Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-17
MAZET COMMISSION
Resumes Its Investigations
in New York City.
Mayor Van Wyck Hints that He's a
Bigger Man Than Croker.
Pointed Questions Are Evaded and Greatly
Anger Tammany Chieftains.

New York May 16.-Mayor Robert A.
van Wyck was on the witness stand.
today before the Mazet investigating
commission and at the close of the
morning session was excused for one
week. At the afternoon session Of the
committee, the principal witnesses
were Police Commissioner Sexton and
President York of the police board
Mayor Van Wyck gave it as his opin-
| ION that the condition of affairs under
the new charter had been remarkably
satisfactory but refused TO express any
opinion regarding changes in the city
offices that might tend to improve the
administration Of the citys affairs
There was not much Of note about the
mayors testimony ana only on one
occasion did he find reason to make al
outbreak This was when he was
questioned by Counsel Moss of thu
committee, regarding the rumored con
necuon OF a man named Van Wyck"
with number Of pool rooms
lie denied most cmphatically that he
had any connection with any pool rooms
| whatsoever. or any Illegal business. III
declared that the matter should not
end With his mere denial, but Mr.. Moss
| should pc compelled to produce anv
| evidence he had that could lead him to
| ask such q question. In this the
mayor was supported by Committee
man Hoffman, but for the pres
ent the matter will be dropped.
| Mayor Van Wyck also cmphaticaIly
| asserted that he had never consulted
| with any one regarding the appoint
ments he had made and that he him
| self was the most powerful factor i'll
The city administration. that hc was
guided absolutely by his own views
| and not by those Of Mr.. Croker nor
any one else. The mayor said that he
had dismissed Chief Of Police McCul-
lagh because he was not a fit man for
the position and that he removed CO.
missioners Phillips and Hamilton be
cause they were unfit. The mayor said:
Hamilton blackmailed the Casino"
Police Commissioner Sexton. in his
statement before the committee said
with reference TO the appointment Of
chief of Police Devery, II wanted tu
make Devery chief. Dcvery was my
friend and | wanted to make him chief
Of police and | retired McCullagh."
President York explained the retirement
Of McCullagh by saying that it was a
case Of politics" and desire to have
harmony in the police department. |
He said, however. that McCullagh had !
been good officer. The hearing will |
be continued. tomorrow.
The hearing was held in the |
criminal branch of the court where |
al hn .;g..l
turned over to Mr. Mazet and his fell |
low investigators. A fair sized crowd |
was on hand early, among them being
Mayor Van Wyck. who, with the heads
of various city departments. had been
summoned to appear today 1t was
announced that the committee will sit
daily Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thurs
days and Fridays until its work is
concluded. but this programme will be
intertered with by the extra session Of
the Legislature
Mr.. Moss started the examination
Policeman Benz. Harrison of Captain
'hapman's precinct testified that he
was on duty May 4. but he could NOT
remember that anything unusual oc-
CURED at the Empire Garden on 18TH
street that night. Policeman George
K. Cain was called. but he knew moth
ing about the Empire"
Then Charles Dillon took the stand.
he said he was in the Empire Of Nav
and saw there the two officers. Har
rison and Game. One of them was
dancing with a woman. The officers
were III uniform. The conduct Of the
women was disreputable Liquor was J
also sold after / A. NJ. in the presence
of the two policemen /
Alr, Moss said he put in the testf-
mony simply as an indication Of the Z
lack of discipline in the force
Mr.. Hoffman. the Democratic mem
Der Of the committee. asked: DO you
mean that 10,500 men shall be held re- =.
sponsible for the acts of two men?" =
Mr.. Moss said he assumed nothing
Of the kind II assume said he the
counsel that the commanders Of the
force and the persons who under the +
charter are responsible for the force, i
should keep it under discipline, and l t
say they are not doing it, /
Robert A. Van Wyck, mayor OF \
Greater New York, was then called r
and sworn. Q
Chairman Mazet shook hands with r
he mayor and Mr.. Moss greeted him A
cordially. T
In reply to question from MIR. +,
Moss. the mayor said he had not yet h
ONE to conclusion whether the Of Il
ice of borough president served any :
good use to the city govern .,
nent. However he did not think that n
he charter should be disturbed until n
t had had a fair trial.
Referring to the reasons for several
{ the city departments changing their
uarters from the New York Life In =.
urance building to the new syndicate "
uildng. Mr. Moss quoted an interview
rom a New York paper and the mayor
aplied that he did not pay much at
ention to those interviews. til
When asked if he knew that there OF
ad been no printed report of the po- to
&c department since 1897. Mayor Van tn
yyck said he did not know. Mr. Moss 70
lquired a great deal into the bureau 10
f statistics and finally the mayor G.
aid: on
Il know Nagel (chief of the bureau tn
asters me TO publish everything he Ia
Continued on page %