New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-07
THREATS MADE TO MOSS.
DOCK COMMISSIONERS RECALCIrRANr
AT MAZET INQUIRY.
THEY SIMMER DOWN. HOWEVER, WHEN
THEY SEE THAT COUNSEL CANNOT BE
INTIMIDATED-REvELAT OF
.LACKMAIL.

The Dock Department furnished the fireworks al
yesterdays session OF the Mazet Committee, ana
although what those who prepared them thousht
10 be bombs turned out 70 be only hrecrackerS
they enlivened the proceedings and did no harm
Commissioner Peter f. Meyer. the real estate
partner Of Richard Croker. furnished the first IN
terrupton the morning session After listening
for some time TO testimony showing how ram
many inspectors had blackmailed the builders OF
grandstands during the Dewey celebration right
and left. Mr. Meyer jumped 10 his feet ana IN inc
particularly offensive tono which he has con-
sistenily employed In the presence OF the COM
mittee. insisted that the members OF the DOCK
Board. who were present under subpoena. he ex-
cused until the afternoon.
Meyer declared yesterday the regular DAY
for the Dock Board to meet and that the city's
business was being unwarrantahly and outrageousN
hindered by Mr.. Moses subponas This nap
pened c.ose 10 the noon recess hour, and MI Maze'
evidently irritated by the loud and arrogant tone
Of Mr.. Meyer. told him that II he would make his
application during recess It would he considered.
This did not satisfy Mr.. Meyer. who shouted out
that II would be too late for the Dock Board TO
meet after recess.
MAZET REBUKES MEYER
Meyer began repeating his original remarks about
.,ou,raee" when Mr. Mazet raped hriskly for order
end said to him: Take your seat
Il won't" retorted Meyer.
"Sergeant-at-arms. called Mt MazeI "9No ''''
man take his seat
The sergeant-at-arns advanced toward Mt Meyer
and trouble seemed imminent. but Mr.. Meyer sat
down
"A man holding such public office as you do
said Mr.. Mazet. ought to he a gentleman ana not
ect In such an insoent manner
"r think witnesses detained here" said Mr.. Hot-
man, ought 10 be treated with more consdera-
tion."
They are being treated with consideration re-
torted Mr. Mszet. but this man Is impairment ana
insolent 20 the committee
Well it's an outrage" shouted MI Meyer
You keep still" exclaimed Mr. Mazet. "or the
sergeant-starms will attend 10 YOU"
Then I'll Just so out without your leave. re-
Piled Mr. Meyer. and clapping his SILK hat on MS
head he made for the door. No one opposed him.
Just as he was going out he called back: Now.
suppose Moss will call my name as soon as am
downstairs" But his name was not called, and
Mr.. Meyer evidently thsught better about defyins
the committees subpoena for he was back IN MS
seat when the afternoon session began and sat
there quietly until he was called to the stand
INSULTS MR.. MOSS.
Then his pent-up wrath found a vent Turn
ing his back upon Mr.. Moss ana ADDRESSING INC
committee Mr.. Meyer said
want to say now and here that strenuously
object being examined by this person Ondicatlng
Mr. Moss with a backward jerk OF his thumb and
I object TO having any other reputable man ex-
anined by him ] discovered his true character
some time In a business transaction Whlch
had with him and
MI Chairman" BROKE in Mr.. Moss. 7 have
been threatened and warned that the next time
put q prominent member of Tammany Hall upon
this stand and asked him any searching question
would have my reputation ripped up. Now,
want to say to these people that they should
succeed in blasting off the face Of the earth
will put any and all OF them on the stand whose
,,stinony may prove useful. and / will ask them
any and all questions that may be needed to bring
out the truth. Now. Mr.. Meyer, am ready for
Aac he'd
The committee of course, took no notice OF
Movers absurd protest and the Dock Commits
sioner. having hred his little squb and realizing
that Moss instead Of being intimidated was full Of
fight. sat down meeky in the chair and answered
all the questions put 10 him without murmur.
UvALDEs RICH PRIZE.
TIE purport of Nh Meyers testimony that
he had voted 70 give large number of valuable
paving contracts along the waterfront to the
Uvalde Asphalt Company without advertising for
bids because he believed the Dock Board had au-
thority n 10 so under Section SN OF the city
charte- tbs section authorizes the letting or CON
tracts FOR repairing" pavements without advertis-
ing for bids and Mr.. Meyer contended that when
the Uvalde Asphalt Company lays an asphalt pave
rnent down on top of old Belgian block pave
rnent that is repairing" the old pavement and
not LAYING a new one. Under this remarkable con
ytruction Of the charter the Uvalde company has
shut out all It's rivals before the Dock Board
Mr. Never gravely declared that he did not give
these rivals chance to bid. because he knew they
had not as good asphalt as the Uvaide company
With equal gravity he asserted that 1t was not
until after the Dock Board had leased Pier NO
10 the Knickerbocker Towing Company for $4,000
wear that he discovered the towing companys
close financial connection with the Consolidated
Ice Company The pier was formerly leased for
10000 year The towing company sublets part OF
Il for 500 900 and has other tenants as well. TO
whom It sublets other parts Of the pier
PRESIDENT CRAM ON THE STAND.
Another Dock Commissioner J. Sergeant Cram,
president OF the Board also showed decldeoly re-
,alcitrant spirit when he hrst began 10 testify but
subsequently changed his tone. Being asked why
bA save contracts 10 the Uvalde Asphalt Company
without calling for competitive bids ne replied
angrily
Il approved those contracts because the law
thorizes me TO do Rather the Board is author
lied by Section S2l TO do So The law was passed
BY the reformers. Mr.. Moss ] know you, and that
is all the explanation will give you"
I'VE are not talking about the reformcrs we are
talking about YOU" said Mr.. Moss. The section
mentions two in which emergency orders
may be given one is where repairs are TO be
made and the other is where the pier line is to be
made 10 conform TO the new pier plan Now, which
Of these theories do you act upon when YOU give
out the asphalt paving contracts without compeu-
tom
"On the theory that We are making the pier con-
form 70 the pier line was Mr. Grams answer.
There he differed from Mr.. Meyer. Il take the
whole responsibility for this. and I would do Il
again l recommended the Uvalde company
being the best II l didn't obey the law. there's
fbe Grand Jury. I viii answer TO facts, but
not as TO my views.
"You said you gave the contract 10 the Uvalde
company because they were the best How did
you find that out?'
az YOU want 10 impugn my actions. get the
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