The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-09-15
The MAZET
pROBERS !
A Stormy Meeting of New YOrk's
Legislative Investigators.
PROMINENT MEN ON THE STAND

Mayor Van wyck, Richard Croker. Ed
ward Lauterbach and nuRh Me-
Laughlin Testify, But Reveal Little
of Interest to Committee or Public,
New York. Sept. 15.-Yesterday's
session of the Mazet legislative inves-
tigating committee was certainly the
stormiest and perhaps the most in
teresting ever held. No previous day
has ever witnessed the appearance on
the stand OF such an array Of prOmi-
nent men-Mayor Van Wyck, Richard
Croker. Edward Lauterbach, Of the
borough OF Manhattan, and Hugh Nc
Laughlin, of the borough OF Brooklyn.
Richard Croker enlivened the ses-
sion by producing a typewriter doCu-
meut, which he handed to the report
ers present, but made no attempt to
get to the committee in a formal way.
This document was an abstract from
the opinion of the justices OF the gem
eral term in the case of the people
versus Schooley. This opinion, Van
Brunt, j. F., concurring, condemned
the action of one Of the notaries, Frank
Moss, in acknowledging a signature
upon a mere personal Introduction at
the time of the execution of the paper
to which the signature was attached.
The RamapO Water company. the
corporation anxious to obtain the
5000 600 600 contract with the city of
New York. was the subject under in
vestigatiOn. Mayor Van Wyck. while
on the stand. intimated that Mr.. Moss
was anxious for a nomination for a
position on the supreme bench. He
said he would not act on the RamapO
water case until it came before him
officially. The mayor added that Mr.
Moss seemed to think that Silas d.
butcher, Levi p. Morton and General
Tracy were a pack Of thieves" This
was the first time Ex-Governor Nor
tons name has ever been connected
with the Ramapo company, and Mr..
Moss pressed Mr. Van Wyck for the
purpose Of ascertaining what the chief
executive of New York city knew about
the stockholdings in the corporation
possessed by the former chief executive
of the state. He was unable to OBJ
tain any definite information. In fact
when closely interrogated by Mr. Moss
| the mayor retorted. None of your
| business" while Richard Croker, un-
| der similar pressure, replied THAT is
| my private affair" Asked by Mr.. Moss
If he did not consult a Judge OF the
supreme court as to whether he was
bound to obey a Mazet committee
subpoena. Mr.. Croker replied: NO
sir; you're dreaming"
All in all. little important informa-
! tion could be obtained concerning the
Ramapo company One of the most
! significant statements was that made
| by Edward Lauterbach, who, respond
| ing to interrogation, informed the
committee that he had endeavored to
obtain the consent of the stockholders
to the publication Of their names, and
that by Monday next he hoped to have
the necessary consent, He was given
until Tuesday to produce the names
Hugh Mclaughlin, the Democratic
leader in Brooklyn, was questioned
concerning the private water com.
panies on Long Island. attempted mu-
nicipal legislation in greater New Yorl
| affecting these corporations, and the
resultant reactiOnary effect of suci
proposed legislation upon the relation.
between the Democratic leaders O
Kings county and Tammany Hall IL
general and the Ramapo Water com
pany in particular. Mr. Mclaughlin
who was looking decidedly feeble, wa!
not compelled to pass through a Sc
we're examination, and but little of in
terest could be obtained from him.