The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-06-09


presented q Newspaper article and a rec
ord Of the court of general sessions, Civ
Ing the facts in connection with the
prosecution OF Charles A. Moffatt, in Oo-
tober, 1896, on q charge of renting proper.
ty for immoral purposes. The record
sentenced TO six months In the peniten-
tiary. The object of this was to show
that Captain Prices statement that
Mohatt was railroaded was untrue. MIR.
Moss also read several extracts from Po-
lice Manual relating to the duties Of cap
tains.
Several witnesses gave evidence con-
cerning water meters but nothing of gen.
ersl interest was brought out
A. s. Gear said his salary was cut
81, 600 year to make him resign. He is
q former employee of the water depart-
ment. When he declined TO accept the
hint, he said John E. Mckay abused
him, tore down his private office and
beiittied him whenever possible. Later
were made against him and he vas dis.
charged Maya, 1899. His suit for rein.
statement under the veteran law il now
pending. Gear is the inventor of the
"Gear" hydrant. spas
His salary had been increased In two
years from "a day to $1,000 n year.
1t was a matter of general knowi-
u.
that the son of Engineer M,Kay was
interested in the Thomson water meter
and that that was the reason for its in
creased popularity"
\ Edward @. Sheehy, commissioner in
the tax department., was called.
do you agree with MIR. Croker that
you should appoint mem bers of Tam
many and that all other things being
equal preference should be given to men,
berS of the organization ~
"AH things being equal, yes."
MIR. Moss read O list OF deputy tax COM
missioners who are now acting In bor-
oughs other than the boroughs in which
they live. Six of the eight deputies for
the Bronx live in Manhattan.
''Do you think that fair" he asked.
The men were appointed according to
law"
MIR. Moss read from section S3S of the
oh al ter which provides that so far as pos
sible deputies shall be chosen from the
boroughs In which they live and ask ed
why the law had not been carried out.
The board appointed the men accord
ing to their best judgment and according
to their understanding of the law
Daniel Englehard, deputy tax COM
missioner, gave great amount of tech.
nical testimony as TO assessments by the
tax commissioners. His testimony was
not very interesting.
hlr. MOSS tnen Called james n. Moore
also deputy taa commissioner. Mr..
Moore said that for ten years prior to his
appointment in j une, 1898, he was q
clerk in the tax department. Before go
Ing to the tax department., he was
builder in Brooklyn. He never owned
any real estate but considered his ten
years experience justified him in relying
upon his Judgment in valuing property.
He believed the property owners are en-
titled to flrst class ability In the dep uty
tax commissioners and he believed him.
self possessed Of such ability. he did not
consult with any real estate experts and
does not believe "there is such a thing
rs real estate expert"
The witness said he visited 1900 pieces
Of property In making his original valua-
tions and visited them again before
making the decreases. Mr.. Moore was
still On the stand when the committee ad-
journed till tomorrow.