Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-04-14
new Works. BOSS
ON The STAND.
Richard Croker Before the mazet
Investigating Committee.
HE MAKES SHARP ANSWERS
A Certain Amount OF Advice Given
Prominent Tamn,any Democrats by
HIN Reputation for Trnih.

i
New York. April it-Thc Maxot In
vestigating committee resumed Ia seH-
Hions here today. The Investigation u
the city government has NO far been
contend chiefly to the police and build
Ing departments. and to direct and In
direct efforts to ASCERTAIN the extent OF
the influence exercised by Richard
Croker The understanding that Mr.
Croker would take the wltncaA stand to-
day created interest and the room was
crowded.
Justice Lcvcntritt. OF the supreme
court.immcdiatcly upon the commence
ment of the proceedings. addressed the
members Of the committee. saying ,ha'
he had been called here to testify and
that the business OF his court was auf-
fcring thereby. Mr. Moss excused the
Justice until further notice.
The name OF Richard Croker was
called. The Tammany Hall leader was
sworn.
You live at the Democratic. do you
noti' asked air. Moss.
Yes. sir" said Mr.. Croker.
You are the leader OF the political
organization generally known az Tam
| many man, uft you NOT
u don't know that I am"
"Goncfnlly conceded 10 be. are you
notf" asked Sir. Moss. Huavcly.
Well" said SIR. Croker. II amt talk
ing for myself. IL others say am. l
am"
Mr.. CROKER agreed with Mr.Mons that
the government OF the city and county
depended upon the existence Of polit-
icnl parties. Mr.. Moss asked " the
leadership generally accorded Mr.
| Croker was not based largely upon the
fact that he had the reputation Of being
truthful man. MI. Croker said ne
tried TO be a truthful man. Mr., Moss
had asked Mr. Croker "A number OF
seemingly immnterial qucnti0nr regard
ing the organization OF Tnmmnny HAN
when Mr.. Croker interrupted him and
Hnid sharply
up which everybody knows. There N
no use playing TO the galleries. and
there II no use OF making speeches. We
all know verifying that has been said.
We know that ! am the leader OF tho
party. and 4 acknowledge II and that
all there people are my friendn and that
I am solns to stick to them all the
There was roar OF applause az AIR.
| Croker finished this sentence. CHAIR
man Mazet raped Tor silence. Rather
sarcasticnlly Mr. Moss said the APP
| liluNF WIN an fihnt anu tltAt nv nNi'h
the chairman would allow II once In n
while. II ala not discomfort him.
Just give me good. straight tall" "
went on Mr.. Croker wnen the applause
had ceased. that Ii ALL am talking
good. straight talk. and that IN all l
want. Al these gentlemen know am
considered the leader. All these gem
tlcmen are my friends. You have
taken half an hour for nothing. What
II the use OF thatT'
eve viii Try TO accommodate you.
Sir. Croker" replied the counsel
Mr, Croker said that he gave the
prominent Tnmmnny Han Democrats
"a certain amount Of advice and dircc-
ton" Sometimes they followed it,apme-
times they did not: most of them fol-
lowed II. Mr.. Moss rced u list OF tho
Tammnny HaohemN. Mr. Croker adj
held prominent positions IN the city
government.
Mr.. Croker admitted that he had been
consulted regn.d ding the selection or
men for positions In the city govern
mcnt. but denied that he had dictated
appointments. He conceded the propo'
ritlon that he had probably greater IN.
fiuencc with the municipal adminiHtra.
tl0n than any other citizen. lie was a
believer In the theory that the party In
power should have the Offices. lie had
Interested himself In the Amsterdam
avenue and Astoria Has aucations be-
! cause the peoples rights were involved.
and he had notified Tammany members
OF the municipal assembly 10 nttcnd
sessions and vote on those question: be-
cause II was their duty 10 do 10. He
could tell nothing about contributors TO
campaign funds and rendered no nc-
count 10 the finance committee OF Tam
many, OF which committee he was
chairman, OF the moneys dlsburred by
him. lie said judicial candidates had
contributed 10 the campaign fund but
not by compulslon. their Individual
donations might have been AZ much Us
f5.O00 or ts.Oo0 none OF them had paid m
much ns $4,000.
MIR Moss had. Mr. Croker said been
dcposod from the police board because
he was not IN sympathy with the party
In power; his work was all right but
his politics Were at fault. Mi Croker
said his partner In the real estate bust
ness was Peter Y. Meyer, who was also
connected with the dock board.
Mr. Moss tried 90 bring out that tu-
diclal sales had been given 10 croker'h
real estate arm on account OF the pollti-
cal influence OF the witness. Mr.. Croker
said that at present his firm had near
~ all OF the judicial sales.
80 that II you have controlling
voice In the AFFAIRS OF that party
asked Mr.. Moss. "and secure the nom
ination OF true men, you may be sure
that at least IN the real estate exchange
and In the Arm OF Meyer a Croker you
win as true Democrat get some OF
that proft2'
I'VE at least expect TO be bcfrlended,' -
said Mr.. Croker,
Then you are working for your own
pbcketI"
IAN the time. the same as you are
II is 20 the party belongs the spells,
said Croker,
And To the boss belongs the Hons
share Of tho plunderY" Hneered Mr.
| Moss.
mo plumber. no." said Croker, you
can call II whatever you like. because
men are loyal To us you call that plum
der, When you send your bill In for the
work you are doing here for the legia'
lature you might AS well call that plum
der"
lie saw nothing wrong In receiving
profits that came through appolnleea
of the organization.
| Mr. Croker was excused temporarily
| and Wheeler IL, peckhan. formerly
president OF the nar association, took
the witness chair.
OF his own knowledge he could not
say that Judges We're assessed for po-
litlcal purposes. but a Judge whom he
could not name had told him tho