New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-01
MAZET COMMITTEE AGAIN.
HORGAN & SLATTERY TO BE EXAM
INED TO-DAY.
MR.. MOSS ISSUES A STATEMENT ARGUING
FOR SPECIAL LEGISLATION TO SHORT
EN- MAYORS TERM

The Mazet Committee will resume Its investi-
cations this morning in Part TX of the Supreme
Court. The committee, II is expected, will not sit
more than two weeks before another recess VIII
be taken. Frank Moss informed Tribune re-
porter yesterday that he hoped to get through
with the witnesses he has now under sub
pena in about a fortnight, unless unlocked for
developments should arise and necessitate
prolongation Of the session The shortness Of
the duration OF the hearings which begin to-
day is not due in any way to want Of material.
but TO the difficulty Of obtaining witnesses at
this time of the year.
Both Mr.. Moss and Mr. Mazet adhered to their
policy yesterday Of refusing to make known
their plans or along what lines the inquiry
would proceed during this week Mr.. Moss ex-
plained that silence on these matters was neces-
sary, inasmuch as their most important wit
nesses were hostile. and to put them on their
guard would most likely defeat the purpose OF
the committee. For similar reasons Mr.. Moss
in many cases defers the serving Of subp9nas
upon witnesses until almost the moment they
wanted in court
You see" Mr.. Moss said yesterday. I'VE are
compelled to proceed with the utmost caution,
because OF the disadvantages we have to con-
tend with. We cannot as lawyers do ordinarily,
go into court with our case prepared. We have
to work on clews. many Of which come to us
anonymously. and rarely know what the
worth OF a witness will be until we have him
under fire on the stand 1t means one contlnu-
GUS course OF severe cross examination, and IL
is apparent that II we made known our plans
IN advance witnesses would have an oppor-
tunity to devise explanations and fortify them
selves with plausible excuses. You can under
stand, therefore. how imperative 1t is that We
should keep our own counsel"
TO CALL HORGAN & sLATrERY.
It can be stated, however, that among the
earliest witnesses to be called will be the MEM
bers OF the architects firm Of Horgan & Sat-
terry In proceedings brought against them by
creditors recently these two men made affidavits
to the effect that their wives formed the firm
and employed them at $50 a week each. Mr..
Moss is anxious to learn why this firm, while
unable to meet it's obligations, can now prac-
tically control city building contracts. The two
rcen will also be asked why they changed the
designs for the new Hall Of Records. designs
made by experienced architects, but not In
favor with the officials Of the city government
It Is understood Mr. Moss will base his exam
inaton Of Horgan & Sattery on the assump-
ton that there is silent partner who Is
manipulating things In the interest Of the firm'
and who is responsible for the prosperity that
has recently come to the concern. Rumor has
II that the SILENT partner is either Richard
Croker or John F. Carroll. While Mr. MOSS
,gould not state whether or not he had sub
poar9ed the two architects Arthur ]. Horgan
himself said yesterday afternoon that both he
end his partner had received a summons 10
appear before the committee to-day.
70 On m
Mr. Horgan added 1--WE ready to answer
any question Mr.. Moss may put to US, and nave
no objection to our office being examined into
The Dock Department will also come in for
early consideration. Richard J. Foster, an in
dependent ice dealer, has been subppnaed ana
it is expected that his evidence will show that
the Dock Department persistently hampers the
small ice dealers who endeavor to compete with
the Consolidated Ice Company, Of which Messrs.
Croker and Carroll are reputed to be stock
holders In the next two weeks IT will also be
demonstrated by abundant evidence, gathered
bv Mr. Moss's detectives, that the Police De-
nartment continues to neglect It's duty In the
matter Of closing poolrooms and vicious resorts
generally. Chief Devery will be recalled TO eX-
plain this dereliction OF duty on the part or the
police and. since the States representatives
have placed on record the situation OF hundreds
of these places which are stu running, the
previous excuse Of the Chief that he had no
knowledge Of their existence because they had
not been reported to him by the captains Will
not be available this time.
Mr. Moss has not yet decided when he Will re-
call Mr. Croker but it will probably not be until
after the next recess.
Mr. Mazet had conference yesterday morn
ing with Senator Platt and Lemuel Ely Quigg
After the meeting Mr. Mazet stated that the
committee would proceed with Its investigation
to the end, and would not finally adjourn at an
early date, as had been reported He stated IN
reply to another inquiry that he did not know
whether or not an extra session Of the Legs-
lature would be called for the purpose of
shortening Mayor Van wyck's term of office
"It is not the duty OF the committee" he said
"to request such action. but If the people want
1t I suppose they will have It. 1t rests entirely
with the Governor and the public. cannot
say Of course, whether we VIII make any recon-
mendation in that direction"
MR. MOss's STATEMENT.
Mr.. Moss issued statement yesterday where
in he favored amendment of the charter
which would cut the Mayoralty term in two
He asserts that Il is readily conceded that the
charter In many ways needs amendment, and
maintains that this is especially true with re-
gard to the provision for two branches OF the
Municipal Assembly and in the multiplication
OF offices. making the expenditure in salary
greater in the consolidated city than in the dis
tricts before consolidation. But a still graver
defect. he says. is the four years term OF the
Mayor and city officers. To offset the claim OF
the advocates Of the 'ong term that there are
fewer elections and greater opportunity for the
administration to make Itself felt in the COM
munity M Moss says that at this time the peo-
pie would gladly welcome a chance for new
election.
present instant alone, were IL matter OF
merely endurirs temporary i'll II would be
better to endure Il than to seek temporary re-
he nj alufin