New-York tribune., 1890-04-20
NOWFOR THEEXCISE BOARD
THE FASSETT INVESTIGATION GOES ON.
GENERAL ROY STONE GIVES SOME STRONG HINCl
AND INVITES THE COMMITTEE
TO " SURMI6E."

TO "sURMIsE."
The State Senate Committee on Cities did two
days work yesterday The committee met at
II 80 a. M, took recess of an hour at o'clock
and sat again until ) 80 o'clock. Usually the
committee does not sit later than o'clock on
Saturday, but William NJ WINS said that he
would not he able to attend a meeting on Nom
day, State Senator Fassett, who presided. de-
cded not TO have any session on Monday. and as
much as possible OF the work that would other
wise have been left over until tomorrow was
crowded into the afternoon
wide field was covered Some progress was
made in the investigation Of the Board OF Alder
men. Sergius Z. Shevitch, the Socialist editor.
furnished to the committee information TO be used
in the investigation OF the Police Department.
w Bourke Cochran a voluntary witness, and
made statement about his connection with the
grant to the Broadway road of permission 10
change the motive power from horse To cable.
The investigation of the charges made by the
City Reform Club against the Excise Board was
begun, and testimony taken that the menu
bers of the Board will find considerable difficulty
in explaining An episode in the history OF tho
firm of Cochran & Clark inquired into.
That episode the first subject taken up.
The first witness called was Thomas +.
Taylor, lawyer practising in New-lork who
said that T. " Shelly had called at his office
just before the examination of Sheriff Sckles.
and asked for some testimony which the witness
had in his possession. taken in the of David
son against Aaron Aarons. Mr.. Shelly said that
he wanted the testimony for the Senate Committee.
who would introduce it through Sheriff SiclSles.
In February, 1888, a meeting of litgants whose
funds could not be accounted for in the Sherif's
Office was held in the Office of Bangs IL Stctson.
Shelly came here with this mass of evidence
and represented that the money really TO
be found in the possession of Aaron AarOns, and
the witness appointed by the attorneys there
present to examine the testimony and see what
could be done. SO Shelly surrendered the testi-
, mony to the witness.
Mr. Wins asked Were there any of the funds
of your clients in the hands of Under-Sherih
Aarons or Sheriff Davidson ?"
=" In the hands of one the other there was
about $4,000 was the reply. We collected.
but not from either of them, about $543"
Whom did you see in regard to the recovery
of these moneys
d" saw Mr. Cochran twice. Mr.. Shelly
very frequently Mr.. Cochran was then the
Sherif's counsel. l saw Mr.. Clark about it in
September, 1856. A clerk from the office Of
Cochran 4 Clark called at my office TO see If l
would call upon Mr.. Clark. did call on him. and
had a conversation in regard to the funds held IN
our case. Mr.. Clark said that that money was
in the city of New-York. I said Where is it"
Mr.. Clark said: What will You give to get il"
said Mr.. Clark. ! will give nothing 10 get it,
| said that | thought he should put us in the
way of getting it,
Did hep"
" He dio not-
The witness added that it had been understood
that Sheriff Davidson had decamped and was
defaulter. Some lively correspondence passed be-
tween Clark and the witness after their inter-
view. Mr. Taylor had heard from Mr. Cochran
that there was no doubt that Aarons had the
money. The S543 recovered traced to See
bach, one of the deputy sherifs. and in secur-
ing that money Shelly assisted the witness. but
he had no other assistance. lie knew of no reason
why Shelly should ask for the surrender of the
testimony.
Corporation Counsel Clark arrived too late to
hear all of Mr.. Taylors testimony. But he took
the stand and Mr.. Cochran undertook 10 sum-
Marie it for him. Mr.. Taylor said he,
stated that you asked how much he would
give for his money. which in tte
city of New-York" WELL" remarked Senator
Fassett think that is the most violent inter-
pretation that can he put it,
Mr. Clark denied that he had had any such
conversation as Mr. Taylor had quoted lilo
could not have said the money was in the city,
because seebach had confessed that he had gam.
bcd it away
Mr. Cochran said that he had been somewhat
surprised by this attempt to throw mud at the
CORPORATION Counsel, but that not the mat
ter which had brought him 10 the committees
meeting.
known as Public Service, said he, In which
my name appeared with the suggestion that IN
the application of the Broadway Railway Com
pany for permission TO change the motive power
from horse to cable some mysterious influence
had been exercised. and with the intmation that
had some knowledge Of it. | know perfectly
all that transpircd at that time, ana desire 10
make "A statement under oath. .
Senator Fassett asked Mr.. Cochran 10 make his
statement Mr.. Cochran took the wltness-chair
was sworn. and said:
yiy entire connection with this matter dates from
a letter which | received from Mr.. W. c. Whitney IN
the month Of July 1889, when WAS in the country.
II drew my attention to the fact that the local
authorities opposing. Mr.. whitney De-
lieved the attempt Of the Broadway Railroad Company
TO improve motive power and to give. he claimed,
a much better service to the people Of the city Of
New York. and in the letter he seemed TO assume that
there was some personal hostility to him in this OPP
position | paid attention 10 It, and inquired of
several Of the city officials what the matter was.
spoke TO Mr.. Grant and Mr.. Croker. was py them
Informed that there no objection at all 10
change of motivcpower but there wac a serious OBJ
by the Legislature in regard to taking the power from
the Board Of Aldermen the local authorities, ana
vesting II in the Board Of state Railroad Comms-
ioncs They said thcy approved cabe-roSer, but were
much opposed anything like transfer OF the powers
belonging to the municipality 10 any state boaiu re-
ported that to Mr.. Whitney when saw him, probably
three or four after He seemed 10 he IN somc"hss
Of qnandary and everybody else did for that ma'e''
A. 10 where they coud to get this change OF power
Matters were at standstl | met Mr. whfney ONO
day and nnched with him at the Downtown Cluo' ana
be drew NV attention to the difficulty. thoughs
the matter over and finally suggested what con-
sidered was simple solution, and which has proved
10 he such suggested that the better way "oud
be to get the consent of both then there couu no'
he any possible question about II. Thls was aiohs III
tha fall lie then asked me III
thought il feasible 10 get the
consent of the local authorities. and ne htimated
that going to the Board Of Aldermen was not thing
entirely agreeable to a great many persons. lie sad
poft hut