New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-16

with M Cutler Tor the Dsymen, 70 you q !. sum
question.
Q.-Do you deny Il? Al decline 10 answer that
OWN you deny IT. Al decline to answer that
OWN you deny or afarm IT. Al decline to an
swer that question
Q.-Mr Croker, II you took money made an
money from these telephone people. would you
consider that an honorable or dishonorabie act!
Odd you do IL? Al decline 70 answer the
question.
HIS RACING VENTURES.
These were not the only questions that Mr..
Croker refused to answer. His whole testimony.
In fact, was perforated with decinations. Soon
after the witness had been recalled TO the stand
Mr.. Moss referred to the rumor that was COM
mon at the time that in 1897 Mr. Croker re.
turned from Europe after a disastrous racing
season substantially without means TO any con-
siderable extent Mr.. Croker was not commttai
the matter. but he did agree that at this
period he did not own any great amount Of
stock. that he was not interested in air-powsr
companies. and that his sons were not connect
ed with FIRE -proofng and contracting corpora
tions 1t will be remembered that at one OF the
earlier sessions Of the committee Frank Croker
said his father had given him $1,000 to enable
him to Join the Roebling company. but when
asked whether he had received the money ty
check or In cash his evidence was somewhat
contradictory. Mr.. Moss hoped TO straighten
out the discrepancy by the aid OF Mr.. Croker.
but the witness evaded the question by plead
ing that It was a personal matter.
Mr.. Moss. however. was not to be so easily
turned from his purpose. He told the boss that
this question could not be construed into q pn-
vate affair. for the reason that the Roebling
company had been proven to be intimately con-
nected with municipal building schemes In this
city. but Mr. Croker angry persisted In refus-
ing to say upon what basis his son went into
the company.
SAYS EXAMINE PLATT.
1T Is a private affair" he reiterated. with Q
show OF petulance Il have the utmost conn.
dence In that boy and IL you want to destroy
him you are welcome to try and do II. This
committee 1t seems to me. has made a set at
my two boys, to prevent them doing business
In this city and intend to stay here all sum.
mer IL you like, to prevent that You 60 and
examine Mr.. Piatt and find out what concerns
his boys are In; go and examine the people who
brought you here to examine us."
Mr.. Moss endeavored to stop the witnesses
rather frenxied outbreak, but. with rising tone
of voice, Mr.. Croker insisted that the nrm 70
WHICH Mr. Fidlt tOu Dtf'Rsbtu WhS tuS -kVuu-
dation of all the corruption IN the city. for Ne
reason that 1t was protecting corporations Nj.
Moss allowed the witness to run along in this
strain to the end Of his tether and then found
his way back to the original issue by remarkins
to Mr.. Croker:
",rhe city makes contracts, the city has de-
partments which oversee the buildings, for In.
stance: from the rival methods OF construction.
&bo i. N -nraOing for instance.
and when certain methods OF fireproof construc-
ton have been shut out and then are admitted
because there have gone into these concerns
at a critical time members OF your own family.
then II becomes an important question whether
these members OF your family actually paid for
their stock. or whether they were simply brought
in because they your sons now. in view OF
that situation, ask you once more. having
made it clear to you. are you still unwilling to
testify whether you gave your son the money FOR
the purpose Of actually buying the stock In the
Roebling Construction Company"
Still Mr.. Croker refused to inform the com"
mittee as to whether he gave his son the money
TO buy stock in the Roebling company.
WON'T TELL ABOUT MANHATTAN.
Mr. Croker was equally uncommunicative
when he was asked IL he had not since January
1 sold Manhattan stock short. He would nos
saw II he had sold Manhattan stock in the an
ticipation Of the attack which was recently
made upon the railroad by the city govern
ment. That attack. ne asserted, was not the
consequence Of the refusal OF the Manhattan
company 10 permit his new air power concern
TO attach its pipes TO the elevated structures
He admitted however that he had had con-
versations with George J. Gould on the subject
and had offered $4,000 for the privilege. He
was positive in his assertions that the adverse
action taken by the Board OF Health toward
the Manhattan company was not because the
railroad had refused to accede to mis- air-pips
proposals
Mr. Moss devoted considerable time TO the AZ
tempt 10 ascertain just what connection Croker
had with the sir-power company out the VIII
ness was so Intentionally obtuse a. TO make his
answers unsatisfactory except for the obvious
and damaging differences TO be deduced rom
them 81 decline to answer" was hi invaraois
reply TO any question relating TO his holdings IN
the parent air-power company and the suhsidi.
ary companies which have been already formed
or are contemplated, and whether these hold
inss OF stock had been presents 10 him In order
10 secure his influence for the benent OF the
corporations II was brought out that the Met
ropoltan company was interested In some OF
these air companies Taking hts cue from this
admission, Mr. Moss wanted to know why the
Metropolitan company should have received the
valuable privilege to tear up the streets ana
put in electric conduits beside the tracks
without payment OF any kind to the CITY, Mr.
Croker had no opinion TO oner. The company
had paid for the privilege for all lie knew
Mr. Croker was stricken with profound Iacs
OF memory when he was asked II he did not
share the fees paid to W. Bourke Cochran fof
his services In obtaining the passage throush
the Board Of Aldermen Of a measure permitting
the change OF motive power In Broadway from
horse TO cable Mr.. Moss pressed the Inquiry
IN such an extent ss to put the witness sadly
out OF ease. while Mr.. Croker's discomfort we
perceptibly increased when the counsel insiss-
a ted that the cause Of the present cooiness D.
tween him and Mr.. Cochran was that the latter