New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-02
STATEMENT FROM MR.. MOSS
FROM THE CONTU
MACY OF TAMMANY WITNESSES.
,.,-,Dr>,cr OF THE TRl I'll OF CHARGES
ABOUT THE STATE OF PUBLIC AF
ruRs-THE TAX DEPARTMENT
ON THE RACK
ON THE RACK.

rank Moss, the chief counsel to the Mazet
,-,..st,ssting Committee prior TO the calling of
.s,nesscs yesterday morning made public
,o,erent bearing upon the insoent behavior
:, cantan Price the day before and upon
the conduct OF the greater number Of the city
officials who have appeared before the COM
,,jttee In the minds OF those who have fol-
lowed the proceedings OF the committee closely
Mr. Moss hit the right nail on the head when
he asserted that the contumacy which had been
manifested by one witness after another was
TIE outcome of an organized attempt TO defeat
the purpose for which the committee ap-
pointed So far as he was personally concerned
Mr.. Moss said he cared little for the abuse
which had been heaped upon him. He had
mary times refused to resent direct insults Of
fered TO him by witnesses because they ex-
hfbited IN their conduct and in their actions the
truth Of the general accusations which had been
made against them. He considered that what
the witnesses to whom he referred had said
and done of the strongest kind OF ulumina-
tive testimony showing the conditions which
have been alleged TO exist
"I venture to say" he remarked that no leg
islative committee has sat in this city or
in any other city in this State and received the
abuse. both as members of the committee and
as counsel or has ever been treated with the
with so much concentrated opposition as this.
And 7 think 1t IS proper thing to bunch all
that class of testimony together In our minds
and see what il has shown and what II leads 10.
u shows that We as a committee and as
counsel-and l make this statement after con-
sultation with my associate-it appears already
that we stand against organized condition In
our attempt to develop the facts"
Referring directly to Captain Price, Mr.. Moss
pointed out that his conduct evidently proceeded
from concert with others Questions the sim
plest. the planest and the most gentlemanly
possible had been put 10 the Captain, and he
instead of answering them, turned about ana
began TRADE against counsel, which even IL
true Mt Moss said. was Of no consequence
whatever. Counsel said 1t was not necessary
10 defend himself against the accusations OF
one who had so thoroughly demonstrated his
browbeating and bullying characteristics on the
stand. Nevertheless. he proposes to call Captain
Price again to-day to substantiate the charge
that counsel was guilty of suborpation OF per
jury
ENTITLED TO RESPECT.
Now. Mr. Chairman Mr.. Moss finally said
In a tone OF warning, I'VE are entitled 10 re-
spectful treatment This committee represents
one OF the three great branches OF our STATE
government There is no tribunal that Is en-
titled 10 more respect and that is more dignihed
under the Law than this body that slts mere
We owe it TO ourselves; owe 1t 70 the com
-runitv having sufficiently Illuminated this con-
oition. now to hold the witnesses to strict line
The defiance Of this committee had its begin
ming Yesterday; it's progress. it's full flower IN
the testimony of Captain Price, and lis con-
summation last night You will see that wha'
have said proceeds not from disposition 10
talk but from a disposition TO warn this COM
rnittee Of what we are against and disposition
10 protect myself and those who are WORKING
for me-"
Or. O'sullivan frequently interrupted MI
Moss while he was making his statement once
in ths most offensive manner he asked II II was
the purpose Of the committee to receive the
bold and unqualified statements OF the coufSel
who yesterday was accused by witness on me
stand of having committed a crime and who
has not vet answered that accusation" Angry
at the effronteYy Of DR.. OSuvan, who is priv
neged to appear in the proceedings only upon
the gufterance o. the committee Mr.. Moss asked
that he should be excluded from the committees
work henceforth. He said that unless he could
be freed from Dr. O'Sullivans Interruptions he
must retire from the investigation. Mr. Mazet
rebuked DIR. OSulivan. and said that MT
Moss's standing and reputation in the comnu-
nifty were too fixed to need defending. Ihere-
upon the incident allowed to drop.
The committee was subjected again yesterday
70 another indignity from Captain Price. In
order TO secure his attendance to-day an en-
pioye OF the committee was sent to serve Price
with subpoena The official found the cap
tain at one Of the piers at the Battery yester-
day afternoon just before the parade began
When the man attempted to serve him, Price
shouted according 20 the evidence given by the
subpoena server. Get away from here, you
crook or will throw you off the dockF Prices
attitude and that OF his roundsman. Loring, was
so threatening that the official was forced 10
hurry away without serving the captain.
sHEEHY DoDGEs QUESTIONS.
The greater part Of yesterdays sessions was
devoted to investigating the methods Of the
Tax Department II has come to be generally
believed by taxpayers that assessments are not
made upon any sound equitable basis, but
upon the caprice OF the deputy tax commission
ers. and further that the Department is used to
punish political opponents and 10 reward friend
ships The evidence adduced yesterday went
far 10 justify this belief Edward c. Sheehy, a
Tax Commissioner stated that there had been an
increase IN tax valuations in this borough since
1897 Of 1927 600. 900. but that that increase was
made 10 eoualize the values in all the borouehs
Beyond that however. Mr. Sheehy knew very
little He appeared 10 know hardly anything of
the details OF the work Of his Department and
persistently lodged questions as TO the reasons
for the enormous increase Of tax values made
by the present administration. When asked TO
explain the inconsistency Of some houses In a
particular street being more heavily taxed than
before and others having their assessments re-
duced. he found refuge in long. wordy "ex-
PLANTATION" entirely foreign TO the inquiry put 10