New-York tribune., 1899-05-19
HESS SEES A LIGHT.
HE THINKS POLICE CAPTAINS
MUST BE NEGLIGENT.
MORE EVIDENCE OF THE VALUE OF
CITY OFFICIALS BONDS TO THE
CROKERFREEDMAN COMPANY
CITY BUSINESS FOR
MEYERS FIRM

More evidence brought out yesterday hes
fore the Mazet Investigation Committee tend
ing to show how lucrative the positions OF leaders
OF the party In power may become and what
profits may be derived from the power OF be-
slowing patronage 1t was shown that the
United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company
which is controlled by Andrew Freedman and
Richard Croker, supplies practically all the
bonds for the city's officials and employees. and
not content with the enormous income which
would be ierlvable therefrom even with the
usual charge OF one-quarter to one-half OF per
cent. add many more thousands Of dollars to
the companys yearly revenue by increasing the
premium which Tammany Office holders must
pay upon their bonds to per cent Further
facts were also elected which went to confirm
the deductions from previous testimony that
the firm OF Peter f. Meyer Co. Of which
Croker Is a partner. has a monopoly OF tho
suctoneering business OF the various DEPART
ments OF the city government.
Jacob Hess. the Republican Police Commits
sioner. who on Wednesday afternoon made the
humiliating confession that he voted for the
retirement OF Chief McCullagh because he was
fearful of losing the 5000 Office to which he
bad been appointed. resumed the witness stand
when the committee reconvened yesterday
morning After some preliminary questioning
as to whether his cigars and the product OF the
brewery company in which he was Interested
were sold in the Tenderlpn resorts, Mr. MOSS
directed the witnesss attention to the pool
room evil. With more spirit in his tone than he
had hitherto displayed. Mr.. Hess declared that
latitude should be given to gambling places.
and that the law prohibiting them should be
enforced absolutely. Mr. Hess despite his pre-
sumable knowledge of the workings OF the
Police Department seemed not altogether clear
as to how the poolrooms and other Illegal re-
sorts ought to be closed, and although he agreed
that the existence of such places implied neglect
on some ones part he confessed his ignorance
as to who should shoulder the responsibility.
ENLIGHTENED BY MOSES MEN.
Mr. Hess maintained that he never knew until
he heard the evidence Of the committees de-
tectives that so many poolrooms were openly
running in this city. Such state OF things he
characterized as shocking. and admitted that
he had suspicion that certain captains were
lying when they reported that there were no
pooIrooms in operation in their precincts.
Now finding that your chief and your cap
tains and all the police appliances have been
unable to make headway against the poolroom
evil what do you think. as Police Commissioner.
you ought to do?' Mr.. Moss asked.
After stroking his chin and turning uneasiiy
in his chair for some time. the witness hnay
answered In a hestating voice. We'll. it ought
10 be looked into
The answer was too indefinite to suit coun-
sci. and he pressed the point upon the witness
as to what action he proposed TO take 70 eraa'-
cate the gambling places. but Mr. Hess con-
tinued TO be vague in his replies ana many
when Mr.. Moss asked why after having Votep
to retire a chief against whom there was no
Af g.
moval Of a chief who had brought shame and
reproach upon the Department The Commls-
sioner wriggled out Of the difficulty by saying.
"Wel, don't know that am obliged to give
YOU my views in regard to what intend TO DO
Nothing rebufred Mr. Moss persisted In this
line Of inquiry. and ultimately the witness con-
ce6ed that something would be done. but JUST
in what direction he was unable TO form any
idea.
Mr.. Hess said he was bonded in the Freedman
surety company to the amount OF SlOo'oV'
He is also the treasurer Of the Police Depart
ment When he went into office the pension
fund OF the Department was deposited III 'h'
Seaboard National Bank. That money. amount
.rg to about 100000. had since been divided
between the Bowery Bank and the Garheid Ma
tional Bank OF which Nr. Croker's friend Will
lam H. C;elshenen Is president The matter Oh
Gepositing part of the Police Pension rund IN
the Garfield bank, he said. was suggested 10
him by Commissioner Sexton
James p Keatng Commissioner OF the De-
partment of Highways. who was next cahed
had forgotten IL he had been required 10 pay =
per cent of his salary TO the campaign tuho last
year. but he did remember that all the sales OK
real estate which his Department had 10 mane
by public auction, amounting to some hundreos
OF lots had been given TO the firm OF feter r
Meyer G. Co. The witness said also that ne TOOK
out a bond in Freedmans company for SioVv
when he took office. because he was treho ol
Mr. Freedman. Eleven other employees In tne
Department were bonded in the same company
friends of Mr.. Freedman.
BONDS IN FREEDMANs COMPANY.
Mr. Moss was proceeding 10 ask the witness X
he knew that Mr.. Croker was connected Win
the surety company when Assemoiyman hon-
man interposed and said that questions OF tha'
character were unfair unless the dealings OF the
p,att companv were equally shown up. There
unon with the remark that he would relieve
the gentlemans anxiety at once, MI MOSS caiieo
Controller Coler who produced the lists OF oonds
in his possession. The statement prepared oy
Mr. Coler showed that the amount or oohos
taken In the United States Fidelity ana duarah-
tee Company, the one in which Mr. Croker ana
Mr.. Freedman are concerned. had Increased 10 q
marked extent in proportion to the bonding ous''
ness Of the other companies This was parucu-
Iarly true In the matter Of bonds taken out oy
city employees Mr. Moss showed that IN 'ne
Croker Freedman company 294 persons en-
ployed In the city departments were nonded 20
the amount OF 81. 10000. while the Piatt COM
pany had bonded seven persons assresauhs
$4,000.
While Mr. Moss was reading the statement
furnished by Mr. Coler Assemblyman Honman
broke IN upon him again with the demand that
the secretary OF the Platt company should DC
called. He said he had made that demand at
meeting Of the committee. and now repeated II