The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-16
BLACkMAll. IN H0LD-UPS?
CROKER after BRoOKLYN COUNCIL
NAV AND ALDERMEN.

"NiEEer In the Woodpile' EXPLAINED a. an
Attempt At Estortion From Contractor
rierc" and Asphaiters-A Reward for
E'idcnce-Paving bonds stfi Held Up.
What Mr.. Croker meant by Niger in the
woodpile " OF bond hold-ups in tho Municipal
Assembly was partly disclosed yesterday. Two
Tammany officers. high in the city govern
nent. are authority for tho statement that a
mem Der Of the Council from the Borough Of
brooklyn. and two aldermen from the same
borough. have made attempts to blackmail
at least one man having contract with the
city. and two asphalt paving companies which
expect to obtain valuable contracts when
the S2oOO.OOO worth OF bonds for rcpavng
now held up in the Council are authorized
Against one OF the three members OF the Mu-
nlcipal Assembly the evidence. it is said. Is
morally conclusive. but corroborative de-
tail necessary to make conviction on
criminal charge positive Ia lacking. Effort
is being made to procure this evidence. When
IT IL obtained. the man will be arrested on a
criminal charge. and his prosecution will be
pushed vigorously. Not until the time comes
when legal steps may be taken with the assur-
ance OF success Will the city officials who are in
possession OF the facts in the cases make
known the names OF the men accused
The contractor who. 1t Is alleged. was
approached was John Pierce. who has
the contract for the new Hall OF Records
and who refusing to be inundated
or to buy the municipal legislature OBJ
tanned writ OF mandamus which forced the
council to concur in the resolution authorizing
the issue OF bonds to pay for the building. Mr..
Pierce's name became known only by accident
yesterday. The details OF the attempt to
blackmail him are withheld.
Great difficulty has been found in getting at
the facts in the case OF the effort to extort
money from the asphalt companies, but
enough has been learned to convince certain
high city officials that they will be able in time
to get evidence that Will lead to the conviction
OF at least one man They say that 1t is known
that representatives OF certain companies
have been approached by mar who con-
WINGED them that he was the agent OF certain
number OF councilmcn who had the power
to prevent the passage Of any bond resolution.
Ihis man Informed the representatives OF the
asphalt companies that IL they would raise a
fund OF S200.0oO. to be distributed lin tho
right place" there would not be any difficulty
about the passage OF the requirement. bond
issue and that in consideration OF the payment
OF 10 per cent Of the amount OF any other bond
issue for paving or repavinR. the support OF
the same councilmen could be obtained for any
future bond issue.
He companies. IL IL stated. refused TO con-
slider such an Offer Thinking that the price
had been set too high. the alleged represen-
tatlve OF the city officials gradually reduced
1t to 100000. Then. the companies saying
that they could not pay. this sum was cut in
half. and n final offer to accent 500 O0Q was
made. On the refusal again OF the
companies the representative OF the city
legislators went away. Two OF the city
officials who are conducting an investigation
have offered a reward OF 81 900 Jointly for GER
tain evidence that they desire. This offer was
made some days ago. aad 1t was announced
only In quarters where 1t was thought that the
news would get to the proper persons.
At yesterdays meeting OF the council. Mr.
Ryder Tam. called up the resolution provid-
ing for S3O5.OO0 bonds to pay for work on the
speedway Mr.. Cassidy Dem. Queens), the
leader Of the fourteen councllmen who were
fined 800 and sentenced to Jail for contempt
OF court. said that the money was to be spent.
he understood. for work in excess of the con-
tract In that case. he said. he would insist
that the resolution be passed only by the unani-
nous vote. as directed in the charter.
" understand that this is dead steal" an
nounced Mr.. Hart Tam.
Several members Of the Council wanted in
formation in regard to it. and Mr.. Cassidy
moved that 1t be recommitted. His motion
was lost. In the debate on the final vote. Mr.
Cassidy made speech. attacking the bond is
sue. In the course Of it he said:
What want to know. and shall find out Is
whether there Is a deal in this. as there was in
the Hall OF Records case"
Mr.. Francisco rep. Brooklyn asked Vice
Chairman Oakley II this issue included SIG, 900
to pay for condemned crib work on the drive
Mr.. Oakley said he didn't know anything
about it. Only twenty-three votes wero cast
and fwelya q apnin ut hn yyhio
was lost.
Then the renaving Issue OF S2.00O0 900 was
brought up. There vas no debate. Cassidy,
Comfy. Doyle Ebbets. French. LEIGH. Murray
and Williams voted against it. There were
fifteen votes in the Affirmative. The resolution
required twenty two votes to pass.
Mr.. Brice Tam called up the resolution
authorizing the sale Of $4,000 bonds to nay
the award Q! the United States Supreme Court
for the plant OF the Long Island Water Supply
Company. Mr.. McGarry Dem.. Booklyn.l made
n stronG appeal to the obstructionist members
Of the board to vote for It..
You. by your subservience to a man high In
political life. are running your regulations and
nJuring the city in Its purse and in its credit"
he said. BE slaves no more. This matter has
been here thirteen months. 1t should not have |
been here day"
Il oppose this because the people OF my |
borough have no interest in It," said Mr.. Cas-
sidy.
II the court should open the case and make
The award 100000 less. would you vote for |
III" asked Mr. McGarry.
NO" said Mr.. Cassidy. Il wouldn't give ST
'or it,"
The resolution was defeated bya vote OF 16
% Is. The negative votes were cast by Cassidy,
Comfy Doyle, Ebbets. French and Murray.
The Aldermen at their meeting concurred by
vote OF 40 to 3 in the resolution authorizing
he issue OF bonds to the amount Of $1.417,OOO
% pay awards for the land In Little Italy Park
n the Twenty-third assembly district The
,ity has been paying per cent on this
amount.
WATER SUPPLY MASDAMUs GOES OVER
When the motion to compel the Municipal
to approve the $4,000 OF bonds to
oay for the Long Island Water Supply Com
'any's property came up before Justice Me-
Adam yesterday, William j. Kelly, as attorney
or several OF the councimen. asked for a post
OF two weeks Assistant Corporation
Iounsel Blundy did not oppose the adjourn
nent. but objected to any councilmen being
eparately represented by counsel The iudRe