The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-15
SENSATIONS PLENTIFUL IN HEAR
ING BEFORE THE MAzHr COM
MII.TEE IN NEW YORK
WORD CLASHES WITH MIR. MOSS
TAMMANY LEADER DECLINES TO
GIVE DETAILS OF HIS PRIVATE
BUSINESS AFFAIRS
DRAMATIC SCENES ENACTED

Leader of the Tammanyites and
That He Is I'm Politics to Make
MOney-Gallery Cheers Some Of
the Passages Between Attorney
and witness.
NEW YORK, April 14-Richard Croker
was today before the Mazet investigating
committee, and he will be on the stand
again tomorrow. John F. Carroll, the
Tammany leaders, chief deputy, was put
through course of questioning this
afternoon. Judge Joseph F. Daily, whom
the Democrats declined to renominate for
| justice of the supreme court, last fall,
and who told Of his treatment by Mr.
Croker and Tammany, with other promi-
| nent witnesses, contributed testimony
that went to make the day most not
able one in the investigation into the
city's affairs
The examination Of Richard Croker was
remarkable one, especially when he re-
Piled to the questioning propounded to
him by Mr.. Moss. He was brief and d.
rect, and took advantage Of many oppor-
tunities afforded him to retort in a man.
ner that evoked applause many times
from those gathered in the committee
room.
Mr.. Croker gave events a somewhat
dramatic turn when, after refusing to
| answer several questions concerning his
private affairs he held up his right hand
and said impressively:
IF you can show me where I have
taken single dollar from this city, you
can cut that arm off,"
When the !Tammany chief went on the
stand, at the beginning of the days ses-
sion. Mr. Moss conducted line of ques-
tfoning which Mr.. Croker evidently be-
Heved was loss of time, for he sud
denly leaned forward and said:
1T is not necessary to bring up what
everybody knows. There Is no use play
ing to the gallery there is no use making
speeches. am the leader Of the party
and 1 acknowledge 1t. Ali these people
are my friends, and I am going to stick
to them all the time. Just give me
straight talk. I am going to give you
| straight talk. That Is ALL
Mr.. Moss said he would accommodate
him. and he endeavored to do SO. He
drew from Mr.. Croker the fact that the
IdulIIldIy CIileI DellGVoQ lndI dll the Oh
fees Of administration of all depart
ments should go to the victorious political
party.
ITO the victors belong the spoils." he
added.
Continuing, Mr.. Croker said that when
the Democrats placed men in Office, the
party expected to have these men do
what tho leaders of the party asked them
to do. He himself had recommended the
q INT Of RI Nd "a
distribution Of patronage Not in every
case, however, he said, had his advice
been carried out He admitted, nevertne-
less, that he had a considerable amount
Of political influence.
matter that Mr.. Moss gave attention
to was Mr.. Croker's connection with the
auctioneering business conducted by
Peter F. Meyer, by whom the majority
of the judicial realty sales were conduct
ed. Mr. Croker said he had been a mem
ber Of the firm for some years, and as a
true Democrat he expected to be be-
friended in the way of profit from the
sales.
SHARP RETORT
'Then you are working for your pock-
et?" said Mr.. Moss.
"All the time, the same as YOU are"
retorted the witness
ITO the boss belongs the lions share
of the piunder," sneered Mr.. Moss.
"No plunder, no. said Croker. You
can call 1t what you like. You can call
the bill you send to the legislature FOR
the work you are now doing plunder, II
you please"
There was loud applause at this, and
Mr.. Mazet said he would clear the hall
If the applause occurred again, but Mr.
Moss said he rather liked the applause.
Mr.. Croker told the committee that 1t
was customary for candidates to office
to contribute to election expenses, and
stated also that contributions had been
as high as S. 900 or $4,000. He said that
the contributions were not compulsory,
but were, in many cases, on the contrary,
voluntary.
Perhaps the most interesting part of the
investigation today was that in which Mr.
Croker was questioned as to how he had
made his money. Mr.. Croker refused to
tell of his private affairs, but admitted
that he was member of several compa-
nies, one Of which is the Air and Power
company, with a capital of s10,000,000. He
said:
II have nothing to conceal II anyone
comes to me with a good stock to buy,
buy 1T, and SO would you. I will not go
into any details Of my private business. y
Mr. Moss endeavored, in a persuasive
way, to induce Mr.. Croker to give further
information on the the subject of money
making, but the witness simply refused to
give details
incidentally Mr.. Croker praised Chief
Devery and the police department, and
was on the stand when the hearing ad-
journed.
JUDGE DALY'S COMPLAINT.
Former Judge Joseph F. Daily, who was
called during the course of the afternoon,
said that he had been notified in the early
part Of last year that he could not ex-
pect denomination. This notification
was, he said, the result Of his refusing
to appoint chief clerk Of the court of
common pleas recommended by Mr..
Croker, and because he had refused to
make judicial order for the removal of
the legal sales to Ill Broadway, where
Peter F. Meyers firm Is located.
With reference to the statements made
during the recent election, that Judge
DAILY had been originally discovered by
BOSS" Tweed and by him nominated for.
his first judgeship, he denied that he had
ever known Tweed or that he had been
selected by Tweed. Judge DAILY said that
he had paid $1,000 In assessments for his
two nominations by Tammany hall.
Former Judge Roger A. Pryor, who fol-
lowed Judge DAILY. testified that he, too.
had contributed, on account Of his nonli-
nation, he having sent a check for $1O00o,
payable to the order Of the chairman Of
( the finance committee of Tammany hall