Q.  Did  you  hear  when  he  gave  it  up?  A.  I  saw  it  stated  in
the  newspapers  that  he  gave  it  up  when  he  became  a  member  of
the  Charter  Commission.  I  do  not  know  that  Silas  B.  Dutcher
was  ever  made  jjresident  of  the  companj-  I  have  known  Silas
B.  Dutcher  since  I  was  a  boy.  He  is  identified  with  the  same
political  party  I  am;  and  has  been  for  thirty  or  forty  years.
Very  prominently  identified  with  it.  Mr.  Dutcher  is  president
of  a  trust  company  in  Brooklyn,  and  I  suppose  he  has  other
business.     Very  honorable  and  high  positions  he  has  held.
Q.  Has  your  firm  been  doing  any  law  business  for  Silas
B.  Dutcher?  Isn't  it  true  he  is  a  client  of  your  office?  A.  1
don't  remember  that  we  have  done  any  business  for  Mr.
Uutcher,  we  may  have,  though  so  far  as  I  know  we  never  have.
Q.  Now.  isn't  it  true,  Mr.  Piatt,  that  Silas  B.  Dutcher  acted
as  the  nominal  president  of  the  Ramapo  company,  and  that  he
acted  for  and  upon  the  request  of  General  Tracy,  of  your  firm,
and  that  your  firm  is  still  interested  in  the  company  and  its
affairs?  A.  Will  you  separate  that  question  so  I  can  answer
it  part  at  a  time?  Simply  because  I  don't  understand  it  all  is
the  reason  I  ask.
Q.  I  ask  you  whether  Silas  B.  Dutcher  is  acting  now  as  the
nominal  president  of  this  company?  A.  I  don't  believe  Mr.
Dutcher  acts  as  nominal  president  of  anything.  I  know  nothing
about  it.
Q.  Isn't  it  also  so  that  he  is  so  acting  upon  the  request  of
General  Tracy?     A.  I  know  nothing  about  it.
