New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-17
ALDERMEN OPEN INQUIRY
MEN THEY NIGHT CALL.
General SickLes puts 1t Up To"
President Hafen.

.to~tes OF bribery in connection with the long
6aisved action on the Port Chester permit, IL
-yas brought out that information 10 the al
,spe5 demand for S300Oo0 came from President
(.oteball Of the Port Chester road He learned
os q tbe testimony went. from w. W. Mills,
,enorter on an evening paper. who. in turn.
hasrd Of II from another reporter. Davis.
rrbst lanes P Hayes, OF Mount Vernon: Mr..
co,ehau himself and Louis a. Cuvillier,
,s,rve- living in The Bronx. would probably be
.hla 10 tell the committee a great deal more
=. interest was brought out officially. There
be faen no hint that these men would be sum-
-oorad except. Of course. President GotshaIl.
The Merchants Association believes that the
investigators should remove the mote from their
collective eye and look around home before MAX
,ng excursions into far country for informa-
zion Through William F. King. chairman OF
the committee on franchises the association
sent 20 Mr.. Doull chairman OF the investigators.
g letter asking if the committee OF aldermen
hes power TO summon the members of the alder
mems Railroad Committee and examine them
as 10 their reasons for not acting on the Port
Chester application II so. will the committee
summon these members If not will it make
application for the power to examine then2
Also, viii the committee Of investigators allow
ex-Attorney General Griggs counsel for the
Merchants Association. to examine these mem
SMALL ATTENDANCE.
There did not seem to be a vast public interest
Dr. the inquiry to Judge from the attendance OF
the general public The gallery OF the aldermen's
chamber contained some half dozen persons. On
the floor were a score of newspaper photogra-
pliers, artists and reporters. The devoted seven
who are to declare their co-lahorers spotless had
their features per2etuated in half dozen ways.
Alderman Doull presided. His associates were
Aldermen Marks Shies. Kenny Boyhan.
Democrats, and Jones and WentZ Republicans
Assistant Corporation Counsel Burr did the
examining. lie announced that he had served
suhpmnas on the managing editor. the night
city editor and the city editor of The Tribune.
the city editor of The World" William F. King
and s Cristy Mead of the Merchants Associa-
ton lie had been unable 10 serve William c.
GotshaH and Charles T. White, reporter for
The Tribune.
R. c. F. Brown acting managing editor of
The Tribune on May 3, the first witness
Before he was examined Colonel Henry w
ssckett. counsel for The Tribune told the COM
lnittee that with The permission and approval
Of Whitelaw Reid, the Editor Of The Tribune,
those subpenaed from that paper would give
what information they had, without however
conceding the right Of the committee TO examine
them or waving their rights in any way.
TRIBUNE STORY ASKED ABOUT.
5Ir Brown identified a story, printed in The
Tribune OF May I, that S30000O it was alleged
vas the sum mentioned as demanded for favora-
bic consideration Of the Port Chester franchises
BY the aldermen. The writer OF Il. he said was
Charles T. White. the City Hall reporter Of The
Tribune. who was at present out Of town-not.
however. as AIr. Burr asked, in compliance with
orders from the city editor Asked about sub
satd that he recalled no subsequent articles
making charges. but that all had discussed the
Port Chester affair IN a general way He knew
not from what source they had come
Finally, UT Burr asked IF. as a citizen"
%r. Brown couldn't name some persons who
might give more Information regarding these
charges oc bribery. To that Mr. Brown replied
b. naming Mr.. HAYES, of the Mount Vernon
Board OF Aldermen; President Gotshau Of the
Port Chester road. and Louis A. Cuvlier, who
had taken a great interest in the affair He
has not talked with these men. witness said.
Charles ". Meade city editor Of The Tribune
faid that Charles T. White had written the story
the aldermen had criticised. Mr.. White was
taking his regular vacation, the witness said.
but would return 10 the city IN a week Then,
under Interrogation, Mr.. Meade said that on
May he had called I'd w. c. Gotshall. TO in
onire about the Port Chester permit. Mr.. CO.
Ehal had told him that he had information that
$4,000 had been asked for favorable considera-
non OF :hc Port Chester application. Subse-
quentiy Nr. Gotshall said he had learned this
from ". ". Mills Of The Mail" MT. Meade
testified, under protest Mr.. Meade talked with
Mr Mills, he went or and learned that the latter
mad tie story from one Davis. reporter, whom
re had met at the Press Club.
OTHER BRIBERY STORIES.
i would suggest" said Colonel Sackett. that
you ask what other information Mr.. White may
nave had besides this which came through Mr..
Meade from Mr.. GotshaI."
cont know what Mr.. White may have had,
Lut there We're many other stories printed
saic Mr. Meade, pulling a mass of newspaper
clippings from his pocket. There is that story
eoout Alderman Hayes. OF Mount Vernon. and
rs conversation with New York alderman. Mr..
CnTillier. on February 13, sent letter to The
1aoUne about conversation between New
isochelle alderman and a New-York alderman"
DID Gotshal ever tell you that any one had
demanded money for favorable consideration
mis- npplication?" asked, TO which Mr.
@leade answered NO"
William A Thayer city editor OF The
World" admitted that his pnper had printed
8 story that $125. 900 had been asked for favor
able consideration Of the Port Chester applica-
uon He could find the name OF the man who
wrote it. he said. but he didn't think he would,
because The World" was investigating the
hileged scandal. and in the circumstances he
oldnt care 10 say who 1t Mr.. Thayer
oiant know Of his own legal knowledge. he
sald, where the story came from. He didn't
'link he could assist the committee in any other
way His refusals 10 answer annoyed the
eha.fnian. who thought THE World" ought to