New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-18
MOSS AT CROKER AGAIN.
"FERSONAL AFFAIRS" PLEA
STILL IN USE.

CUSES CAPTAIN PRICE-CROKER
sUBPTNAED FOR NEXT MON.
DAY-HOFFMAN REsoLU-
TION BEATEN.
As was announced In The Tribune YESTERDAY
Richard Croker will not sail for Europe to-day
as he had arranged. One reason is that AT the
end OF yesterdays sitting OF the Mazet Investf-
eating Committee he was subppnaed by Frank
Moss to attend before that body again on Mon
day next But II is probable that the committee
would not have lnterfered with his arrangements
to leave the country to-day had he not himself
announced on Sunday at the Democratic Club.
and again yesterday while on the stand. that he
had decided to postpone awhile his departure for
foreign climes. II is presumed that Mr.. Croker
reached this determination after receiving the
advice Of his followers who gathered round IN
conference on Sunday at the seat OF the cltys
government. at No. 81 Fifth-ave Report has
II that his followers. recognizing how sorry Q
figure their leader had cut before Mr.. Moss. ana
how deeply he has been plunged into the mire OF
suspicion by the very nature OF his testimony
and department in the witness chair. have
counselled him that to go ri this juncture would
place him in the light Of a runaway. and could
not fail to njure him in the eyes OF the rank and
file OF the organization OF which he Is con-
fessedy the dictator.
They remember that once before when trouble
was brewing Mr. Croker went away. leaving his
faithful adherents to wriggle out Of the scraps
the best way they could. Crokers self-interested
action on that occasion nearly cost him his lead
ership in Tammany Hall. Many people said
that II a man OF greater organizing capacity
than John c. sheehan had been left in control
Croker would never have reganed his power In
I, the organization. Recalling these things ana
with the knowledge that their own soft snaps"
depend upon the retention OF Croker at Tam
manys head. the faithful have advised the boss
that for his own and their safety he should
avoid displaying any overdue anxiety to get
away.
TO ACT on HIS CONTUMACY.
II is likely to develop that this advice un-
timely So far Mr. Croker has baked every effort
made by Mr. Moss to get at the source OF his
affiuence and to unfold the secret Of the
alchemic process whereby since 1897, when he
came back practically broke" as he told his
friends after an Improbable racing season IN
England he has been able to acquire large
blocks OF stocks. to become the leading factor In
various corporations. and purchase interests In
other concerns for his two sons. Mr.. Croker has
| declined TO answer inquiries bearing upon this
| matter on the plea that they were his per-
sonal affairs" and Irrelevant to the purpose for
which the committee was appointed. Yesterday
Mr. Croker was recalled to the stand ana
! formally directed by the chairman to answer
| these questions. He again refused TO answer
| and II now rests with the committee TO deter
mine what course it will adopt regarding the
contumacy which Mr.. Croker and Mr.. Carroii
have been guilty Of That the committee will
| Mr. Mazp
close Of Yesterdays session. He said that prob
ab,v today the members would hold a meeting
in Albany. and would subsequently submit rec
concentrations to the Assembly. Whether the
committee was likely to advise the committai 10
prison of the two recalctrant witnesses MI
Mazet refused 70 foreshadow.
Prior TO the resumption Of the inquiry yester-
day morning in the cramped quarters pro'ioeo
by the Board of Trades room at No 2o5 Broad
wav the committee held private meeting AZ
which Assemblyman Hoffman offered the foio"-
ing resolution:
Whereas 1t is runored that certain law Ss nam an,
in the city Of New-York, by and WIN ne as
sstance OF other persons by corrupt me,noos' ,%s
cured the passage through the Assembly ,S os sns
state OF New-York of the bill known az '"e T'
tora gas franchise, ana, ..ao -, ,ha A.
Whereas 1t Is said the rea, PurPec ,pe consoIidated
Gas Company force consolidation nor o, a., az 'ne pny
IN qes might be controlled and the price OF the
ame regulated by the so-called consolidation ahd
he to pree the and necessity
to the people and almost indispensapie 10 "o"'''
Psoiyed That this committee deems II necessary
to subpoena the following. pesSPI PIatt EIihu
Root the incorporators Of the Astoria hes, p,e,
and Power c0mPany GJs muel ene Ely ouiss John b.
Crmmins and such additional persons a. may "
deemed necessary
The resolution was defeated by party vote
~ five 10 two. None Of the Republican mem
hers would discuss the resolution. except that
Mr.. Mazet said the committee had certain
work TO perform, that the line Of Inquiry ana
mode Of procedure had been laid out ana tnat
tho nresent was no time for the taking up OF
extraneous matter. But while they would not
comment on the resolution. 1t was learned that
tho Republican members Of the committee
looked upon Assemblyman Hoffman's effort as
an attempt TO sidetrack the real object OF the
inquiry and to divert attention from the per-
sonal affairs OF Tammany's leader
POLICE CORRUPTION CHARGE
The first direct charge OF corruption that mas
heen brought against the police since the In
vestigation opened was made yesterday. simon
Buttner at time keeper or the notorious
broadway Garden. accused Captain Price OF de-
mandlng $50 a month for protection ana "haf
of ANYTHING that comes OH, meaning NAN WV
uroceeds Of robberies that might take place III
the Broadway Garden. Buttner stated that 10
1890 and 1891 he ran place on the Bowery, and
made an arrangement with Price VINO was theh
in charge Of that precinct whereby he paid the
cantain 500 o month and promised half the
punder whenever a man was robbed in Ms
nlace Coming down TO the Broadway Garden
Ruttner said that when ne first opened the re-
sort ~ had been visited by Captain Sneehan.
INSPECTOR Brooks, Inspector Thompson ana
Chief McCullagh. none OF whom. however. had
made any complaint OF the way he was running
the place Everything. in fact. ran smoothly
until Price came into the precinct.
The witness caused some laughter by stating