The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-18

New YORK, April lS.-Richard croker
was seen al the Democratic club last
night. and asked IL he had any com
ment to mako upon the refusal of the
Mazet committee 10 subpoena Tracy
Boardman and Platt, and others, alleged
to have been interested I'm the Astoria
gas franchise.
Il am not at all surprised by that
action said Mr.. Croker. why should
the committee call Tracy Boardman and
Platt? What would IL amount to? Why.
simply that Tracy, Boardman and Platt
had summoned Tracy Boardman and
Platt to be investigated. What puZ-
zles me, is why this committee should
be down here I'm New York wasting its
time. 1t might just as we'll be up in
Albany attending TO its legislative duties
and leave Tracy, Boardman and Platt TO
DO This investigating. The committee
has received a lot OF anonymous com
munications and information from a
lot OF notorious and self-confessed
thieves and criminals and upon this they
are attempting to base their investiga-
tion."
When asked If he expected TO make a
trip TO Europe now that he had been de-
layed, he said:
"Well, / don't know. They have
subpoenaed me for next Monday. and
may drag me along for "A year or more.
tell you what this committee is doing"
said he. with emphasis. 1T is spread
ing the impression throughout. not only
the United States, but the whole world.
that neither life nor property is safe in
New York. The longer this committee
sits, the worse for this community"
In the session OF the MaZet legislative
Investigating committee yesterday. Mr.
Croker was again the principal Object OF
Mr.. Moss examination. and the most inn
portant development was the probability
that the Tammany chieftain and John
+. Carroll will be the subject Of con-
tempt proceedings before the state legis-
lGture shall adjourn.
All during the evidence yesterday Mr..
Croker parried the questioning OF the
counsel OF the committee and refused TO
satisfy the members with the amount OF
information he was willing TO give re-
gardlng certain matters which he classi-
fed as personal affairs"
An adjournment OF the committee was
taken Yesterday afternoon until next
Friday. and Mr.. Croker was subpoenaed
to reappear before the session next Mon
day. BY the initiative of Mr.. Moss. many
OF whose questions Mr.. Croker repeat
edly refused TO answer. and with whom
he had several sallies that came very
near being personal the chairman OF the
committee took such action as would
leave Mr.. Croker in technical contempt
1T is stated that when Mr.. Fallows OF the
committee left yesterday afternoon for
Albany he had instructions 60 prepare
papers adjudging Mr.. Croker and John
+. Carroll in contempt.
When the committee began its inquiry
yesterday about the first thing brought
up was resort known as the Broadway
garden, which had fiourished in the up
per Broadway district for some time. In
this place the alleged robbery OF former
mayor OF Trenton, Frank Mcgowan, took
place, and Simon Buttner, the former
proprietor of the garden, AID several of
his walters were examined Buttner
made some rather startling charges
against Police Captain Price, and his
walters corroborated, in part, his testi-
mony
Assemblyman Hoffman offered reso-
luton TO have certain prominent men
summoned before the committee because
of a rumor that a certain law firm, by
and with the assistance Of other persons,
by corrupt methods secured the passage
through the assembly" of the Astoria
gas franchise, whose real purport was
10 enable the Consolidated Gas COM
pany to force consolidation of all the
gas interests i'm the city. TO the end that
the supply Of gas might be controlled
end the price regulated by the so-called
consolidation" Mr.. Hoffman wanted 10
subpoena the law firm Of Tracy, Board
man 81 Platt; Elihu Root. the incorpora-
tors OF the Astoria Heat. Light and
Power company. Thomas G. platt, Ben
jamin b. Odell, Lemucl Ely Quigg and
tJtsiittt - G4liif44f44444e. -sesa4at4on was
defeated however, five Republicans OPP
posing 1t and two Democrats standing
by It.
Richard Croker was called TO the
stand soon after noon, and he occupied
the attention Of the committee the rest
OF the session. He testified that the po-
lice did not contribute cent to the
Tammany campaign last year, but that
the oflcehoders did. lie could not tell
the amount Of money raised last year.
nor did he know in what bank the funds
were kept. He said he had never re-
ceived a cent from Bourke Cochran. He
also swore he was never caught short
with Manhattan L" stock, and did not
lose 81 900.
When questioned last night concern
ing the charges made against him be-
fore the Ma2et committee by Simon
Buttner. Captain James X. Price handed
out the following written statement:
"Thc n-'.. f.'-.-,a0t wish To make