The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-19
New York Police Captains Found
No Gambling.
1T CANNOT BE SUPPRESSED
An Investigation OF the Department Nee
essary-Platt Wouldn't Give Hess
Bonds - Auction Sales Were
Sent to brokers' Concern.

q lHt uutS VI tIt tlllti VI pOilIt " St|ptC
such evidence against pool room keep
ers as was brought out in yesterdays
examination of Agent Wood. The fact
that the captains unanimously repre-
scented their precincts free of crime and
vice had caused some suspicion in his
mind that the captains We're lying in
their reports"
Mr.. Moss asked:
t.What do you conceive to be your
duty with regard to the chief and the
other subordinate official. of the de-
partment?''
Mr.. Hess answered: "To Immediately
start an investigation.
He did not believe that gambling
could be suppressed entirely but
thought that it could be reduced to a
minimum
Mr.. Moss brought out the fact that
when Chief Devery was on the stand
before the committee about a month
ago, the list of pool rooms most of
which We're testified to yesterday, was
placed in his hands.
Mr.. Hess testified that he applied for
his bonds as commissioner to the FIJI
deity company of Maryland, Mr.
Piatts company" the witness ex-
plained AT first they said they were
glad to take him, but afterwards re-
fused him.
Mr.. Hess said their refusal had moth
ing to do with his responsibility. He
supposed they had heard from some
where" Then he was bonded in the
United States Guaranty company, the
Freedman-Croker concern. Mr.. Hess
said he got reduction in bonding
rates because Mr.. Freedman was an
old friend.
Mr.. Hess testified that as treasurer
of the police board he had divided the
deposit of the pension fund, amounting
to about 100000, between the Bowery
National and Garfield National banks.
1t formerly was all in the Bowery con-
Germ. He gave several reasons for so
doing, but finally Admitted that Com
missioner Sexton might have first sug
geSted the change.
James p. Heating, commissioner of
highways, was the next witness. When
asked if he had not contributed per
cent. Of his yearly salary, $500, to po-
ltical expenses of his district. Mr..
Heating said he could not tell. He had
contributed as usual, but could not re-
member how much. He did not know
that twas general thing for city en-
ployes to contribute 4 per cent. of their
salary to, their party. Mr. Heating had
not spoken to Mr.. Croker about his de-
partment. His department had given
all it's auction sales to Peter F. Meyer
& Co. He knew that Mr.. croker was a
partner in that firm, but did not know
If he knew 1t when the sales We're
awarded. Mr.. Meyer was the only aus
fioneer he knew.
Mr. Heating said he was bonded in
Mr.. Freedman's company. as We're all
the employees in his department. Mr.
Heating did not know that Mr.. Croker
was interested in that company.
Comptroller Collier was called and
testified that two or three weeks after
his nomination to the COMPREHENSIVE
he subscribed 5000 to the New York
county and $1,000 to the Kings county
democratic committees. He had also
subscribed So, 600 or s., 900 in addition.
Mr.. Collier said he had followed the
policy of his republican predecessor and
had given the sales in his office to Peter
F. Meyer. who had been auctioneer of
the comptroller's Office for a great many
years. Only by general report had he
known that Mr.. Croker was partner
Of Mr.. Meyer.
A statement of the contractors under
bonds to the city showed that in the So
called Platt company contractors were
bonded to the extent of Sc, 466, 422 and in
the so-called Freedman company to the
extent of s2,S35, 209. The American
Surety company headed the list with
s6,5S2,592 the Plat company the second
on the list and the Freedman company
fourth, being exceeded by the City
Trust Safe Deposit and Surety COM
pany,
This list referred to all the contract
bonds now in force. From January-1
to December 81 1898, that is, the first
year of Mr. Golfers office holding. the
Plat company headed the list for bonds
accepted during that period. and the
Freedman company was again fourth.
From the LIST of January, 1899 to May
10 last the Freedman company was
again fourth. From the LIST of January,
1893, to May 10 last the Freedman COM
pany headed the list with S1,670,204, as
compared with $9SS,52S in the Platt COM
pany.
Mr.. Moss said that the significant
feature of the report was the constant
ratio of increase of the Freedman COM
pany. The list of the bonds filed in the
comptrollers office by city employees
and heads of departments gave the
4 Freedman company $2,405,000 as COM
pared with $4,000 in the Plat COM
pany. No other company with the ex-
ception of the Freedman company had
more bonds than the Plat company.
Deputy Commissioner of Highways
William n Shannon followed the comp
troller on the witness stand. He testi-
fed to giving sales to Peter f. Meyer
& Co. Joha ]. Ryan, president of the
aqueduct commission, also testified tc
giving sales to Meyer 6, Co. The usages
regarding such sales were exactly the
same as during Mayor Strong's admin
istration.
Deputy Chamberlain John Fl. Camp
bell testified that he had never used thf
influence of his official position to Sc
cure customers for Mr. Freedman's
bonding company.
Mr. Moss then read the following let
ter written on official paper of the city
chamberlain:
December 7, 1899.
'To Whom it May Concern-My Dear
Sirs: This will serve to introduce to
you Percy J, Aleer of the United
States Fidelity and Guaranty company
Baltimore. Md, New York office 1i0
Broad. the vice president of which is
Andrew Freedman He will state the
nature of his business and any favors
granted in his line will be greatly ap-
precated. Yours sincerely
JOHN II. CAMPBELL"
''You did not do that without the