New-York tribune., 1906-05-19
WINS BATS GIBSON.
CAPTAIN SHOWS TEMPER.
Street Cleaning Investigation at
Times Like Rough House"


missioner. went on the stand before the investi-
eating committee yesterday with a blazing eve
Ee met the cold insinuations against his in
,egYity made the day before by AEessrs. Cowles
ara Spier of the snow machine. with fiery
dsnals He banged the table with his hand
50 frequently that Mr.. WINS begged for order.
wr WINS early in the hearing gave the COM
uittee an insight into Cowles's statements on
and off the witness stand He declared that
covles had told him in his office that he would
not DO business with Gibson because he believed
him 10 be a thief.
L asked Mr.. Cowles to repeat his statement
under OATH" Mr.. WINS declared, but he re-
fused
Captain Gibson jumped up again and again
banged the table. emphatcally denying the in
situations
William P. Maloney. his counsel. also jumped
10 the floor. and for nearly half an hour the
hearing threatened to be a trough house"
Mr Maloney wanted TO speak in behalf OF
his client but was ordered to sit down. After
Captain Gibson had nailed malicious le''
the insinuations on his integrity. and said that
II unprofessional to ask such questions. Mr..
Ivins asked him:
Well. do you wish me to ask you if you are a
thief?"
DO you put that as question:" demanded
Captain Gibson angrily. and rising in his seat.
do you wish me TO ask the question:" asked
Mr.. WINS.
Il would be impressed If you did" was the
reply.
I think such a question is unprofessional,' .
said Mr.. Maloney.
You have no standing here" said Chairman
Grifenhagen
i want TO know if # is the unanimous con-
sent Of the committee?" asked Mr. Maloney.
NO. it is not" said Alderman Dowling
Well. the majority rules in this country said
Chairman Grifenhagen.
But you can't muzzle me- said Alderman
Bowling.
7 want 70 say that I shall make the question
a matter for the Bar Association" said Mr..
Maloney.
You may Go as you please" said Mr. WINS
Captain Gibson then said: when people have
business with the department they are told to
see Captain Gibson but that does not mean
that am receiving anything from being seen -
There is no such insinuation here" said Mr.
WINS
Touching snow removal Captain Gibson
said that an INSCRIPTIONS commissioner could
ruin contractor.
Commissioner Woodbury. was recalled. and.
being asked to explain why he had changed the
present system Of snow removal, replied:
The old system led TO the employment of
many employees OF the department away from
their regular duties. Then If there was to be
any stealing done, as there was under the old
system, such stealing under the new system
would fall upon the contractor
In exploring the system Of snow removal Com
missioner Woodbury. said that the first streets
cleared are the fire streets, the next the hos
pital Streets and then the food supply streets,
Ihe last being the streets through which the
traffic Of food supply passes.
II cost the city nearly $2.OOO,00O to remove
the snow this year. Did you remove snow from
one-tenth Of the street area ?" asked Mr.. WINS.
Not more" answered Commissioner Wood
bury
so that to clean all the streets would cost
the city about S2OO00O00 a year?"
Yes and If you had string of carts reach
ing from here 10 Syracuse you could not re-
move the from New York"
Figures which Mr.. WINS submitted to Com
missioner Woodbury. on the cost OF snow re-
moval the Commissioner said We're not the
figures Of his department. but pipe dreams"
They are your own figures" said Mr. WINS,
land they condemn your whole system"
Your ipse dixit, Mr.. WINS, does not make
Il so"
Bradley went on the stand again and dehed
the committee TO make him produce his books.
The hearing was adjourned until 1870 o'clock
next Wednesday morning