New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-30
Two Out of City Until Life
of His Committee
Has Expired.
BELMONT AND MOSS
IN VERBAL CLASHES
Banker Threatens to Quit Hear
ing-Gaynot's Change on
Subway Plans Discussed.

The last days OF the Thompson leg
islative committee are filled with
tumult and acrimony. Several clashes
between Frank Moss, its counsel. and
witnesses enlivened yesterdays hear
ing, and a stenographer was forcibly
elected from the room because he per
sisted In making a record of the testi-
mony after he had been requested 10
desist by Senator Thompson.
Senator Thompson and his associ-
stes are also finding difficulty in OBJ
tanning last-minute testimony and rec
ords. Witnesses they have sought to
call in the last few days of their legis-
lative life have been found TO be out
of the city until "somc time after Sat
urday," when the Legislature decreed
the committee should die. No charges
Of Intentionally absenting thems Ives
from the city have been made against
them, but the fact remains that the
time Is short and they are beyond call.
Henry P. Dawson, Of ]. P. Morgan
& Co.. and Charles O'Malley, a conf
Dental employe Of Controller Prender-
CASTS office, are among the longed-for
witnesses. Mr.. Dawson Is on fishing
trip in Maine, and Mr.. OMalley, the
committee discovered yesterday, has
gone to Canada for similar recreation.
The committee sent n process server
TO Alexandria Bay, where they were
informed Mr.. OMalley was spending
his vacation. lie found Mrs. O'Malley
at st. Lawrence Park, New York; she
informed him that her husband had
gone over to Canada and would not re-
turn until Saturday night.
Several Clashes at Hearing.
II may be that these eleventh hour
Disappointment have broken the pa
thence Of Mr.. Moss and some members
Of the committee At least, there was
evidence of irritabiity on their part
yesterday and defiance on the part of
August Belmont and other witnesses.
SIR. Moss, Mr.. Belmont, Senator Thomp-
son and James l.. Quackenbush, coun-
sci for the lnterborough, clashed at
different times.
The committee wa. trying TO find out
y p
Lad been brought TO bear on Mayor
Gaynor and Controller Prendergast TO
cause them TO change their attitude
os TO building and ownership of the
new subways and favor the INTERIOR
0ugh plan. Mr. Belmont. as an Inter
borough director, objected to Mr..
Mosss questions as "insinuating some
thing irregular" and threatened TO
leave the hearing.
GO now" shouted Mr.. Moss, land l
will address my questions to the chair
if you are afraid TO answer questions"
"a am afraid to answer no questions"
retorted the witness hotly.
you are a richer man than | am"
said Mr.. Moss, but you can't brow
beat me. There are a lot of you men
who are raising cloud Of ink and try
ing TO get away with it, You are max
ing an exhibition Of yourself"
you are trying 70 disgrace me-" the
banker replied.
"No; you are trying to disgrace your
self" countered Mr.. Moss
Accused of "Butting In"
The duellists kept at it, despite the
banging of Chairman Thompson's gavel.
Mr. Quackenbush took a hand by ask
ing who was running the investigation,
the chairman or counsel. Moss whirled
on Quackenbush and accused him Of
"butting in
Senator Thompson's gavel was heard
by this time and Mr.. Moss and Mr.
Belmont finally agreed to let "bygones
be bygones.'
In answer 10 questions as 10 what
pressure had been brought TO bear on
former Mayor Gaynor by the INTERIOR
ough directors. Mr. Belmont said they
merely presented the facts to the
Mayor and laid their arguments be
fore him.
Asked how he accounted for Mayor