New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-02
BRAVES BEGIN TO QUAKE.
FRIGHTENED AT THE PROSPECT OF
THE LEGISLATIVE INVESTIGATION
ORDERS ISSUED TO LAWBREAKERS-MR.
MAZET SAYS THE WORK OF THE COM
MITTEE WILL BE THOROUGH-
TALK ABOUT MR.. Gro


MITTEE WILL BE THOROUGH-
TALK ABOUT Mr.. GRO
KERs PLANS.
Four members Of the Assembly committee that
is going to investigate the Police Department
and other departments OF the municipal govern
ment In the city yesterday. They are Rob
ert Mazet chairman OF the committee Edward
II. Fallows Harris Wilson and Benjamin Hon-
man. The first three are Republicans. Mr.. VIII
son is a Brooklyn man. and Mr.. Hoffman Is the
Tammany member. The only one of the four
who would talk about the coming investigation
was Mr.. Mazet. He said the investigation was
TO he thorough and honest. The committee would
not be In a great hurry to make beginning, he
added. but it would stick to It's work. and could
not be called off when 1t got started.
THE work OF the committee Will not be con-
troed by Senator Plat any other organiza-
ton leader" Mr.. Mazet continued. we are GO
ing to make fair and impartial investigation
and take plenty OF time in doing 1t. We will not
meet Tor organization until Monday or Tuesday
in Albany. and we may not begin to take testi-
mony In this city for fortnight The investi-
cation may last several months. We shall in
vestgate several Of the city departments"
When asked about the report that George j.
Gould president OF the Manhattan Railway
Company might be called as a witness before
the committee Mr.. Mazet said: Il cannot say Off
hand who will be called before the committee
but we may want 10 know what transactions
certain Tammany leaders have had In Manhat-
tan stock. and what they may have done to IN
fuence the price Of the stock.
viii Richard Croker he called as a witness
he was asked.
HAVE TO OBEY THE SUBPOENA.
"If he is he Will have to obey the committees
subpoena" was the reply. The committee VIII
have all the powers of a court to punish wit
nesses who refuse TO respond to subpGnas
'Who will he the counsel for the committee!
There has been no decision by the commit
tee as to counsel yet. l can say. however 'ha'
ex-Justice Cohen. who has been spoken of. Is not
"a he ono OF the counsel for the committee. We
may have a little surprise for the public IN APP
no,ntine counsel but at present l cannot say
who will be counsel.
What department will be investigated first?
"It would not be we'll TO state that now. we
NAV begin with the Police Department, ana may
take up some other department first. we nave
received considerable information from mem
hers OF the Police Department which VIII heeu
verifying"
Mr. Mazet said he had not conferred with
Senator Plat or any other Repubncan oreahi-
cation leader since the committee was appoint
ed Senator Plat had talks yesterday with Is
r. Odell tr. Edward L. Lauterbach, Lemuel r.
Ougg ex-Justice Cohen and other RepupHcanS'
George c. Austin and w. NJ. X. Olcott have been
mentioned by the politicians as possible Se'eo
lions for counsel for the committee
The fact that a legislative committee Is 10
nrobe Tammany's method of running the city de-
partments and may also look into other mat
WfVWam'S strange ways OF
doing business has caused the report that Klch-
ord Croker NAV hasten his departure for Eu-
rome When the Lexow Committee was at Work
here and day by day uncovered the most re-
voting details Of Tammanys methods OF black
mail and plumber and loot. Mr.. Croker suddenly
sailed for Europe. He left Tammany Han III
the lurch and 1t was reported at the the tha'
had he remained he would have been questioned
sharply about certain details. 1t is now report
ed that he may again abandon Tamlnahy Just
,non tho aye Of IFS trouble When Mr.. Croker
was asked yesterday on what date ne should
go to England he answered that ne had hot
decided 1t Is understood. however that ne TX
poets to depart before the end or inns fn'h,I mn
Tho prospect that a sudden attack OF Hl-health
of course. not traceabe to the coming inVesu-
gation-might cause Mr.. Croker To go ABROAD pe
fore the big banquet in the metropolitan OpeIa
House-of which he has been the chiet organizer
and promoter and Of which he is expected 10 De
the most brilliant star-has caused gred. uiSIia'
ker has assured nquirers that he VIII not go
before that suspicious occurrence.
AN APPRENTICESHIP CHILL
The Tammany men in general are having an
apprehensive chill. They have thought that the
proposed legislative investigation would come 10
nothing but the business-like way In when the
committee Ia getting ready has given them cold
shivers From the headquarters in the Demo
cratic Club the word has gone forth To lie
low" Silently, but quickly. the Tamlnany pre-
cnct commanders have passed the word along
the line that there is danger. Lights when
week ago fiared denantly In gambling houses
noolrooms and disorder.y houses have been
lowered Doors that were carelessy guarded
have been carefully bolted and double-poteu
and keen lookouts stationed in vantage places
4 sort OF smotherng wave has run trenulousiE
over the city Every police official withlh the
Tammany circle has been warned To dress ms
haiiwick for the probe and to present clean
and closed surface no matter what fostering
snots there NAV he far below II. Thc order Is
10 get these spots SO far out or siSht that 'n'
probe won't reach them.
For the first time since the election Of Mayor
Van Wyck the town Will not he wide open TO-
dav To the smallest saloonkeeper and the most
remote dive keeper who pays tribute 10 ram
many for the license to break the law. the warn
ing word has been passed. Side doors VIII he
barred to-day, and only the tried and trusted
Will he admitted. Until the word goes out from
the Democratic Club that the storm has blown
over Tammanys clients In the law breaking
business will silently and secretly ply their
trade and will be ready at "A moments notice
ito quit" and like the Arabs. silently steal
away.