The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-15
HAD SNEERS FOR MOSS
Mayor Van Wyck Before the
Mazet Committee.
HOT WORDS EXCHANGED
Ramapo Water Deal Not So Bad as It
Is Painted-Croker Springs a Sur
prise on the Counsel for
the Commission

New York. Sept. 14.-Mayor Robert
A. Van Wyck occupied the witness
chair before the assembly committee in
vestigating the various departments of
the municipal government. From the
outset the examination of the mayor by
counsel Moss took the form of an acri-
monlous colloquy, in the course of
which Mr.. Van Wyck intimated that
Mr. Moss was seeking to reach a seat
on the supreme bench by pressing a
partisan investigation and sneered at
counsefs attainments as a lawyer.
Mr.. Van Wyck began his testimony
, by saying he had from the time he as
sumed office been alarmed over the in
adequacy of the Brooklyn water sup
ply. He had not given the Ramapo
company contract considerations it
would be time enough for that when it
reached him officially. 1t was, witness
understood, mere option, and could do
no harm to the city. Witness had not
consulted with the heads of depart
ments regarding the contract. The of
hciais, he said, were to exercise their
own judgment and not to come to him
for advice on such subjects. Witness
again said he would consider the
Ramapo contract when it came before
him.
When will it come before you?''
asked Mr. Moss.
When | send for it?'
When will you send for it?"
None OF your business"
The witness was not convinced there
was any fraud in the Ramapo contract
and advised counsel to call Comptrol or
Color and Bridge Commissioner Shea,
the only city officials who had charged
fraud. Counsel began formula ting
question as to the duty of the mayor
to remove commissioners who were in
competent.
oh" broke in the mayor you're
talking of removals, and you have been
talking of legislating me out. Why
don't you go ahead and do it, and not
be talking such impertinence? And why
don't you receive that list of stockhoid-
ers you referred to yesterday? You talk
as though Silas B. butcher, Levi P
Morton and General Tracey, having
stock in this company, are pack of
thieves
Richard Croker followed Mayor Van
Wyck. He testified that he had not ad-
vised any commissioners on the subject
OF the Ramapo contract Before he
went to Europe last spring a commit
tee Of citizens had called upon the wit
ness to urge the need of an improved
system. He was often visited by such
committees seeking his aid and in
huence. Witness intended to inquire
into the merits of the Ramapo contract
What are you going to do In tn 4
way OF advising these gentlemen in the
way of public improvements, after you
have made your Investigations" asked
Mr. Moss.
Il am not going to tell you. You're
not here for a fair investigation" re-
piled Mr.. Croker. You're here for one
side and for one purpose only. I've been
looking you up, as said I would when
l was on the stand before You told
me 1 might do it and I have done it.
l will prove you now as a man of bad
standing in this city. l will give what |
know to the press here to-day. l have
here deposition from the supreme
court
So sayin. Mr. Croker handed a writ
ten statement to the reporters present |
The statement concerning Mr. Moss |
which Mr.. Croker gave to the reporters |
was an extract from an opinion of the |
justices of the general term of the su- |
preme court in a case in which there |
was introduced as evidence a deposit |
ton attested before Mr.. Moss and an
other as notaries public. Mr.. Moss was |
examined in court as to the authentica- |
ton OF the signatures OF the deponent
and the witness, but he admitted that |
the document was not signed in his !
presence and that he only knew the wit |
ness through the introduction by the |
principal. Mr.. Justice Van Brunt ex-
pressed the opinion that the notares
Zone of them Mr.. Moss) should be crim-
nally prosecuted for attesting nstru-
ments without having seen the signing
of them and without the knowledge of
the signers' identity which the law re.
quires.
At the afternoon session the chief
witnesses We're Hugh Mclaughlin OF
Brooklyn and Edward Lauterbach the
latter counsel for the Ramapo company |
Mr.. Mclaughlin, during the course of
his examination, pointed out that he
had not held public office for 25 years,
that he was merely private citizen.
and therefore he refused to answer
number of questions which he deemed |
concerned only his private affairs.
Mr.. Lauterbach went into details re-
garding the stock Of the Ramapo COM
pany, the most of which had been sub
mitted. representing $2,5000 He had |
no knowledge of any transfers of stock
without payment, except in his own |
case, he having received $50 shares for !
services rendered.
The case was adjourned with MIR.
Lauterhach on the stand.