The times., 1899-05-17

| said in answer to q question. Tilden or
ganized it. 1 did not know that the Demo-
cratic Club ever owned that building you
! are talking about. 1t would not have had
any influence with me If had known it. -
When Mr.. Moss asked for the details the
mayor said: ~Oh, it's all on the records.
1t was all done in the daylight"
The Mayor Aroused.
Were you nominated by Tammany
Hall?" asked Mr.. Moss
Il was nominated by the Democratic
Convention that met in the Grand Central
Palace replied the mayor, land l was
elected" he continued moment later, be
cause the people thought I'd give them a
better government than Seth Low
| Mr.. Moss asked him particularly about
the persons present at the Lakewood meet
ing. and drew out the mayors definition
of Richard Croker. 1t is 'the man most
conspicuous in the Democratic party in and
the Bronx
DO you deny the correctness of my def
milton of sponsor?" Mr.. Moss asked, after
he had defined his idea of the meaning Of
a sponsor.
81 wish you would ask me some proper
questions" cried the mayor impatiently.
Il think that's a proper question" said
Mr.. Moss. Il take your silence to mean
that you agree with me-.
1 nope you We eUlOyeu your lIItie
tion." said the mayor, more impatlently
than ever.
We'll, do you?.'
The mayor shifted in his chair, reddcned
and refused to answer.
Have you done single thing contrary
to the wishes OF Mr.. Croker?" Mr.. Moss
asked
Il don't know"
Have you ever been called to account
4 y-th hay co
done?"
mo man can call me to account"
shouted the mayor.
Not even Mr.. Croker?"
! "No mani
Not even Mr.. Croker?"
mo man. sir. can call me to account
except the courts: the courts can
Mr.. Moss said that Richard Croker had
testified that he (Croker) had more infiu-
ence than anybody else in the city govern
ment, and asked the mayor what he
| thought about 1t.
"a don't think that amounts to much"
said the mayor.
What" said Moss.
| Nobody has any more power than I
have snapped the mayor.
"lf you would use it," suggested Mr..
Moss.
II do use it." insisted Van Wyck.
You are bigger man than Mr.. Croker,
then?"
Il am the mayor of this city. and nobody
| can call me to account"
| Were you not in consultation with Mr..
Croker at the Murray Hill Hotel On De-
cember 81. regarding the ofiiceholders you
were to induct into Office the next day?''
The mayor answered evasively, and then
Mr.. Moss asked II his idea of political
ethics was consistent with the existence
OF political leader whose voice should be
respected by officehoiders. The mayor re-
fused to answer the question. 1t was re-
peated. ! -
| Had Better Ask PIatt.
you had better ask Mr.. Piatt about
that" he said. petulantly.
But l am asking you,' said Mr.. Moss:
you know more about that than he docs"
You'd better not tell him that said the
mayor; "he tried to run this town once
Now tell me il it is not true that Mr..
Croker suggested nearly all the men whom
you appointed?"
They were suggested by everybody
| And by MIR. Croker especially?''
| They were suggested by the people.
appointed them; am responsible; stand
sponsor for them. They were suggested
to me by all the people"
That includes Mr.rCroier?"
Yes. he's one of the people"
did you stand sponsor for removing
Chief McCullagh?"
THE mayor don't have the appointment
of the chief of police"
mo. But he appoints the police com
missioners who do appoint the chief
Now, didn't you have talk with McCul-
lagh before you changed the board which
removed him.
Yes, and at that time tod him that
didn't think he was the proper man for
chief of police If he continued 10 do as
heard he was going to do about the trans
fer of policemen
And did you believe that he was not a
proper chief?'
Il told him So"
And did you believe it?"
Il never say anything don't believe. 1
talked with him about the transfer Of two
men at the City Hall which was generally
looked upon as a soft snap
Never mind the subject OF your talk -
said Mr.. Moss: well come to that later
About the time you told Mr.. McCulagh
that you didn't think he would be proper
chief did your opinion then extend to the
two Republican members of the board?"
We'll, there was the question of trans
fers and"
Never mind now," said Mr. Moss
Let him go on" said Mr.. Hoffman.
Go on, Mr.. Mayor, and tell all you want"
"Oh. I'm perfectly willing" said the
mayor. Ito let Mr. Moss bring out the an
swers in his own way, as long as he says
he'll let everything come out"
Police BInckmniIing.
Regarding the removal of Police Com
missioners Hamilton and Philips. the
mayor said: 81 made UP my mind about
Philips in day and a night and about
Hamilton after a conversation l had with
him."
What was the conversation with Ham
ilton?"
Il told Hamilton that | had heard that
McCullagh had said that he was to make
no transfers without consulting Hamilton
and that Hamilton was not to assent with
out consulting Mr.. Quigg. Mr.. Hamilton
said that was correct. except that he was
not TO consult with Mr.. Quigg. but with
Senator Platt.'
What reason was there why Mr.. Hamil-
ton was not fit TO be a police commits
sioner?"
"He blackmailed the Casino" said the
mayor. He refused them a license be-
cause they owed him bill, and when the
bill was paid he granted the license"
Did you take any steps to have him
prosecuted asked Mr.. Moss. Did you
bring it to the attention of the District
Attorney"
II gave it out to the newspapers at the
time. said the mayor airily. 1T was all
published at the time"
Was there any other reason why you
removed Hamilton
Il thought that he and Gibbs and Quigg
and McCullagh were in combination, and
that we were approaching repetition OF
the time when. another Republican COM