New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-04

oBut HGrgan says he is tn. P ps;nk % he sn Il
most capable OF doing any work intrusted 70 I'm;
The work the Tombs was inc Only iIA''' 'A
"0MnBut YOU knew the appointment OF Horgan g
Battefy was in line with the wishes OF o o IN the
astration? AMH n they k got NINE nE 0'''
Q-You are political Leader Ia S'ui
o-And you will all power YOU have t ,S t or
benefit of the organizationY Al VII! he'P TAG "a
ganizat ton in every way proper
Mr. Moss ELECTED the information tnat' IN aooiton
No tho nutifarious contracts already shown 10
have gone TO Horgan & Slattery they were com
unssioned 10 build mud scoWs' garbage cars
earbage crematory on Rikers Island ana 10 sup
ply fire hose and water mains.
In answer TO Mr. Hoffman Commissioner Lantry
denied that he knew Jules Schroeder. whom fred-
erck Hall the previous day accused OF receV-
1ng money from him the purchase price OF a
rlace on the police force. The witness also IN
formed Mr. Hoffman that he had not given Work 10
'Withers e. Dickson. because he believed they were
allied TO certain Western iron firms. On this point
Commissioner Lantry stated that there was on
record in his office letter from Senator Hanna to
ex-Mavor Strong recommending a certain iron con-
Germ as satisfactory for the purchase OF IRON
When pressed by Mr.. Moss. the witness refused to
20 into details and declined state what firm was
suggested. He was forced to admit however, that
the firm received city contracts.
ALDERMAN OKIE CALLED.
Then Alderman Howard p Dixie called, and in
she course Of a prolonged examination gave great
deal of interesting testimony on the present stua
zion in the Municipal Assembly and made several
suggestions as TO what he believed would improve
the usefulness of the city legislature. lie was
aware he said, that there had been failure IN
both houses to act in certain bond issues. but he did
not think for that reason the Municipal Assembly
xs a body should he abolished.
should not portion OF ftp" asked Mr.. Moss
Internationally yes. I think It advisable that
There should be local representation. but the idea
of double chamber is preposterous and absurd
why should there be a representative body
ITO the end that they might be responsible TO
particular localities. If man is elected and
charged with responsibilities TO locality in which
he lives he is more likely TO perform his duties than
one elected by the city at large"
DEFENDS THE ASSEMBLY.
Alderman Dixie said that If the power TO expend
money without some check by popular body was
lodged in the administrative officers alone wrong
might result. The Municipal Assembly. he said, had
been unfortunately abused by the public and
press. The bond issue for the street paving con-
tracts for the expenditure Of 100000 and the issues
of bonds for the Long Island Water Supply pur-
chase and for the building Of the Hall Of Records
should be separately considered. The Corporation
Counsel had given II his opinion that the APP
prevail OF the Municipal Council on the bond issue
for the Hall OF Records unnecessary and be-
cause OF this witness believed. the mandamus pro-
ceedngs to compel the members Of the Assembly 10
vote on something upon which their votes were I'M
necessary were a farce.
The proceedings before Judge Fitzgerald did not
in any way determine the right to issue the original
warrant, Mr.. Dixie said. The Corporation Counsel
and the President of the Council and the counsel
for the contractor allowed the matter to go 10 a
head before the members Of the Assembly had
opportunity TO deliberate properly to what action
they should take in order TO obey the court and also
~
Officers.
IF the Assembly can be mandamused into voting
for all bond issues could five six OF the heads
OF departments with power to issue bonds for paw
1ng and power to say how the money shall be ex-
pended with the earlier knowledge Of what streets
ARE 10 he improved make investments in real estate
that could not but prove remunerative" suggested
counsel
Nothing TO restrain them replied the witness.
''but their extremely tender consciences."
Mr.. Dixie said that It would be criminal for the
Municipal Assembly to vote for the paving con
tracts without knowing where the streets which
were TO be improved were.
Never yet" he explained. has a motion 10 pave
streets been defeated because the city large had
TO pay for this class of work. The charter has not
changed the fact that one man will try to get all
he can from another and give as little as he can
in return"
Mr.. Mazet asked the witness what suggestion he
had to make in regard TO improving the govern
Of the city. The witness said he thought the
Council ought TO be abolished and the boroughs
represented by Board of Aldermen. from each
Assembly district. In the of several districts
ne would have the number of Aldermen increased.
Replying to Mr. Hoffman, the witness said ne did
not desire TO impugn the personal and official mo-
tives Of Mr. Whalen. He expressed belief in the
honesty of the Corporation Counsel. hut thought
he had acted foolishly in the Pierce matter and
that he had no right to take the Board Of Alder
mot hat
was not before 1t and which it had no power to
3ntiate.
NOT WITHOUT A REFERENDUM
TO Mr.. Mazet the witness said that. If any branch
of the Municipal Assembly was to be abolished. It
should not be done without a referendum-submt-
ting the whole question 10 the people The action
of the Common Council In refusing to vote for the
issuing Of bonds to pay for the Long Island Water
Supply Company indefensibe. The so called
paving holdup a different matter A resolu-
ton passed asking for Information regarding
streets to be paved and the information was re-
fused
Councilman Adam II. LEIGH Republican) of
brooklyn. testified that he one Of the Council
men who voted for the bond issue to purchase the
Long Island Water Supply Company II was bm-
mon rumor. the witness said, that there were local
reasons over In Brooklyn why there opposition
10 this bond issue. AS matter Of fact It was
charged that Willoughby Street was interested
in the matter, because most OF the stock of the
water supply company was owned by the political
ring in Kings County. A; present the water com
pany receives something like $50 600 a year from
the city for its water supply.
The witness referred TO the bond issue Of g 90 900
for paving the streets and said he believed he
had right to know what streets were to be re-
paved. He had written TO Commissioner Keatng
and had called upon him to ask him what streets
were to be repaved. and whether those streets
designated by the last administration as requiring
new pavements would be attended to out of the
100000
What was his answerr' inquired Mr. Moss
Commissioner Heating replied that 7 might wal,