New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-21
TO EXONERATE BOARD.
4LDERlIEN END PROBING.
Failed to Call Three of MoSt I'M
DOrtdnt U7itneSSeS.

The aldermens committee which has been in
vestigating the report that 100000 de-
manded by the aldermen for the passage Of the
Port Chester roads application for a franchise
in The Bronx ended its so-called probing yester-
day without hearing number Of important wit
nesses. Three of these are Aldermen James =.
Hayes and William F. Maxon. OF Mount Vernon,
and L. A. Cuvillier. Mr., Maxon made the pub
lie statement that at a hearing I'm Albany he
was approached by man Interested in the
other side" who said that the Mount Vernon
people were lot Of d fools for passing the
Port Chester franchise for nothing
Alderman Hayes. who announced his will
ingness TO testify before the committee IL he
had been called. could have told the name of the
alderman who last winter. Il IS said, asked him
how much the Mount Vernon people got for
passing the Port Chester franchise. and said
that the application would never get through
the board here unless somebody saw the cap
-tain''
MIR. Cuvillier. who had volunteered to testify,
also might have given the name OF this alder
man.
Another witncss who might have been called
and was not IS Mr.. Stumpf. Of The Ncrth
Side News" OF The Bronx who. according 10
Mr. Gotshall. told him he heard Davis tell the
900 bribery story. The reporter who wrote
the story that appeared in The Tribune con
Cerning the rumpred demand Tor No'pp'V toiu
Alderman Doull yesterday that he was ready
to testify. but Alderman Doull told him his
testimony not wanted.
1t was reported yesterday at the city Hall
that the report of the investigating committee
would recommend that the aldermen take Inn
mediate action the Port Chester application.
Before lea wing the City Hall. Alderman Dou!I
said that the committee would make n report
10 the aldermen next Tuesday completely
generating the railroad committee and nam
ing William c. Gotshall as the originator of the
stories bout alleged bribery,
The repor, will he denuncatory Of the news
papers for daring criticise the aldermen. and
it VIII give the aldermen clean bills of health.
The Iammany men. II is said, viii use this
report to justify further holding up Of the Port
Chester francois resolution.
President Gotshall of the Port Chester road
the only witness before the INVESTIGATING
committee yesterday. He told Of the applica-
ticn for franchise by mis- company on Janu-
airy 20, 1901. His examination was in part rs
follows.
Q.-Who are the directors Of your company A.
I not here president Of the COMPANY '''>
.Q.-Ts Mr.. Mills. W. Writ Minis. director? A.
Q.-Is Ogden Mills? A-No
Q.-Will you swear it? A.-Ye5.
bribery charge? AThe Tribune called an%1I me M 'S o
stor few few Gavs later a wben rd o @69u5 n ne ]
The Herald telegraphed me- about The storv
wired back that | knew nothing more than l. had
f 9a any ny $50 On the % een sd Of Pos MaS nse9 asked Te
porter Tor The World" Frank Hughes came to
brlbery charges ! told him that to all his gues
about it, ] cant comment on it" Mr. Mills told
me that lie had got the story from man at the
Did you Mills before? A-Yes. lie came
to me before about II question Of third rail sys
Agn fEPrg man fT.nTr
"The North Side News told that he had the
story from Davis. | don't know Davis: never saw
getting the franchise fo- the Port Chester road
He sought me out. [ never tried to get him II
Q.-Is D. o. Mills a stockholder of the company?
Who spok to me about THIS matter do not % re
member any one else; ] told The Tribune that
manded OF me- No alderman or any one actin; in
their behalf has ever asked me for a dollar in be-
half of the franchise
publicly anything you may wish In regard to this
charge. Do you wish to say anything? A-No
There is no need of going into this matter
any further" said Mr.. Burr then. at has
been proved that money was asked of Mr.
Gotshan.''
Chairman Douf then declared the hearing
closed.
The Bronx is prepared for the public hearing
TO be held before tho Railroad Committee of the
aldermen next Monday afternoon on the Port
Chester application. It is tie determination to
convince the aldermen by The presence of
imposing delegation that the sentiment in The
Bronx for the construction Of the Port Chester
road & sincere and not manufactured, as has
been charged cy some of the aldermen. The de-
Continued on third page.
1.-THE wAsHoUT"