New-York tribune., 1899-08-04
CITY FATHERS HEARD.
VIEWS ON MUNICIPAL AS.
SE1MBLY'S USEFULNESS.
SOME MEMBERS WOULD HAVE ONLY ONE
HOUSE-INDIGNANT AT MANDAMUS
BANKRUPTCY OF HORGAN
& SLATTERY.
& SLATTERY.

-BANkRUPTC1 OF HORGAN
& SLATTERY.
Several members OF the Board of Aldermen
and Of the Council were called yesterday before
the Mazet Investigating Committee for the pur-
pose Of throwing added light upon the con-
dtions which led to the deadlock in the Munich
pal Assembly the issue Of bonds. At the
same time they asked to place on record
their opinion as to the advsability OF abolish
ing the city legislature altogether, to suggest
means whereby its utility might be increased.
In the expectation that there would be a repeti-
ton in the court of some OF the animated scenes
that have recently taken place in the Council
Chamber large number Of people attended
yesterdays session. They were not rewarded.
however, by hearing anything of particular
moment, any revelation of facts not already
known.
Most Of the witnesses who gave evidence yes
terday had been involved in the mandamus pro-
ceedngs and greatly incensed at the in
dignity to which they asserted they had been
subjected. The burden of their complaint was
that they were not City Fathers at all. but had
been treated as children. and fguratlvely
spanked because they would not obey what
they considered the arbitrary instructions
of sef-constituted superiors in the persons OF
various heads OF departments In short they
contended that they had been asked to vote
upon bonds for millions Of dollars, but all in
formation as to the purposes to which this money
was to be put had been refused them. They
had desire. they testified. to block necessary
city Improvements, but were opposed to violat-
ing the trust imposed in them by placing large
sums of money in the hands Of the city officials
without some detailed knowledge Of the uses to
which it to be applied. The whole thing.
according to Alderman Stewart, was fight for
a principle. 1t was fight to whether New
York should be ruled by popular government
or by an olgarchy. The real basis Of the con-
test Mr.. Stewart urged was the question as to
whether or not centralized administration as
represented by the Democratic Club should be
allowed to do as it pleased with the city's money
without restraint check
ALL WANT MORE POWER.
Alderman Okie Councilman LEIGH and others
voiced similar views, and while In cases
1t was urged that the two houses should be
merged into a single representative chamber,
and in other cases that the two bodies should
continue to exist, II was generally agreed among
the witnesses that the Municipal Assembly
should be clothed with greater power In order
to enable 1t to conserve properly the interests
OF the people and to protect the city treasury
from the designs OF political leaders. Men ike
Martin Engel and John ]. McGarry intimated
| that they had voted for the bond issues because
| the organization wished them to do so, and were
| Obliged to confess 10 Mr.. Moss that they had
| consented to the issuance of 100000 for paw.
| ing purposes without taking the trouble to In
| qure into the truth of the charges made by the
Commissioners of Accounts that the asphalt
specifications had been so drawn that only the
Barber company could bid for the contract, and
that the price asked for material was more than
double that for which 1t was sold in London
and at European seaports generally.
Francis j. Lantry, Commissioner OF Correction
was called at the morning session and questioned
as To the reasons that induced him TO give Hor-
gan & Sattery virtual monopoly or all the con-
structve repairing and architectural work OK
his Department. The only explanation the COM
missioner could think OF was that they were
friends of his and were capable men. 1t was
developed also that in addition 10 the contracts
already admitted to have been given by the city
to Horgan & Sattery for work ranging from
landscape gardening to overhauling steamboat
machinery, from building mud scows 10 revising
the designs and plans OF architects of National
reputation. they also engaged In building
garbage cars, erecting garbage crematory at
Rikers Island and incidentally supplying the
city with fire hose and water mains.
HORGAN e. SLATTERY'S BANKRUPTCY.
In the face OF all these opulent jobs the news
that Horgan G. Slattery had fled voluntary
petition in bankruptcy and declared that they
had ,no place Of business was received with
considerable amusement in court yesterday
afternoon Frank Moss and Chairman Mazet
smiled when they were told Of the step taken
by the Tammany architects, but they refused TO
make any comment The opinion generally ex-
pressed In court was that the reports OF the
many contracts presented to Horgan & Slattery
bv the city had brought their creditors down
upon them in a bunch. AS the two men, how
ever will not be paid for their work until thex
contracts are completed, 1t was presumed that
they are as yet without any great amount or
ready cash. and were forced to find relief In
bankruptcy There is little probability, how
ever OF the creditors beneiting much by the
money which the firm Of Horgan & Slattery VIII
receive eventually from the city. The two men
have testified that they merely receive salaries
from the firm which bears their name. that II Is
a corporation and that all the stock is owned by
their wives
DETAILS OF THE HEARING.