New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-11
PREPARE THE WHITEWASH
uR. FORNES IS IGNORED.
Tammany Committee to Probe (O
the Port Chester Rum0rs.

After lively fight to avoid the cooperation
Of the District Attorney and the Grand Jury in
the investigation Of the bribery and backmail
stories concerning the Port Chester hold-up.
Tammany Hall jumped into the investigation
game yesterday at the meeting Of the Board OF
Aldermen and elected a committee TO do tha
Investigating. which, from It's very makeup. will
be called a "whitewashing" arrangement, it
predicted on the floor Pretty soon crimi-
nails Will want to select their own turies, sug
gested alderman.
1t was essentially a Tammany proceeding.
Mr.. Mccall the Tammany leader. took out Of
the hands OF President Fornes the task OF in
PRODUCING the resolution bringing up the in
vestigation; he also looked after the selection
of men for the committee. although President
Fornes had prepared a resolution calling for
the investigating committee. and had selected
its members. There only one vote against
Mr.. McCalTs resolution, Mr.. Wafer's
The Mccall committee will meet Friday after
noon TO outline its plan q campaisu, aud hnd
just where It really stands TO power Many
Of the aldermen declared IN the debate that such
a committee would be powerless: that IT could
not enforce the attendance OF a witness and II
he chose 10 attend couldn't compel him 20
answer questions For that reason they ad-
vocated the enlistment OF the District Attor-
uey's services because he would have power
and the grand jury the ability TO punish II
guilt were discovered
The committee consists OF Reginald s Doull
chairman: Isaac Marks. Peter A. Shields
Francis p Kenney and William J. Boyhau
Democrats. and William Wentz and Samuel
H. Jones Republicans President Fornes
when Il was urged In the debate that he should
have the appointment OF a committee TO avoid
any appearance OF the boards trying to white
wash itself said he didn't believe he could
name letter men. Yet he had in his list John
r. Coggey, William e. Morris. John J. Twomey
and General Daniel r. Sckles. Democrats, and
James Cowden Meyers, Republican.
When The proceedings began the spectators
gallery was we'll filled while in the space be-
hind the railing on the floor was a throng which
followed the debate with manifest interest.
The aldermen themselves were out in force. and
each one seemed primed for a speech.
MR. INGALLS, RESOLUTION
Mr. Mccall lost no time AS soon as the meet
ing was opened. he presented his resolution that
his seven men be and are hereby appointed a
committed 10 inquire into the alleged charge
made in the public press Of the city that some
consideration has been demanded from the New
York and Port Chester Railroad Company for n
favora ble consdera tion Of their proposed fran
chise now pending before the Board Of Alder
men" The committee 10 have power 10
send for persons. 10 administer oaths and 10 de-
mand the production of books and papers and
required TO make report of its inquiry to
the board early possible.
Charges OF corruption and bribery are made
on every occasion. with no occasion" said the
Tammany leader We blamed when We
act and when don't act II we delay, TO
think over our action, we are accused OF having
been paid to hold IL up. while IL hurry we
are accused Of having been paid for jamming
an important measure through without con-
sideraton. I suppose. since it's become the
fashion to accuse legislative bodies It will go
on and when we're old and gray there'H be
the same charges floating. This has gone as
far it need now. felt 1t my duty TO offer
this resolution. and I hope it will be adopted
unanimously. and the investigation be thorough
and searching
"I don't want TO bring the personal into this,
but must say a word about the president of
this Port Chester road. I don't believe he ever
made the statements attributed to him 1 never
met him. but one Of my best friends has told
mo that that gentleman said he'd never made
such statements"
Mr.. Mccall tried to have fun with the news
paper writer's, whose places. he said would be
taken one of these days by the great associa-
tions-the representatives Of the people," who
would send typewriter statements to the ed-
tors. His sarcasm became trifie involved, and
most Of the assemblage didn't grasp his point
at ALL but he made himself more clear when
he talked of associations which demanded that
the aldermen act' and professional citizens"
Little Tim Sullivan seconded Mccall, maxi
ing a speech mild in comparison with what had
been expected. He was tired of these charges
Of corruption, he said, and welcomed an inves-
tigation William r. King OF the Merchants
Association, has attacked u.s." went on the al
derman, this man who. only few weeks ago,
was attacking the Governor of the State for
not appointing a railroad committee for this