The sun., 1917-03-31
ROckaway Land Legislation
May Not Be Only Topic
Discussed.
MILLS IN CONFERENCE
Prosecution Meets Setback in
Not Finding Mitchell Letter
on Assessment.

Charles E. Hughes TO act as his personal
attorney in the Senate proceedings next
Tuesday, when he will appear before
that body in Albany as a result Of maxi
ing charges against Senator Robert F.
Wagner. The Mayor took this action
after a long conference with Lamar
Hardy and other close friends.
Senator Wagner has retained Samuel
Untermyer TO represent him, and 1t was
learned last night that the Senate has
decided to engage Nathan L. Miller,
former Associate Judge Of the Court Of
Appeals, to look after its interests. Not
since the Sulzer impeachment trial has
such an array Of legal talent appeared
at q public hearing.
This was taken yesterday to mean that
the examination Of the Mayor may last
. week and perhaps longer. When the
Senate recently voted to throw down the
bars and permit the Mayor to be bonn
barded with questions from members OF
the Senate, the Mayor. 1t Is understood.
determined to fight the matter to the end
ana to expose every detail OF the Rock
away land controversy. He has made
up his mind. his friends say. not to quit
Albany until he has had chance to say
what he wants to say. and judging from
the Mayors attitude this will take much
time.
Mayor Gets Summons.
The Mayor was served yesterday
morning at his apartment on Riverside
Drive with subpoena to appear before
at-arms of the Senate. personally
served the summons. The Mayor an
nounced that he had been served when
he arrived at City Hall. He wore
broad smile. and when asked II he had
changed his attitude on the matter
said:
II will be at the bar OF the Senate
promptly at noon Tuesday. That is all
have to say for the present"
The Mayor went to Atlantic City yes
tsrday. where he will remain until Mon-
day. He appeared confident Of the out
come of the Albany trial and looked
anything but worried.
Senator Ogden L. Mills. q close per-
sonal friend Of the Mayor. held a long
conference with Mr.. Mitchell yesterday
n City HAIL He left the executive
a query as to what kind Of entertain
ment would be presented In the Senate
next Tuesday. Senator Mills said:
I'VE started out with a three ringed
circus. Now 1t has got down to two
Maybe 1t will eventually be reduced to
q one ring affair"
He declined to explain just what ne
meant by this. but volunteered the infor-
nation that the sentiment Of the Senate
was becoming more and more favorable
to the Mayor.
The report from Albany Thursday that
Mayor Mitchell had written a letter Bone
time ago to the Tax Department asking z
II to increase the assessment on the
property OF the Rockaway-Pacific Com
pany. was found to be utterly unfounded
yesterday. Lawson Purdy. president of
the Tax Board John ]. Halloran. Tax
Commissioner Of Queens. and Mayor
Mitchell branded the report as absolutely
untrue. 1t Is understood Mr.. Unter-
nyer was prepared to demand copy of
tho letter from the files Of the Tax De-
partment. but abandoned this action
when he discovered no such letter had
ever been written. It was the conten-
ton OF Senator Wagner's friends that
the letter had been written Just before
the Government indicated It's intention
Of acquiring the land for a fertilization
dtA