The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-15
TABLES ARE TURNED
MIR. MOSS, OF THE MAZET COM
MITTEE, NOW THE MAN WHO
is UNDER FIRE
SCORED BY TWO WITNESSES

| Messrs. Van Wyck and Croker Make
the Inquisitor of the Mazet Body
Appear In o Bad Light-Sauced
Him and Held Up His Personal
and Official Record to the Light
of Day.
NEW YORK, Sept 14-Mayor Robert
A. Van Wyck occupied the witness chair
before the assembly committee charged
with investigating the various depart
ments of the municipal government.
From the outset the examination of the
mayor by Counsel Moss took the form of
an acrimonious eolloquy, in the course
of which Mr.. Van iWsyck intimated that
Mr. Moss was seeking to reach seat on
the supreme court bench by pressing a
partisan investigation and sneered at
counsel's attachments as a lawyer.
ME- Van Wyck began his testimony by
saying he had, from the time he assumed
office, been alarmed over the inadequacy
of the Brooklyn water supply. He had
not given the Ramapo Water company
contract consideration; it would be time
enough for that when it reached him
officially. 1t was, witness understood, a
mere option and could do no harm to the
city. Witness had not consulted with the
heads of departments. regarding the con-
tract; the officials, he said were to eX-
ercise their own Judgment and not to
come to him for advice upon such sub
jects. Witness again said he would con.
slider the Ramapo contract when it came
before him.
Mr. Moss
when 1 send for it,
''When will you send for it?'
"None of your business"
The witness was not convinced there
was fraud in the Ramapo contract. and
advised counsel to call Comptroller Coler
and Bridge Commissioner Shea, the only
| city officials who had charged fraud
Counsel began formulating a question
as to the duty Of the mayor to remove
| the commissioners who were incompe-
| tent.
! "Oh," broke in = the mayor. you're
| talking Of removals. and you have been
| talking of legislating me out. Why don't
you go ahead and do it and not be talking
such impertinence? And why don't you
receive that list of stockholders you were
| offered Yesterday You talk as though
Silas B.. butcher, Levi P. Morton and
Gen. Tracey, having stock in this COM
pany, are a pack Of thieves
MR. CRoKER'S BON MOT.
Richard Croker followed Mayor Van
| Wyck on the stand He testified that he
had not advised anu lone of the commits
sioners on the subject of the Ramape con-
tract. Before he. aWent to Europe last
spring, a committee of the citizens had
called upon the witness to urge the need
of an improved water system. He was
often visited by SUCH committees, seeking
his aid and INFLUENCE. Witness intended
| to inquire into the merits of the Ramapo
contract. Kills .'E
"What are YOU going to do in the way
of advising these gentlemen of the board
| of. public Improvement after you have
made your fnXestiga tion?" asked Mr..
Mess. -.
Il am not going to tell you.1 You re
| not here for a fair investigation, replied
Mr.. Croker. You re here for one side
only, and for one. purpose only. I've been
looking you UP as 1 said 1 would when I
was on the stand Before. You told me I
might do it, and T have done it. I will
| prove you now a man of bad standing in
this city. I will give what ], know to the
press here today. / have here decision
from the supreme COURT
| So saying, Mr.. Croker handed a written
statement to the reporters present. The
statement concerning Mr.. Moss, which
Mr.. Croker gave to the reporters, was an
extract from the opinion of the justices
of the general term of the supreme court
in a case in which there was introduced
as evidence a deposition attested before
Mr.. Moss and another as notaries public.
Mr.. Moss was examined in court as to
the authorization of the signatures of
the deponent and the witness. but he adj
mitted that the document was not signed
| N
the witness through the introduction by
the principal Mr. Justice Van Brunt
expressed the opinion that the notaries
Zone of them, Mr.. Moss) should be Grim
finally prosecuted for. attesting instru-
nents without having seen the signing of
Them and without the knowledge of the
signer's identity which the law requires.