The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-15
PROBING THE RAMAPo DEAL.
VAN WICK, CROKER AND LATTER
BACH ON THE STAND.

Croker Hnd n Little Statement ns to-
Moss, Which He Gave to the Re-
pOrters-'NOne of Your BuSIness,v
Was Van Wyck's RetOrt When
Asked as to RnmnpO stOck-LittIe
Information of Importance Wax
Secured.
New York, Sept ITO days session of
the Mazet legislative committee was cer-
tainly the stormlest, and perhaps ths
most interesting ever held.
No previous day has ever witnessed the
appearance on the stand of such an array
Of prominent mcu-Mayor Van Wyck,
Richard Croker. Edward Lauterbach Of
the borough of Manhattan and Hugh Nc
Laughlin Of the borough of Brooklyn.
Richard Croker cnlivened the session by
producing a typewriter document, which,
he handed to the reporters present, but
made no attempt to get It before the conn
mittee in a formal way. 1t was an extract
from the opinion Of the justices of ths
general term, first department, In the
case Of the people VS. Schooley Al the
conclusion of this opinion Van Brunt J.
p. concurrlngi condemned the action of
knowledglng a signature upon mere
personal Introduction at the time of tha
execution of the paper to which the sig-
nature was attached.
Van WScIS's RetOrts to Moss.
The Ramapo Water Company, the corr
poration anxious to obtain the $200090,OO0
contract with the city of New York, was
the subject under Investigation. Mayor
Van Wyck, while on the stand, intimated
! that MIR. Moss was anxious for nomlna-
! ton for position on the supreme bench.
He said he would not act on The Ramapo
water case until 1t came before him Of
| ficiaGiy.
| The Mayor added that Mr.. Moss seemed
to think that Sias b. butcher. Levi p
! Morton and Gen. Tracy were pack OF
| thieves" This was the first time ex-Gov-
| Mortons name has ever been connected
| with the Ramapo company and Mr.. Moss
| pressed Mayor Van Wyck for the purpose
OF ascertanirg what the chief executive
of New York city knew about the stock In
the corporation possessed by the former
/ chief executive of The state.
He was unable to obtain any definite in
formation. In fact, when closely interro-
gated by Mr. Moss, the Mayor retorted:
"None of your business" while Richard
Croker under similar pressure, replied:
THAT Is my private affair" When asked
by Mr. Moss If he did not consult "a judge
OF che Supreme Court as to whether he
was bound to obey a Mazet committee
subpoena, MIR. Croker replied: mo, sir
you're dreaming"
Got Little Information.
All In all, little important information
could be obtained concerning the Ramapo
| company. one of the most slgnihcane
statements was that made by Edward
Lauterbach, who responding TO interroga-
lions. 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
20 have the necessary consent. lie was
given until Tuesday to produce the names-
Hugh Mclaughlin, the Democratic lead
er in Brooklyn, was questioned concern-
ing the Drivate water companies OF Lon8
Island attempted municipal legislation In
Greater New York affecting these corpor~
ations and the resultant reactionary ef~
feet OF such proposed legislation upon the
relations between the Democratic leaders
of Kings county and Tammany Hall in
general and the Ramapo Water Company
in particular.
Mr. Mclaughlin. who looked decidedly
feeble, was not compelled 20 pass through
severe examination, and but little OF
Ilnterest could be obtained from him.