New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-01
PRICE THREE CENTS.
TRACY on THE STAND.
FORMER Rl.NiPO PRESIDENT
IE,S1IEYE,S.
SEVERELY CROSS-EXAMINED BY MR.
HOFFMAN. THE TAMMANY MEMBER,
But ANSWERS ALL QUESTIONS
SAYS PLATT HAD NOTHING
TO DO WITH RAMAPO.

10 DO WITH RAMAPO.
Two members Of the law firm Of Tracy
Boaidman Il Platt were examined Yesterday be-
fore the Mazet Investigating Committee. which
resumed It's sessions at ~ 20; Broadway
They were General Benjamin +. Tracy and
James Il. Soley Mr. Soley declined 70 answer
many Of the questions put 10 him on the ground
that they were private business" but General
Tracy would not hide behind any fence and
answered frankly everything that was required
OF him. His voice choked with emotion and In
dignatlon three or four times. and twice the
tears welled up in his eyes and showed doon
his cheek as he protested against having his
personal affairs dragged TO light, but Assembly
man Hoffman was remorscless in pressing his
questions. and sooner than rest unds. the
picion OF having anything shameful to conceal.
the General answered them all even TO telling
what corporations he holds stock IN.
He ala balk. however when Mr. Hoffman
asked him If he would submit the books OF his
firm 10 Investigation by the committee IN order
that IL might be ascertained how much OF tho
firms income was derived from corporations.
General Tracy said he would not consider that
question unless IL were put by the committee as
a body. Mr.. Hoffman at once moved that tho
committee put tho question. Mr.. Mazet de-
clared that the committee would consider In
executive session the propriety OF so doing. Mr..
Hoffman insisted that It ought to be considered
then and there, but Mr.. Mazet carried his point.
Then General Tracy volunteered the Information
that his firms fees from corporations had never
exceeded one-sixth of It's total income.
CONNECTION WITH RAMAPo.
on the subject Of the Ramapo Water Conn
pany General Tracy said that he was induced
by its secretary. Mr.. Lamont. first to become its
counsel. and then its president. taking stock or
the company TO the amount OF go shares for
his services He sold these al ont last July, be-
fore the company made any effort TO enter into
a contract with this city, and since that time
had had nothing to do with the company in any
way whatever He declared emphaticay that
Senator Platt never held share In the Ramapo
Water Company. nor had he taken any part In
procuring legislation favorable 10 the company;
neither had any Of Patt's relatives held Ramapo
stock. lie could recall no prominent politician
who had.
General Tracy acknowledged that he had
asked Governor Morton BY cable from Europe
10 sign the act Of lSD5 which increased the
Ramapo Companys powers He had told Cow
ernor Morton It a bin that would be pub
lie benefit At that time he was not counsel for
mitted that he felt somewhat blameworthy for
that action because a- It turned out the bill
was not exactly what he thought it was going
TO be when he started for Europe He imagined
II was merely going to restore 10 the company
certain rights which had been taken away from
It by general law but the bill really gave the
company much more power than IL ever had be-
fore on this one point he admitted he was
open 10 criticism but he asserted that Governor
Morton dld not know he held stock in Ramapo.
and he was sure the Governor held none.
The General denied having anything to do with
the drafting Of those sections of the city charter
which are alleged 70 favor the kamapo COM
pany, and with great dignity exclaimed; MY
life has been an open book to the people of THIS
State for foriy-siX years His frankness IN
answering The long list ~ personal questions
which Mr. Hoffman had prepared for him rather
staggered the Tammany Assomhlyman. VINO had
evidently hoped that the witness would refuse 70
answer some ~ them and thus lend color To
Crokers recalcitrancy. Mr. Hoffman declined,
therefore. to ask any more questions anti to-
day General Tracy and the committee urged
him TO 60 ahead and make an end ~ II, and the
session lasted until 20 p. m in order to let Mr.
Hoffman have his say out but he finally refused
point blank to ask any more questions just then,
and the committee adjourned until 10 a. IN. to-
dav. when General Tracy will again take the
stand Police Commissioner Sexton will also be
examined to-day
MOSS AND HOFFMAN AT ODDS.
Yesterdays session was full Of wrangng be-
tween Mr.. Hoffman and Mr. Moss. Each ac-
cused the other of making stump speeches. and
Mr. Hoffman again demanded that senator Platt
be called and also Lemuel f.. Quigg. John NJ.
Gray. Democratic candidate for Register in
Queens County, who had been subpmnaed to at
tend. sent an insulting letter to the committee.
saying that he could not spare the time ana also
advising that Senator Plat be called.
President Grout Of the Borough - brooklyn
also gave the committee unpleasant surprise
He asked IL he might be allowed 10 put few
questions 20 General Tracy and as ne Is city
official the privilege was granted. AFTER he WAS
through h.. said he had not asked these ques-
,ions IN his capacity as a borough president Dut
as counsel for The New-York World. ING
committee has since It expelled Dr O'SulhVan
refused 10 allow counsel FOR anybody 70 ask
,,,oe,ious. and was thus put IN an awkward po-
si,ion bv Mr.. Grout. Mr Mazet declared mat
was an IMPOSITION and Mr.. Grout took strong
axc4ntlon 10 the word. but the trick was zone
and ,here was no way to mend H.
Co Mr. Mazet in a rather bad temper cut short
uttle speech which Mr. Moss started 20 make
,r comnendaton Of General Tracy's conduct on
tho stand and adjourned until this morning.
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