The times., 1899-06-02
E. C. Sheehy Eyades Questions
About Assessments.
Tax Made Light on the Property Of
Brewing Companies.
Severe Passage at Words Between
Latter Tnrimnny's Attorney.

counsel. Mr. Moss demanded that sar.
o'SuIlivan be barred from further partici-
patton in the enquiry.
Mr. Moss complained OF the disrespect
with which the counsel and the committee
had been treated by Tammany witnesses.
Dr. o'sulliyan interrupted to say that Mr..
Moss had been charged with crime by
Captain Price
Il demand that this man be excluded
from any further participation in this in
vestigation," said Mr.. Moss whose pa
tience seemed TO be exhausted.
Chairman Mazet warned 0'Sullivan that
if he repeated his statement he would be
excluded from the room.
When Chairman Mazet called the COM
mittee to order there were but four mem
bers present. McEwan, Fallows. and Bo-
land being absent. Captain Prices inter-
ests'' were represented by his counsel.
Henry Clay Henderson.
Tax Commissioners Feitner and Sheehy
and James p Keating Commissioner OF
Highways. and J. Sergeant Cram, Presi-
dent Of the dock board, were all followed
by clerks and messengers from their va
rious departments.
County Clerk William Sohmer and his
chief deputy, George Farbach. entered the
room a moment after Chairman Mazet han
raped for order
Before introducing the first witness Mr..
Moss made statement explaining his pur-
pose in introducing the Witness whom he
did not name. He referred by indirection
to Captain Prices conduct on the stand
II am always willing" said he, 10
subordinate my own personal feelings to
the interests of the committee. l have
always done SO, even submitting to per-
sonal abuse without saying anything.
Il want to say that no legislative coin
mittee in the history of the state has
met with such organized opposition rs
this one. We have been met with opposi-
ton at every step. Witnesses have res
olutely opposed US
DR.. o'sulliyan here interrupted Mr..
Moss and said that he was summing up"
before the evidence was all in. Mr. Moss
turned to him angriiy and said;
You sit down. / Will not be interrupt
ed by you
O'Sullivan was ordered to sit down. and
took his seat reluctantly.
Mr. Moss spoke with great feeling. and
said he wanted TO make a statement ex-
planning his position. Chairman Mazet in
terrupted and said that he did not believe
that any statement was necessary.
1T is necessary" said Mr.. Moss, "and
! viii make it."
Wei. make it brief" said the chair
man
Il will make it as long as is necessary
said Mr. Moss. III / am To stay in this
case ! want the protection OF the com
mittee."
We'll, make it as brief as you can"
said the chairman.
Il will" said Mr.. Moss. But you have
put me here in this place. and / have had
10 bear the brunt OF abuse and viliifcation.
AS / have said, have subordinated my
own feelings at ell times to the work of
the committee. Yesterday. when CAPTAIN
Price was on the stand. an incident o.
CURED which has been magniied far be-
yond its Importance. II has been b'aIoned
abroad with significance that does not at
tach 10 it, Captain Price made charges on
the stand and ! have sent 10 him a sub
poena for his presence here tomorrow TO
substantiate his charges
During Mr. Moss statement DR.. 0'SuiH-
van continued TO interrupt He was re-
peatediy ordered to take his seat Mr..
Moss demanded that O'Sulliyan be sent
from the room and excluded from ali
further participation in the proceedings.
Chairman Mazet warned DR.. o'Sul ivan
that II he interrupted again he would have
him sent from the room by the sergeant
alarms.
Chairman Mazet then made statement
regarding Captain Prices performance yes
terday.
Il want to say" said the chairman. that
so far as Captain Prices statements con-
cern or reflect upon you, Mr.. Moss. they
had absolutely no effect with the commit
tee The testimony of such men has no
weight. 1t only tends to convince Us Of
the character OF the men who oppose US.
Mr.. Moss, you have been before the com
munity too long to need any defence
against such attacks"
John R. Wood was the first witness. He
was at q Bowery resort for degenerates
last night, he said. and remained there
until 1 O'Clock this morning. He said he
had no trouble in getting into the place.
and had been there before He said that
it had been announced that a show would
be given there last night. but about /
o'clock word was passed around that a
Congressman OF an Assemblyman was
present and the show did not come of.
Wood said that after leaving the place
in the Bowery he went with another
detective. Harris, to a gambling house in
West Thirty-irst Street, place known as
the Palm Club.
Tax Commissioner Edward c. Sheehy
followed Wood on the stand and told of
his appointment.
Did you ever have any real estate tran
sactions for or with Richard Croker?" Mr.
Moss asked.
Yes. did some business for him sew
ersl years ago.
did you hold any real estate for him?
No"
In reply to questions by Mr. Moss
Sheehy said that the commissioners gave
no instructions to their deputies about
fixing valuations.
What method did you adopt to secure
uniformity OF action by your deputies in
making valuaticns2"
we told them to obey the law We
gave them no special Instructions
Mr.. Moss brought out the fact that the
increase in valuations in Manhattan and
the Bronx was S327. 100000. and Sheehy
admitted that no such increase had been
made in any previous year.
Mr.. Moss read long list OF assessments
OF breweries and property OF brewers
showing in many cases that no increase il
valuation had been made and in the other
cases the increase was very small, in nc
case more than u per cent Then follow
ed a list OF assessments OF gas companies
showing large increases in some cases. and
none in others. even in one instance where
the property of two rival companies was
located in the same block.
Now. Mr.. sheehy. why is ii that the
property Of the brewing companies was no
increased in value during this general in.
crease OF Valuations
II will have TO refer you to the deputie.
and their books said the witness, after
some hesitation.
Mr.. Moss went on TO read from tn,
record Of assessments in many sections o.
the borough of Manhattan. all showing
that no uniform system was followed II
increasing valuation. These records show
LInNEV Is deceptive disease
Ntbi<L thousands have IL and dom
TROI1RI e know it. II you want quicI
- results you make n,