New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-10
Speaks Of Moral Effect.

and refuses 10 deliver it to the licensee
until he is paid Tor IT.
Speaks Of Moral Effect.
/ have no doubt that the aldermen VINO
DO this snare in the eXtortion money.
Evidence has accumulated here that You
pursuc this system. | do not see how
can expect the police TO be honest when
they see on every hand that even the al
dermen of the city are taking Erait pc
sonally or enabling corrupt go-betweehs
20 do so. ! cannot ally myself win you
in any effort 20 investigate the CONDUCT
OF any Official or any department OF the
city government.
Ny attention has also been called 70
the fact that you have OF late several
times published statements with regard
Ia your visits 20 this once which are
very far from being truthful Ih2t ~
another reason why / 10 not WISH 10
have any relation with you.
II the committee wants any fact OF
me let II subpoena me or notlIy me 10
attend. and / will do so and give such
fact Beyond that ! shall not go. ] at
FIRST thought | might be able To WORK
with your committee in the Investigation
OF the Police Department which | am
making myself, and regret that IN the
circumstances cannot do so. cannot
enter into any petty or partisan inquiry.
and IL IS now plain that that Is all you
purpose to make. Very truly yours.
W. j. GAYNOR Mayor:
Henry II. Curran. Esq, Alderman 2sth
District New York city.
The big aldcrmanic chamber at the
City Hall, where the sessions OF the
aldermanlc committee are held, was
crowded when the time arrived for the
opening OF the inquiry al . p. m. yes
terday. There were several women in
the gallery. All had come, apparently,
in expectation OF hearing tho Mayor
testify. The aldermanic desks and
chairs which were not occupied by the
municipal legislators themselves had
been given up TO the public.
All in Readiness.
The members Of the investigating
committee were all present and occu-
pied the clerks seats below the tower
ing canopy which shelters the elevated
chair Of the President Of the Board OF
Aldermen. Chairman Curran occupied
that seat yesterday.
The other members Of the committee
are Aldermen Ralph Folks. Robert +.
Downing. secretary; James Hamilton,
o. Grant Esterbrook, w. Augustus
Shipley. Frank l.. Bowling, majority
leader in the board; Francis f. Kenney
and James J. Smith. Mr.. Buckner and
associate counsel Nathan "A. Smyth,
Louis Lande and Charles Guthrie sat
at a long table in front OF the commit
tee. The witness chair, which the
Mayor was expected to occupy, was
placed on a raised platform between
the lawyers and the committeeman.
After half hours wait Chairman
Curran mounted the rostrum and
brought the meeting TO order with
rap of the gavel Every one sat up and
listened for an explanation OF the
Mayors absence. The chairman re-
quested those present to avoid any
demonstration Of approval or disap-
prevail throughout the hearings, and
placed a ban on smoking. Then the
suspense was heightened by the read
ing Of the resolution Of appointment
Of the committee by Secretary Down
ing.
a prevailing spirit of hostility be-
tween the Tammany members Of the
committee and the chairman and his
Republican-Fusion associates was dis
played by some OF the eXeNcises that
followed.
Mr.. Buckner came in at the last
moment. and Chairman Currsn an
nounced that the committees counsel
had "A statement to make. Addressing
the committee Mr.. Buckner said:
At the request OF your chairman, |
called on Mayor Gaynor few minutes
| ago, who had been requested some time
| since to appear to-day before the COM
mittee. The Mayor requests that the
/ until tomorrow at o'clock, as he said
| this was hts first day back from his
vacation and he had great deal OF
official business TO attend to. but that he
would appear tomorrow at O'Clock
| before this committee without sub
pena. ! think In view OF that II is only
reasonable that the adjournment should
be granted. II the committee approves
| and that as q matter OF courtesy TO the
chief executive no further action should
be taken by the committee at this time.
Chairman Curran started trouble m
the Tammany ranks by asking:
Mr.. Buckner, do | understand that
the Mayor has given his promise and
| his word Of honor that he will appear
| here at . o'clock tomorrow afternoon
without subpoena"
Mr.. Buckner replied that the Mayor
| had promised TO come, but had said
| nothing about This honor"
J Alderman Bowling iumDed into the