The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-16

aiazet). the man who made you possible Platt
Ia the man I moan"
INTERESTING INQUIRY ABOUT CHEAP TELE-
HOMES.
Inc witness see ned to feel relieved after he
mad delivered himself OF this little y eeob, and
ne showed no more feeling OF one kind OF an
other during the rest OF the time he was on
the stand. Mr.. Moss. however. showed con-
siderable feeling when. on failing to got
what he wanted from the witness. no made In
terrogatory statements which. II true. might
get Mr.. Croker In trouble. Mr.. Moss reminded
the wttness that he had said on Friday. in SUBJ
stance. that II any corrupt act could be traced
10 MIN lCroker) he would be willing To have his
right hand cut Of. Mr.. Moss. intimating that
IL would be impracticable and useless TO cut
on Mr.. Croker's hand. asked him whether ~
II could be proven that the witness had
been guilty Of dishonest acts he would
be willing to sacrifice his fortune or undergo
imprisonment. The witness promptly said no
would. and then Mr.. Moss limited at several
dark transactions which he may or may not be
able to trace directly to Mr.. Croker. For in
stance. he referred to the project Of John Jacob
Astor and others to form n new telephone COM
rany and reduce telephone rates Having
asked tho witness IL n representative Of Mr..
Aston had called to see him about this company.
and having been told that such might havo
been the case. Mr.. Moss asked II It was not a
fact that Mr.. Croker had refused to give his
favor to the new telephone company, because
he had been seen " by representatives Of the
New York Telephone Company. Mr.. Croker
denied this and then Mr.. Moss wanted to know
IL the witness had not made AN agreement
with Charles F. Cutler. President OF the Now
York Telephone Company. to show a special
FAVOR 70 the latter company for a period Of five
years In consideration OF a certain fixed sum OF
money to be paid to Croker annually.
The witness denied this, but tn. asking OF
the question created something OF a sensation
In the courtroom. or course Mr.. Moss knows
whether he can prove that Mr.. Croker did not
tell the truth In answer to theae duestions. He
also knows whether he can prove that Mr..
Croker received half Of one Of Bourke Cock
rams legal fees In q case in which action by
the Board OF Aldermen was requisite. He
didn't get much light on this from Mr.. Croker.
who hesitated. denied. and then didn't re-
member"
Mr.. Croker didn't know that the city DEPART
ments had begun to raid tho Manhattan Ele-
waited Railroad because II would not let his
Auto-Truck Company string compressed lair
pipes on It's structure and In fact he seemed at
one time to be under the impression that he
could show that the pines we're only
to supply the railroad with air power for
side uses. He produced a letter from
Mr.. Skitta accepting such an offer subject to
proper engineering tests: but he added later
that his rom pany. In addition to ANYTHING set
forth In Mr.. skitt's letter. proposed to supply
its trucks from the same pipes.
Mr.. Croker gave notice to Chief Devsry that
it was his desire that poolrooms and gambling
houses in this city should be closed and kept
closed.
There was only one session Of the committee
vaatnrdAy and that WAC hold in tho ITpifad
States Circuit Court room on the third noor OF
the Federal building. The room is by far the
most commodious and comfortable one which
the committee has yet occupied. 1t has not
been able to arrange for holding sessions in
this room permanently. and Mondays session
will be held In the rooms OF the New York
beard Of Trade apd ,Tyanspertatlon. at 203
broadway. = Mr.. Masst announced that the
Monday session will begin promptly at 10
O'Clock. Mr.. Croker will be called again at that
session.
Only two other witnesses besides Mr.. Croker
testified at yesterdays session. One was
Riohard ]. Foster. engaged In the ice business
at the foot OF Morton street. The witness tes-
tilted that overtures had been made to him by
the Consolidated Ice Company to sell his bust
ness to that company and become an employee
OF the com pany. The offer was refused. Mr..
Moss sought to prove by this witness that be-
ChubO ne uhu Telubcu W D6tl OUT 10 Jne SOnbOll-
dated Ice Company the Dock Department had
refused to grant him the privileges ordinarily
granted to icemen whose icehouses are on the
waterfront.
The other witness was Peter F.. Meyer. the
partner Of Mr.. Croker In the real estate bust
ness. Mr.. Meyer was an unwilling witness.
He was questioned about his connection with
the Real Estate Exchange. the removal Of the
! judicial sales TO Ill Broadway and the mo-
---t - IA l. a--. - . Nae. ~
h hSpe ~ Judi Sh's" ' ssle Hs" Like Il M. crotsr,. Partner
Meyer refused to answer questions about my
private business
The Testimony.
Az soon as the committee was ready for BUSH
ness. MIR. Moss called Richard J. Foster.
2:.Are you engaged in the Ice business A.
.o.-How long have you been so engaged2
Ao.HAwh,ere" Is your depot? AT the foot OF
Morton street.
ds 9;mddex @ esrss s sa5fs sd hase offers yRsr A'-f'f'' in
,Q.I1Whers do y2T get most OF your Ice from?
OH yonr business it lie necessary to have
an ice bridge and docking facilities. Is it not?
NO.HHave you ever had docking facilities. and.
II 50. how much have you paid for them :, A.
1 never. hal a pier. but I had a !ulkheal.
ninety:fopr feet wide between piers. for which
a. S.f i I! W t ssy:5 A %Sst a I D sSSuia have have % .si5
which I paid $1,000 a year.
O.-Were you ever approached by anybody
connected with the Consolidated Ice Company?
Ayes. Mr.. Charles ". Morse. the President
Of 6 the %S9S@PaanIdyh sa sas TO TO s son Pe G pnHs; said he
would like to have me come into the company:
that the com pany would buy me out and give
me o salary.
O.-What offer did he make to your A
$l5.OO for my business. to be paid part. In
money and part in stock Of the Consolidated
company. / did not accept.
Odd you ever have any trouble with the
Dock Department? Al had some last win
ter. / was notified by the Dock Department
to remove my ice bridge to give greater faci!!-
tie for dumping snow. That was early in
Q.~Did you remove the bridge? Apart
0.-After doing that. what did you dol Al
went to see Mr.. Cram, the PresIdept Of the
was removed Il would greatly embarrass ne
In fact that | couldn't do business. l asked
him Il he wouldn't make 1t as easy for me as he
0.-And what did he answer1 A.-He said it