New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-13
DETAILS or THE SESSION.
FAIR START MADE IN THE EXPOSURE
OF OFFICIAL CORRUPTION.

As soon as the Mazet Committee had taken their
seats yesterday morning John Proctor clarke
associate counsel with Mr.. Moss. referred 10 the
death II James c Crawford the sergeant at arms.
who died during the committees recess In
short address of eulogy Mr.. Clarke asked 10 nave
recorded I'm the minutes the regret felt by the
committee at The untimely death OF Mr. Crawford.
and its appreciation of his services. Mt Mazet
irdorsed Mr. Clarke's recommendation and ordered
ts ,doption while Mr.. Hoffman, representing the
Democratic side Of the committee, spoke IN hisn
terms of Mr.. Crawford. Frank W. Johnson tor-
nerly assistant sergeant at arms, was appointed
to MI the vacancy.
Mr.. Moss then arose for the purpose of beginning
the taking of evidence. when he was interrupted
nv MIR Hoffman who said that the Democratic
party Intended do all in It's power to further the
investigation into the Ramapo company AS the
representative of that party, he explained. L ask
and insist that the full truth of the Ramapo water
deal be made plain. without regard TO the politics
of witnesses" With this preamble Mr.. Hoffman
then made demand that Senator T. c. Platt
should be called help TO place the responsibility
for the water where II properly belonged Mr..
Moss said he had no reply to make to MT HON.
man, except to remark that the committee IN
tended to call all witnesses necessary 10 CIeaF W
the Ramapo matter.
MOSS PAVED THE WAY
Prior 70 the calling of witnesses Mr. Moss ad-
dressed the committee the Ramapo matter. In
the course of that address he said About three
months ago We received private and confidential
information that the Ram1po company was about
to attempt complete its contract. Thereupon
we began 10 investigate the Water Department.
We brought two facts We proved that mill
ions of gallons of water going 10 waste over
the Croton dam evey day. ard, Also that halt as
much water was leaking from the Ilpes ana was
being wasted by the citizens as was being used
We brought out these two facts in the expectation
that the Ramapo scheme about to be brought
nhaFy nafh fhar
the confidential Information received was correct;
but shortly after our last adjournment the con-
tract was brought up II Is matter or conSratu-
laton that the Ramapo grab appears TO be dead;
| think mention should be made of the conspicuous
agencies that sprang forward to the citys pro-
tectlon-of the Controller whose action cannot te
too highly praised and should be noted on our rec
ord OF the patriotic citizens who came to his sup
port and of the attitude of the newspapers, which
took the position that was best for the community
We have been asked why we want TO probe dead
subject II has not been an easy matter to get
at the absolute inside facts Of this company. The
three points We intend to address ourselves TO are
these: The first is that the Ramapo scheme was
clearly in Itself an impossibity: that the Ramapo
compa " could not do what II contracted to do
and that the city was nadequately protected
against the company; that the only way for the
company to make money to sell its bonds and
stocks.
STOCK JOSBING SCHEME.
I'm other words It a stock jobbing opera
tion; its purpose was TO It's stocks and bonds
and to pocket what II might, the city having no
protection a3 the company had no property When
the city officials In the face OF this, attempted TO
lam this through. they first guilty or incom-
petence II they couldn't this scheme. ana when
the matter was brought TO their attention, they
were guilty OF abettlng IL. think when this fact
OF the incompetence dishonesty Of these oficials-
the President OF the Board OF Public Improvements.
the Water Commissioner, the Highway Commission
er-wa, made evident II was. II was the duty or
the Navor 10 remove these men. II he refused TO
do It. then the res possibility devoIves upon still
higher authority.
Direct responsibility also rests with the organ
zation to which they belong and of which they are
district leaders am glad TO read the assertion OF
the head OF the organization that the organization
has nothing to do with this scheme and that II any
members OF the party have abetted crookedness
they will be disciplined Next We will endeavor to
show for the community requires II, who are tho
people or officials who In any way responsible
for this deal We will require to know everybody
connected with IT, and II is to the interest OF those
I'm locentY holding stocks bonds In the COM
pany hut having no hand in the manipuatons.
that the whole truth be known Finally We will
nauire into the whole system OF the city's water
| supply with a view to accomplishing a stock OF in
formation concerning the voume Of 1t. the OF