New-York tribune., 1905-04-18

NO NIGHT GAS SESSION.
NeSc- York Contracting and Trucking
Officials Ready to Appear.

Charles E Hughes counsel to the legislative
gas inquiry committee sent word TO Charles F.
Murphy yesterday that he would not be wanted
before Wednesday possibly Thursday. The
Mayor will go the stand some time to-mor-
row. The principal witness to-day is likely to
be J. Hampden Dougherty. ex-Commissioner Of
Water Supply, Gas and Electricity. Colonel
Robert Grier Monroe the stand the
greater part of the time yesterday.
Peter A Hendrick, a lawyer. appeared before
the committee yesterday and announced that
he represented Alderman James E. Gaffney,
John J. Murphy, president of the New-York
Contracting and Trucking Company, and Fred
erick r. Cunneen. secretary of the company.
These gentlemen" said Mr.. Hendrick, 'ap
pear in obedience TO the subpoena Of the COM
mittee. and viii appear at any time the COM
mittee Will call them"
Il understand" Mr.. Hughes said. that Mr..
Hendrick desires to have it made a matter of
record that he is privileged 10 appear whenever
these people shall appear"
The committee decided that the witnesses
named by Mr.. Hendrick would not be called to-
morrow. Mr. Hughes said he wanted it made
plain that he did not consent 10 the representa-
tion of these witnesses by counsel. They were
not entitled to appear by counsel he said
I assume" said Mr.. Hendrick, that the same
courtesy will be extended to these witnesses as
The representative of the witnesses will be
permitted TO ask questions at the end of the
examination by counsel for the committee. if he
will state to the Chair what kind of argument
he desires to follow. but we will not permit any
datory tactics that will cause delay" said
Senator Stevens
To-day the committee will sit in the old
council room
". ". Freeman. of the Edison Company. of
Tlrc,
leases the franchises and plants of the Kings
County Electric Light, Heat and Power Com
pany. The net profit TO the Kings County COM
pany under this transaction was $707,42I for
1904
Asked about the purchase of the stock of the
Amsterdam Electric Heat and Power Company
in 1898 for 100000. lie said he believed that
the investment worth all that it had cost
the Edison Company.
Don't you know that stock is worthless?"
asked Mr.. Hughes
When the witness said he did not. Mr. Hughes
read an affidavit made by A NJ. Nelson. treas
urer of the company in 1901. in which he swore
that the stock of the company not worth
$50.
Mr.. Hughes wanted to know if the witness
agreed with that valuation. Mr.. Freeman would
not commit himself. A balance sheet Mr.. Hughes
submitted showed that the company had lost
between S11,OO0 and $4,000 a year since its
incorporation.
Your company's affidavit TO the Tax Com
mission declares the stock of the Amsterdam
company TO be vaueless?" asked Mr. Hughes.
I believe the former treasurer so stated"
What was paid for the property by the peo-
pie who sold it to your company"
L don't know"
Was it not $4,000, and did not Mr.. sheehar
sell it?"
u never heard the exact price paid. do not
know VINO the seller"
John l. Wells. of counsel to the company. de-
MED that Mr.. Sheehan had anything to 90 with
the transaction. Sheehan & Collin are the at
torneys Of the Brooklyn electric lighting com
bration.
Colonel Monroe told of his year and a half
service as Commissioner of Water Supply, Gas
and Electricity, and Of holding up the contracts
for city lighting in 1902 In 1903 he found the
lighting companies combined that il was i'm
possible 10 get any competitive bids
His investigation showed that the city was
being made 10 pay dividends and interest on an
inflated capital.
Was any agreement made about - cent
rate for all or any part Of the city lighting be
tween and the officials Of the gas or electric
light companies asked Mr.. Hughes.
NO, none whatever said Colonel Monroe.
Senator Stevens said regarding the giving up
Of a night session that he felt too tired 10 sit
in the evening. The member who would have
taken his place, Senator Page, had started Tor
The experience of Assemblyman Apgar who.
though he has been i'll for almost TWO weeks,
insisted on sitting with the committee yester-
dav had something to do with the decision of
the chairman. Mr. Apgar at / o'clock almost
collar psed in the chamber. He was able TO
walk to the anteroom. where his friends dlscov-
cred his condition. cab took him 10 the Muir