The Portland daily press., 1899-09-15

Witness said the action OF the Brooklyn
memters Of the council aud assembly In
refusing 10 vote for the $3.50. eco bond Is
sue TO purchase the Long Island compa-
nv was not because Of the interest In the
plant held by him OF his friends.
"were you not, and your friends OPP
posed TO this bond issuef' asked Mr.. Moss.
Eyes" was the reply. 81 know that
the people interested In the Long Island
company were opposed to being robbed OF
81 100000 by receiving $3.50, 600 for what
they considered was worth i've times that
amonnt."
"now do you account for the fact that
the Brooklyn Democrats were the men
who opposed the Ramapo Contraots" the
witnes was asked.
"You will have to ask thsm," was the
reply, ''in fact don't know that they
were in opposition"
Finally Mir. Moss said, 81 have given
you an opportunity to express an opinion
upon this RHmapo matter and the Long
Island water company and you have con-
sistently and psrsistently and intelligent
" RETAINED from giving any informa-
tion."
al don't see why should be called be-
fore this committee In this war and ex-
hibited when have not been in public
life or held Office or been In active poll
tics Tor 20 years." replied Mr.. MoLaugh-
lin.
Edward Lauterbach followed. He said
he had been counsel for the Ramapo
water company since 1894.
"Have you any knowledge OF stock be-
ing trans ferred without the payment Of
money!"
"Only in my own case; l got my $50
shares for services rendered."
MIR. Lauterbach explained that the COM
pany acquired the right under the gem
eral corporation act on being incorporat-
ed In 1887 TO go anywhere to condemn
water rights. In 1890. under the re-codi-
tication Of the laws all water companies
lost the right of CO ndemnation, whether
by design Of the codifiers or not, the
witness did not know; but the $1,000 put
up for Its charter was thereby as good as
lott"
"Why did the original bill of 1895 lin
" gOut hOWOf6E W ANOChAHuu OtaHko
co mites and Esopus creek" asked MIR.
NJ oss.
at was Judge Truax who drew the
amendments TO the bill. " the witness
replied.
"a Democratg" asked MIR. Moss.
"As good Democrat as claim to be
Republican" replied MIR. Lauterbach.
10 said h0t ha nod 20 ha
and submitted amendments to the CON-
mittee. The only other person interested
in kamapo met by MIR. Lauterbach was
Police Magistrate Hogan. The latter
was at Albany concerning some bill re-
lRting to police magistrates. and as he
was also stockholdsr in the Ramapo
company, mir. Lauterbaoh rogue sted him
to see that its passage was called for
when It was reached on the calendar, as
be, Lnuterabch, had to leave for New
York.
City Magistrate Hogan and Supreme
Judge Truax were stockholders of the
company, the witness said, and he knew
that Gen. Tracy had been a stockholder.
Amy other Republican leaders besides
Gen. Tracyf" asked Mr. Moss
swell tits so hard to say just who are
leading Republicans one day or misled
Republicans another" daughter }
Mr.. Lauter bach testified that he could
have sold his stock during the past six
months at par. He regarded the COM
pany as a valuable property. He looked
upon the price stated in the contract as
a very low one. when it was considered
that the company agreed to bring water
from point 81 miles distant from the
city. -.e
"Wen. you have intimated that the
prospect OF a contract with the city on
HANGED the value of the stock of the com.
pany."
mir. Lauterbaoh thereupon came out
in a vigorous denunciati of the terms
of the contract as agreed to by the oorpo-
ration counsel.
eff that contract were entered into, 7"
| almost shouted Mr.. Lauterbach, 81 would
sell my stock for one cent"
Mir. Lauterbach insisted that the COM
pany would have no trouble In raising
the money necessary to perform its func-
ton under any contract 1t might enter
into.
Adiourpod