Connecticut western news., 1917-03-29
SENATE SUMMONS
 MAYOR MITCHELL
Must ReCant or Explain His Wagner Treason Charge.
VOTE A UNANIMOUS ONE.


 Obey Order - Lieutenant Governor
 Names compittee of Five to Arrange
 Procedure.
 Tle New York senate by unanimous vote ordered that Mayor John Purroy Mitchell be summoned to the bar of the senate to purge himself Of the charge of contempt in asserting that Senator Robert r. Wagner. Democratic minor ity leader. was working for the Ger man government.
 committee of five was named to formulate rules of procedure and di- rectcd to report to the senate Wednes- day. Tn all probability the summons for the mayor will be issued on that day. and he will be commanded to ap. pear Thursday.
 The senate chamber rang with the denunciation of the mayors statement as cowardly and seditious.
 New details of the Rockaway fortih. cations bill, the defeat of which an- gered the mayor to the attack upon the senate in which he singled out Senator Wagner. were laid bare.
 Property Jumped In Value.
 Senator Henry F. Sage produced the sworn records of the State Tax Com mission to show that on Oct 31 the Rockaway Pacific company swore that its whole property holdings were worth only $S56,000, On Thursday Williams NJ. Greve and other agents of the com pany swore that one-third of this prop erty Is now worth $2000,O00. 1t was on this statement that the injunction was granted.
 Prom this" said Senator Sage, eve can come to only one of two conclu- sions. Either the company's sworn statements in 1915 and 1916 were abso- lutely false or else the enormous in. crease in value of this land was due to the fact that the United States I.eeded it for fortifcation and this company took advantage of that situation"
 The resolution which the senate adopted was offered by Senator wag- ner last Friday. It reads:
 Whereas, A public statement was given to the press in New York city on March % 1917, by Hon. John Purroy Mitchell, mayor of the city of New York, wherein the charge was made by him that the ac- tivities of a member of the senate in con. nection with legislation providing for the acquisition of lands by the state of New York in the vicinity of Rockaway point fer defense purposes have been made in the interests of foreign government ami whereas such charge involves the honor, patriotism and loyalty of one of the mem bers of the body; therefore be it
 Resolved That this body issue a sub poena directing the said John Purroy Mitchell to appear before the bar Of the senate and give such evidence as he may have or possess in support of such charge.
 Crowd at Proceedings.
 Not since the tral of the impeach- ment of Governor William Sulzer has Albany shown such lively interest in the proceedings of the legislature. The crowds began to fill the galleries at least two hours before the time set for converting the senate.
 For nearly an hour tlae crowd. tense waited while the senate considered its routine business. In calling up his res. olution Senator Wagner said: NJ. President and Gentlemen of the Sem
 ate
 Since the last business session of the senate the mayor of New York made a most vile and scurrilous attack upon my patriotism and honor He charged mo wi:h working in this body Hl the interest of the German government, with which we are on the brink of war. This dastard lS charge is a malicious lie.
 Ths attack was prompted by my opnosi- ton to the Rociaway land bin as original ly proposed. The bill, as every one here knows. was unanimously rejected by this body.
 This senate then decided to take another
 .a4...4a F.4Hag .a.NNNH for fertilization purposes, free from any taint of deal or speculation.
 Demands Public Retraction. Mir. President while the opposition to the original plan was unanimdns, yet out of the entire senate the mayor singled me out as the object of this attack for req sons known to an. The attack is all tho more contemptlhle because of the crisis that confronta our country at this time This charge is a serious one: none more serious can he made against an America" citizen.
 I demand from him a public retraction of this false and wicked charge or that hr present the facts 10 substantiato his accu. sation.
 know need not proclaim my patriot ism, loyalty and devotion to my country. | I should be devoid, however, of all feeling if did not voice my gratit de and deep | appreciation for the expressions of conf- I denCe in me nat nave come lofNn lEptll | Governor Whitman, from the members Of this body, from the press and from the citizenship of our state, | MT President md gentlemen of the sen- | ate, my patriotism and honor have been assailcd. leave the matter in your hands.
 Senator Brown offered an amend ment to the resolution empowering tho president of the senate to appoint committee of five to report to the sen ate on Wednesday q plan of procedure to he followed in the summoning and examination of Mayor Mitchell.
 The whole attitude of the senate was hostile to the mayor. This feeling was reflected in the committee of procedure named by Lieutenant Governor Schoe- neck Un that committee are Senators