The Portland daily press., 1899-09-16
MR.. MOSS's REPLY.
He Explains Charges sfsde Against
HIN by MIR. Croker.


New YORK. September i5.-Formsr
Judge Dillon Was the first witness before
the Mazes COMMITTEES today. In his opin-
Ion the powers confarrsd upon the com
mittes Of public improvements by the
city charter were not only harmless, but
necessary. Hs halisved. this charter
should be changed SO that the may or's
term Of offios would be two instead Of
four years.
Former Mayor wursterm of Brook lyn
testified thnt she water supply Of Brook
lyB was Insufficient. "It Is absurd" he
said, ''that an act of legislature prevents
the city from going to Suffolk county
where 40. ZOO gallons Of water day
could be obtained.
Albert ] Steward, fireman, said he
had been reduced from the rank Of engf.
nesr on charge Of abssnae without leave.
ID . Hbsenee was for only ten minutes TO
get sandwich. He had refused to make
q contribution just before election last
year. The contribution had been solicited
by two of his superior officers, but he
could not remember we'll enough to give
their names.
Maurice b. Holahan, president Of the
board of public improvements, testified
that bis duties as district Democratic
leader did not at all enoroach upon his
on1oial duties. he denied that the
Ramapo contract had been introduced In
the board Of public improvements by
him.
MIR. Holahan stated that be was In IA
vor OF municipal ownership and would be
glad TO have the city build its own plant
IL the comptroller could arrange for the
tond itsne necessary to enable suoh a
th ing to be done.
At this point the committse adjourned
until tuesday next.
Al the committee rose. MIR. Moss gave
out statement In reply to the one made
by MIR. Croker yesterday:
"Sohooley was u lawyer who had prnc-
ttced Tor many years, and whose reputn-
ton believed was good. / had a bow
ing acquaintance with him. Ore day he
came into my Office with a man whom
he introduced as Joel Peterson and askez
me, as a notary, 10 take his ack nowledge-
ment to power of attorney. Relsing
on his Introduction as had n right &c
do, l eomnlisd. Thia WIS q number OF
years ago long time after, Schooley
was arrested under an accusation of hav-
ing stolen and negotiated bond. It WAS
charged that he had negotiated ft under
tris rover II attorney which had been
acknowledged before ant theF notary
was called as a witness for the state
and testiusd to the Facts before Justice
Fitzgerald, the que tions being Put by
an assistapt Of District ATTORNEY Eel
lows AT that time was counsel for the
soc ETY. for tie Prevention Of Crime,
which was antagonizing 1ammany. and
the judge and district attorney wera
members of that organization. No COM
ment or criticism W atever was made ON
my testimony by those officials. SchooIey
being convicted, appealed, and the opin-
ion just given out by Mr Croker waa
written on that appeal and necessarily
without hearing me.
"The remarks at tine end OF the opin-
ION. concerning one of the notaFies, were
nos applied to me, hut to the other no.
taIY OF course the ter failure and un-
willingness OF Mr.. Van wyck ana MIR
Croker TO denouncs and ssmash the
hainapo contract are fully explained and
Rtoned for by an attack OF SIR. Moss l
am amazed at the upifity of the men
who when eourtseus'y given an opportu-
nifty 70 take stand tor municipal owner
snip of the water supply, throw that
chance away and think TO fool the peo-
pie by denouncing their intsrrogatory.