The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-16
CROKER is STILL DEFIANT
Fires Some Warm Ones Back at
Moss.
WANTS PLATT EXAMINED
The Easy Boss Denounced as the Foun-
dation OF All the Corruption in
the City Wouldn't Discuss
Private Matters.

| New York, April 15.-The Mazet in
vestgating committee this morning had
Richard J. Foster on the witness stand.
Foster is in the wholesale and retail
ice business. The object in calling Fos-
ter was apparently to prove alleged dis
elimination by the city government in
favor of the Consolidated Ice company.
His testimony was uninteresting. Peter
F. Meyer was next called.
Meyer replied to questions regarding
his auction business, but impaired no
information regarding the judicial sales
He did not, he said take Croker into
partnership to get the benefit of the
latter'S reputation and influence. He
was not officially connected with the or
ganization known as Tammany Hall.
Meyer admitted that Croker had him
appointed to the dock yard board, but
corrected himself by saying he was ap-
pointed by Mayor Van Wyck.
Croker was then called.
Are you willing to make a PROPOSE
ton that if dishonorable money or dis
honorable transactions are laid at your
door you will part with your fortune
Yes" said Croker.
Croker declined to talk regarding his
financial circumstances when he re-
turned from Europe in 1897. 1T was,
he said, his personal affairs The same
reason was given for refusing to answer
the question if he had given his son
Frank $1,000 to go into the Roebling
Construction company. With warmth
Croker added:
IF you can destroy that boy and not
allow him to go into business l sup
pose you will do so. Go on and examine
Mr.. Platt's firm and find out what his
boys are in. If you want to be honest
you will go and examine the people who
brought you here to examine us. That
Is the gentleman who put you here to
examine us. Go and examine his firm.
They are the foundation of all the cor
ruption in this city. Bring their books
here
You make the matter in any way
pertinent to this inquiry and I will ex-
anime into It," said the lawyer
THE committee will throw it off, re-
torted the witness. The people put us
in charge of the city departments and
we are responsible to them. Find any
one in the city departments doing
wrong and I will be one of the first to
get them out
Croker said there We're no state Sena-
tors present at the Tammany club din
ner Thursday because their place was
in Albany at their business.
And you told them so, didn't your
asked Moss.
Yes" said the witness.
And they obeyed you?2
II think they did," said Croker.
Have you since Jan. / been short
1000 shares of Manhattan stock?" asked
Moss.
Croker declined to answer that or any
other question bearing on that subject.
Croker refused to tell his relations with
companies.
Eve have right to know how man
that controls the municipal actions is
able to go and put his hand on business
men and put their stock in his pocket
for nothing. Dare you say that you
have not done it, do you?" said Mr..
Moss.
"Dare?" said Mr.. Croker, his eyes
flashing, then in quieter tones, he add
ed mo, I won't tell my private af-
fairs" and Mr. Moss said:
"You dare not. Isn't it fact, Mr..
Croker, that simply because you are
the leader of Tammany Hall and be-
cause. as such leader, you control the
city departments. you have been taken
into the auto-truck company and given
a large amount of stock to secure your
infiuence?'
Mr.. Croker laughed. mo" he said,
You are away off.
Mr.. Croker said that he was a prac-
teal locomotive builder. He was not
worth a million dollars. Mr.. Croker de-
clined to answer when asked if he was
not given $4,000 of the Auto-Truck
stock without the payment of a dollar.
In reply to a question regarding the
control of street franchises. Mr.. Croker
placed the responsibility upon the city
department.. Mr.. Croker said he did not
interfere in patronage.
II never ask for place for a per-
son." he declared.
Sometimes they make it worth your
while not to object, don't they?' asked
Mr.. Moss.
mo, sir" said Mr.. Croker.
Mr.. Croker said he thought the police
ought to try to close gambling houses
fort.
You secured the closing of pool
rooms once, did you not?' asked the
counsel.
Il don't know whether I did or not.
I said they ought to be stopped" re-
piled Mr.. Croker
You said it to Byrnes. did you not ?"
Yes. sir"
And they stopped quick?"
II don't know
Mr.. Croker denied he had spoken to
Byrnes because the pool rooms inter
fered with his racing matters. He said
he had talked to Devery about pool
rooms as he did to Byrnes, and would
say it again.
We will wait and see if they are
closed Tomorrow said Mr. Mess.
Mr.. Croker replied that when he was
president of the police board, Mr.. Moss
wouldn't close them.
The examination here turned on Mr..
Moss integrity as president of the po-
lice board in the last month of Mayor
Strong's administration.
Mr.. Croker declined to say if he own
ed 5000 shares of the Huckleberry rail-
road at a time when there was leg.sla-
ton pending at Albany affecting that
railroad.
Mr.. Moss asked Mr.. Croker if he did
not receive from Bourke Cochran part
of the latter's fee for getting a resolu-
ton through the board of aldermen at
the time when the Broad street railroad
changed its motive power from horse
power to cable. Mr.. Croker did not re-
member that he received amy such mon