The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-08
Pill CALL PLATT, SAID MOSS.
TBEy THE MAzkT COMMITTEE
STOPPED PUBLIC SESSIONS.

And Announced That 1t Would Take No
More Te.timony-Did Not Consult Its
Counsel About This and He Had
Lot OF witnesses waiting Under subpoena.
1t was developed yesterday that the Mazet
Investigating Committee terminated Its public
sessions on Wednesday at It's meeting In the
Astor House because Frank Moss either had
subpnnDd Thomas 9. Plat to appear, or had
expressed his determination to do 80. In such
q way that the members OF the committee saw
that he was not to be withstood. twasknown
that Mr.. Moss. who has taken his work In the
committee very much to heart. had determined
TO have a spectacular final session. and 1t was
also known that he was tremendously dis
appointed when the committee decided to hold
no more sessions for the taking OF testimony.
He regarded the action OF the committee as
impollte to him, to say the least Mr.. Moss
wrote a letter on the subject to Chairman
Mazet which neither saw ct to make public
yesterday.
1t was said yesterday that no member OF the
Nazet Investigating Committee had ever
thought OF ending the hearings so suddenly
until the members got their morning mail on
Wednesday. Each member OF the committee
received a letter from Mr.. Moss in which he
said In effect that to protect it's dignity from
the charges OF partisanship which have been
effective the committee must summon Thomas
c. Platt to the stand. II was aad yesterday
that Mr. Moss had put the matter before the
committee In such way that II was absolutely
necessary for them to summon Senator Plat
or else to discontinue the public hearings. and
they chose to let the co mmittee 20 out OF exist
ence as n Testimony taking body through the
excuse that no quorum was present; Ihey dld
not nSGt Mr. BIOS, % sset nSss s ;b snS ei ts
departments, under subprna to appear. .
Mr.. Hoffman,. Dcmoeratic member OF the
committee. had inserted Ia its minutes a state
ment that the minority mem b-rs were not op-
posed to proceeding without quorum
Assemblymnn Iallows who had been the
presiding officer Of the committee on occasions
when Chairman Mnzet was not present, made
this statement yesterday in regard to the ad-
The advisa6iity OF an early adjournment
was discussed by members Of the COMMITTEES
the adjournment Of that session the Re-
publican members Of that committee
hcd "a S meeting " u T6Sn pabs sss
The suggestion was made by myself and
the reason made II was that ] needed few
weeks to devote exclusively to my business.
my duties on the committee told Mr., Mazet
would be- i i'm possi6Ie Tor me to attend any more
meetings, Mr. Mazet agreed with my pro
P fhHt RSd nSSnT c dS with the ad
journment. suppose Mr Mazet forgot to in
form Nr Moss Of our decision. which accounts
McEwan and Mr.. Wilson were present at our
meeting and they both agreed with me. The
Democratic members wanted TO adjourn long
ago
When Mr. Moss was seen yesterday afternoon
| and was asked why the Committee adjourned.
he said that that was n question which he must
| positively refuse TO answer. Ne also refused 20
| affirm or deny the report that he had sub
| pornaed senator Plat, or had tut the Commit
tee in such q position that II would have been
| necessary to subpHna him. Then Mr.. Moss
said:
Il want to have the public understand that
was prepared yesterday to 20 on with the In
ve-ttgation. and to finish w several very i'm
portant matters; each Of the members OF the
Comm ittec Understood tn" importance OF the
| meeting. therefore the lack y quorum when
oil but one OF the members ~ the Commute
were in this city. removes the responsibility
from my shoulders"
The members of thu Committee including
Chairman MaZ"t, were not dlspo-ed to dlscue,
tn" Committees ana "a yesterday. They Will
meet Mr. Moss this morning to consider what
shnll be- done with the mass Of testimony.