The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-16

sails from the force: 2 for absence from duty.
for intoxIoation, 1 for naturalization. for
violation OF the rules. for neglect Of duty. and
l for neglect Of duty and intoxication."
Thomas Boland had been four times con-
Yictsd OF offences since Jan. !. 1893. two Of the
convictions being for drunkenness and neglect
OF duty for which he was fined fifteen days pay.
There's good deal Of drinking going on in
the force at present. isn't therer asked Mr..
Moss.
Not a. know or" replied Boland with an
expression OF almost preternatural Innocence
which caused a smile among his companions In
the audience.
Francis Herman. Henry N. Post, and John
Dule testified to convictions for intoxication
and absence from duty for which they had been
flned q few days pay. Then Mr.. Moss called
Alfred ]. Stewart to the stand.
Mr.. Stewart. you were formerly an en-
gineer in the department were you not" he
asked. A. Yes. sir.
.. Why were you reduced to the ranksf A.
That Ia what nobody seems to know.
DIDN'T CONTRIBUTE AND WAS REDUCED.
O. Tell us what you know about It. A. Chief
Croker had given an order permitting the men
who were scheduled for only two meals . day
to 60 out at noon and get sandwich. / was
then engineer OF 43 engine. One day was
told by the man on watch that there weren't
enough men on so that could be spared to 20
out and get dinner. SO went up the street to
get q sandwich. l wasn't gone moro than
nve minutes. or six minutes at the outside.
When I came back Battalion Chief Tanning
was there and asked me who gave me author
ity to leave. Then he ordered the assistant
foreman to make charges against me OF being
away without leave and entering u liquor
store. He didn't want to do It, but the
Rat ,li - ~ I'm, md tri on
that charge. Chief Tanning testified that he
saw me enter o liquor store. but he couldn't tell
at what entrance. / presented an af1davit
from the owner OF the place that hadn't en-
tered the liquor store. and told Commissioner
Seannsll. who tried me. how it was: that
hadn't eaten since i've O'Clock that morning
1t was Chief FanninG's word against mine. for
there were no witnesses on either side. and
was found guilty and reduced
Q. Did you refuse to contribute money to an
assessment last November? A. l did.
Q. Do you anticipate any difficulty or un-
pleasantness consequent upon your having
come here and answered these ouestions2
A. Vol. I've had four anonymous letters In
the last week saying that II came hero and
answered any questions I'd be broke but
didn't take much stock In them.
Il have taken particular pains" said Mr..
Moss. after excusing the witness. mot to con-
verse with any Of these fremen before they
went on the stand. / did not know what this
witness would say before he went on tho
stand I want to assure him that II any harm
comes to him because OF his testimony here
to-day the wrath Of all Now York will be Wis
tied on the people who are responsible for
shat harm"
Firemen Burtis and Macarthur were then
called. but both denied any knowledge OF an
assessm emit and were excused. Mr. Moss. say
ing that the investigation had gone far enough
along that line to show the trend Of the grow
ing lack OF discipline and the dsteriorating ef-
feet OF politics In the department. excused all
| other nremen. whsreupon the seventy-hv
rose up with relief bsaming from their ex-
prsssive oountenanoes and lost no time In get
ting out OF the place.
HoLAHAE QUESTIONED ABOUT RAMAPo.
After this DEPRESSION the inquiry returned to
Ramapo with tho calling to the stand OF
Maurice T. Holahan. President OF the Board OF
| Public Improvements. At first he was aues-
| toned about the appointment OF his son az his
| private secretary. and frankly declared that
young Holahan was the best stenographer in
| the State and rem aimed with him at sacrifice
| OF his own interests.
Was Il you who introduced the Ramapo
| contract In the Board Of Public Improve
ments?" asked Mr.. Moss.
mo. SIR" was tho reply. The original
draught came from Mr.. Lauterbach.
Q. From Mr.. Lauterbachp A. Ithlnkitwa,
from him. 1t came by messenger. He and had
much discussion over prices. He wanted $S5
| wanted $65. He knew We needed water and
| was all the time importuning me from June
98 on and finally he asked II $40 would be low
| enough l told him to submit the contract
and he did 1t and sent 1t to Water Commits
sioner Dalton.
O. Why should It have como to you first wher
| the law specifies that such q contract should &C
to the Water Commissioner 1rst2 A. That
what don't know. Mr.. LAuterbaeh coult
answer better 1t isn't actually against the law
Q. Didn't Mr.. Dalton ask you to send Mr.
Iauterbach to him A. No. Lauterbach cam,
to me In 'eS and / told him his people wer'
entitled to hearing.
Q. When did you know you could get waite
for STOP A. Not until the contract came In.
O. Tho contract he sent to you said $40? A
Yes.
O. And that contract 10 the one you saw her
with the Corporation Counsel's penoilled note
on it2 A. Yes.
O. And that came from Mr.. Lauterbaoh?
Well, think IL was from him. 1t might hav
been from Mr.. Ingraham. 1t came after m
talk with him.
q, Did Mr.. Lautsrbach think It was an option
| A..
came from the Corporation Counsel.
Mr. HofYman-It was made an option BY tn
Corporation Counsel?
The witness-I 80 understand 1t.
O. Was that contract as sent to the Corpora
ton Counsel shown to Mr.. Dalton1 A. Ger
tainly.
@. To any one else3 A. Not that know.
.. Did you say that the Executive Com NIT
tee OF Tammany Hall wouldn't take any actio
to prevent the contraot2 A.. 1dont know as
said II. but believe 1t would have been q
i'm pc rtinence for them to try any such Trims
l would have denounced them II they had
.. You believe in this eontract' A. Ger
, tainly do under existing circumstances
STILL BELIEVES IN RAMAPo.
Q. And you'd put 1t through II you could
A. Yes. sir.
O. Did you know there were two other com
panies ready to bid? A. knew thSre was on
other. which wanted to bring water from tn
Adirondacks at SIS. 1t was ridiculous.
O. Why didn't you give them hearing2
, They mover could have carried out the contrac
Here Mr.. Holahan got excited over quei
A..