and
Vbaunp xpaS
his attitude in regard TO the letter, but Flynn
declared that If the letter were published he would
leave the town
THE GOVERNOR TFREATENS MR. MARITIME
After seeing the Governor, Flynn assumed the
witness said TO deliver rather startling message
from Hill to District-Attorney MARITIME. This was,
in effect. that Mr.. Hill was opposed to the
surrender of the letter, and If it were produced