The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-04-18
May Be Made Subject of Con-
tempt Proceedings.
REFUSES TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
Several sharp IiIis Between Tammany
Chieftsin aud Lawyer Noss-Deeiares
He Is Not Going tn Europe rs Long rs
Committee Remains i'm Session-RefusFs
Answers to Questions ON Ground that
They "Involye Personal Business"

New York. April 17-In the session of
the Mazet Legislative Investigating Com
mittee to-day Richard Croker was again
the principal object of Mr. Moss exam
ination, and the most important ievelOp-
ment was the probability that the Tam
many chieftain and John F. Carroll will
be the subject of contempt proceedings
before the State Legislature shall adjourn.
All during the evidence to-day Mr.. Croker
parried the questions Of the counsel of the
committee and refused 10 satisfy the
members with the amount of information
he was willing to give regarding certain
matters which he classified as personal
affairs
An adjournment Of the committee was
taken this afternoon until next Friday
morning, and Mr.. Croker was subpoenaed
to reappear before the session on next
Monday morning BY the initiative OF Mr..
Moss, many of whose questions Mr.. Gro
ker repeatedly refused to answer and
with whom he had several sallies that
came very near being personal, the Chair
man of the committee took such action as
would leave Mr. Croker in technical con-
tempt. II was stated tonight that when
Mr.. Fal!ows, of the committee, left this
to prepare papers adjudging Mr.. Croker
and John F. Carroll in contempt
Anti-Platt Resolution Defeated.
When the committee began its inquiry
to-day, about the first thing brought up
was a resort known as the Broadway
Garden, which had fourished in the upper
Broadway district for some time. In
this place the alleged robbery of the former
Mayor of Trenton, Frank Mcgowan, took
place, and Simon Buttner. the former pro-
prietor of the garden, and several Of his
walters were examined. Buttner made
some startling charges against Police
Captain Price, and his walters cOlr0bo-
rated. in part, his testimony.
Assemblyman Hoffman offered a resolu-
tion to have certain prominent men sum-
mOned before the committee, because of
rumOr that a certain law firm by and
with the assistance of other persons, by
corrupt methods. secured the passage
through the Assembly" of the Astoria
gas franchise, whose real purpose was
to enable the Consolidated Gas Company
to force a consolidation of all the gas in
terests in the city, 10 the end that the
supply of gas might be controlled and
the price regulated by the so-called con-
solidation."
Mr.. Hoffman wanted TO subpoena the
law firm of Tracy, BOaTdman & Platt,
Elihu Root, the ineorporators of the AS
toria Heat. Light and Power Company,
Fflsaas &. Fla 81, Benjamin +, OdeIl, Lem
uel Eli Quigg, and John ID. Crimmins.
The resolution was defeated, however,
five Republicans opposing it and two DEM
ocrats favoring il.
Croker on Campaigns Contributions.
Richard Croker was called to the stand
soon after noon, and he occupied the at
tention of the committee the rest of the
session. He testified that the police did
not contribute cent TO the Tammany
campaign last year, but that the office
holders did. He could not tel the amount
of money raised last year, nor did he
know in what bank the funds were kept.
He said he had never received a cent
from Bourke Cochran. He also swore he
was never caught short with Manhattan
stock and did not lose S27 900.
When Richard Croker was callJd Mr..
Moss asked him about the contributions
made by the municipal candidates lest
year Mr.. Croker could not tell the
amount The Tammany leader and MT.
Moss ha1 little tilt as 10 whether Mr..
Croker had said that the city was not
wide open." Mr.. Croker had never
heard that the Metropolitan Street Rail-
road or persons interested in it had con-
tributed $4,000 10 Tammagy Hall during
the last election.
He did not pay Mr.. Carroll any salary
and as far as he knew he was no; in re-
ceipt of a salary from Tammany Hall
Mr. Croker had received no money, di-
Iectly OF indirectly, from Mr.. Carroll dur
ing the last year From Andrew Freed
man he. or rather his firm, Meyer &
Croker. had received money. Mr.. Croker
said he was interested with Mr.. Freed
man in the United States Fidelity Com
?any, in which he owned some stock.
Where Officisls Get Their Bonds
."You know that all the bonded officers
OF the city government take out their
bonds from your company queried Mr.
Moss.
Not all of them said the witness.
Nearly all of them
Some take them from your boss COM
pany."
This caused loud laughter
20 you mean Mr. Platt's company
asked Mr. Moss
Yes" said Mr.. Croker. You know
what l mean" And there was more
laughter.
What would you think Of good Tam
many man who would go 10 Mr.. Piatts
concern 10 take out his bOnds?" asked
the lawyer.
There are some that 90 there" said
Mr.. Croker He has cut the rates" And
rbsre was loud laughter
Mr.. Croker presumed his own company
had the majority Of the business In the
city. and Mr. Platts in the State.
Mr. Croker said be did not want any
protection al all He only wanted fair play.
Mr. Croker referred TO Mr Moss corre-
spondence As anonymous letters from ali
his fCroker'sy enemies all over New York.
Mr. Moss asked Mr.. Croker how much
he paid for his stock II the United
states Bond Company, and whether the
stock vas given 10 him upon the fOrma-
ton Of the ccmpany. Ar. Croker refused
10 answer, and Mr. Moss requested the
committee 10 direct the witness to an
swer
Mr.. Mazet so directed.
viii you answer. Ar. Croker?'
NO, cir" said the witness. firmly
Please 10 record the gentleman's re-
fQSal 10 AHsNEF All Ot AL-1r G4r5tlDNE
concerning the getting OF the stock. ana
whether he had paid Tor Il or not, or
whether he got il al the organization OF
the company" said Ar. MosE
And record also that he declines 10
answer on the ground that Il Is d pri-
yate. personal matter" said Assembly
man Holman
fssa.sas Tor Answering pue.ffsn..
Mr. Croker said he was not interested
in the Maryland Whisky Company. iEe
had never OEned cry stock in the Flush
ing Gas Company. Dir. Moss wanted 70
know why he made definite answers u
these personal questions, and SIR. Croker
said.
Il don't know. have got 10 answer
some, and must reserve some 70 my Judg-
rnsnt IL / did not answer some / NO1h
SIT here without answering anything al
al
he had no stock In the New ArasseT-