The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-14
LITTLE PROGRESS MADE
MAZET NOT SUCCESSFUL IN PROBING
RAMAPO WATER DEAL.
Questions Not Answered by "Afsy
Boss PIatt's Son and s. ID. butcher,
President of the Company.

NEW 1Ohh, sept. lo--lu ne ihost
tant and interesting witness at to-day's
session of the Mazet legislative Investigate
ing committee was Frank H. Plat, son
of United States Senator Thomas c. Platt,
and junior member Of the law firm OF
Tracy. Boardman & Platt. Mr.. Platt was
called as a witness for the purpose OF
throwing additional light on the organiza-
ton and the plan and scope of the Ramapo
Water Company. AS matter or fact ne
did not give very much information in re-
gard to the origin of this water company,
which hoped to secure $2OoOOOOO0 con-
tract from the city of New York Cues
toned by Mr.. Hoffman, who represented
the Democratic minority in the Mazet COM
mittee, Mr.. Plat declined to answer re-
garding the amount Of stock which ne neio
In the City Trust Company and wnen
pressed for an explanation said: 1t Is none
of your business" Silas B. butcher. the
president of Ramapo Water Company.
was also questioned. but he did not give
details concerning the organization A num-
Der of other witnesses were called TO the
stand, but nothing of general interest was
elected.
The first witness to-day was Alfred L.
White, former commissioner Of city works
In Brooklyn. In 1896 he maze an exhaustive
report on the Brooklyn water supply. Three
sources of supply were examined at the
time, one of them being the Ramapo water
supply Witness said that General Tracy
had asked witness in 1894 If the proposition
from a private water company would be re-
ceived. Witness replied that he would do
nothing until after his engineers had made
their report He thought General Tracy
represented the Ramapo company at that
time Mr.. White said that Engineer
Worthen had reported that to deliver water
from the Ramapo shed to Brooklyn would
cost $40 per million gallons, and that the
Ramapo supply would be inadequate Mr..
White said 1t was his view that the State
ought to have charge of all its water sheds
and apportion them between the cities.
Frank H. Plat. son of Senator T. C. Platt
and junior member of the law firm OF
Tracy Boardman & Plat, was called. Mr..
Plat said he knew little of the Ramapo
Water Company. He had no personal
knowledge that General Tracy had ever
been president of the company. Il never
knew anything personally about the RAM
apo Water Company" said Mr.. Platt.
Never had any interest. direct or indirect,
in 1t; never knew anything about the con-
Assemblyman Hoffman asked Mr. Plat
whether General Tracy was not president
of the Ramapo company at the time ne
was member of the Greater New York
II only know that the newspapers said he
had resigned the presidency before going on
DO you know that hat General Tracy owned
81 .0O0O 900 worth of stock in the company"
4 know nothing"
DO you own stock in the company"
mo: none"
Never eid?"
Mr.. Piatt said the Fidelity and Deposit
Company had done business here In fair and
open competition with other surety COM
panies. Senator Platt, he added, owned no
Mr.. Hoffman I'm e asked: what stock do you
hold in the City Trust Company?
Il decline to answer" replied the witness.
lit is none of your business"
Witness denied that he had told Governor
Black. when that OFFICIAL refused to sign a
renominated. Witness had appeared before
Governor Roosevelt with regard to the Ford
franchise bill, and said that 1t was subse-
Legislature was called at which the bill was
amended. Witness had never received any
blocks Of stocks for his services to any cor
poration or for his influence, nor had any
Siias b. butcher, president of the RAM
apo Water Company, was called to the
Company since July. 1897. and had become a
stakeholder a short time before.
Were you invited. directly. or indirectly,
by Mr.. Tracy to become his SUCCESSOR"
asked Mr.. Moss.
mo, SIR"
Nor by any member of his firm. nor any
prominent politician Of either party?
mo, SIR"
WAS it treasury stock that you bought?'
mo; bought from a stakeholder.
AS business propositions
Eyes, SIR"
who bought you the stock?"
II decline to answer at present"
I'VE asked you. Mr.. butcher. in our SUBJ
pena to bring certain books, including the
stock book. Have you done so?"
Il have. not done so in the case Of the
st s%n book"
1T is in the possession of the secretary,
Horace G. Lamont, who Is on his vacation"
Gould you not have located him since you
got my subpena?"
do you mean, Mr.. butcher. to help us
get at the list of stockholders, or do you
not?"
II will help you to get all you are en-
titled to-
At this point Edward Lauterbach said
there were actions pending against the
Ramapo company, and because of this he
did not think ii would be proper to make
known the names of the stockholders for
publication. However, he would furnish the
names to counsel and committee for their
such list should not be made public. To
this Chairman Mazet would not agree. Ad-
journed until tomorrow.