The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-11-04


grown up in the City Of Churches in regard to
the supply Of Ridgewood water, and also
communication from member of the Board Of
Aldermen in vindication Of the course Of that
body on the subject. The one is written by
our regular Brooklyn reporter-the other by
Alderman Douglass, Of the Tenth ward. In the
first, the whslc merits Of the controversy are
clearly and fairly stated; in the second. the
views of that section Of the Common Council
that act with Alderman Douglass, to the serious
detriment of tie citys interest, are given,
mixed up with clap-trap illusions to politics,
which have nothing whatever to do with the
matter. The question really lies in nutshell,
and can be embraced In q few sentences
In June, 1856, the Board of Water Commits
sioners of the city of Brooklyn, created under
an act of the Legislature, made contracts,
amounting in the aggregate to s4,20o,o0O, for
constructing an aqueduct and water works,
and supplying tho city with specified
Quantity Of water. While the works were in pro-
gress it became evident that it would be
very desirable and very necessary improve
ment in the plan to substitute covered con-
duit for the open canal specified in the original
contract. 1t was also deemed proper to ex-
tend the water facilities over . section of the
city not included in the original estimates
Application was made to the Common Council
for their assent to the proposed revision of the
contracts. They refused to accede to it, on the
ground of the increased expense to the city.
TIL han hof tho orriu
lature, and procured the passage of an act
(16th April, 1882 giving them full authority
in the premises.
Under that act fresh contracts were entered
into to the amount of $650,000 for the covered
conduit and the extension of water pipe, en-
bracing also an arrangement for the expenses
of pumping water into the reservoir. The
Comptroller refused to recognise these con-
tracts, or to pay anything under them, on the
ground that the law of April, 1859, was uncon-
stitutional. The question was brought up be-
fore Judge of the Supreme Court, and it was
decided in favor of the c0nstitutionality of the
law, and peremptory mandamus granted d.
recting the Comptroller to issue the bonds.
The whole matter was referred to special
committee of the Common Council, and that
committee recommended that the litigation
should be carried on no further, as not only
would the city have to pay, in any event, the
legal expenses incurred on both sides, but the
contractors would have a pretext for suing the
city for damages, and the citizens would be ex
posed to the risk of stoppage of the supply Of
water. That sensible recommendation was not,
however, acted on; the Comptroller has appealed
from Judge Lofts decision; the pumping has
been stopped; and, in few days more, the city
will be without water.
These are the simple facts. And yet Alder
man Douglass, in a rude and impertinent man.
ner, intimates that the previous article in the
HERALD, based on these facts, was written in
the interest of the Water Commissioners, and
that the decision of Judge Lott was inspired
by personal ana pecunlary motives. We pru-
sumo that the latter iinsinuation is as ground
less as the former. The very names of the Wa
ter Commissioners were unknown to the writer
the article being based simply on matters Of
public notoriety.
When the citizens of Brooklyn are deprived
of water, as they will be in day or two-with
their cisterns filed up and their pumps ne
glected-they will then ascertain where the
fault lies, and will probably learn to be little
more circumspect in future as to whom they
entrust with the city's interests.
The New STATE LoAN.-At the State election
next week the people will be called upon to
vote on the question of loan of two millions
and half Of dollars. According to the Con-
stitution, the Legislature cannot go into debt
beyond million of dollars for the canals with
out the vote of the people. If the Legislature
had the power to contract for the loan without
the sanction of the people, they would be very
sorry to consult them in the matter They
come to them because they cannot help it.
Four or fveyears ago debt Of nine millions
was contracted for the same object and now
there is demand for more. In two or three
years there will be another attempt to raise
the wind, so that there will be no end to this
system Of borrowing, by which debt of forty
millions of dollars is already saddled upon the
State. This should be stopped at once, and
the liabilities Of the government met by
direct tax, which would bring home the lavish
and reckless expenditure Of their repre-
sentatives to the pockets of the people
the most effectual way Of checking 1t.
What is easily got is easily gone; and
though it is stolen and plundered, the people
do not feel it, because it does not press upon
them Immediately. But the load iscontinually
accommodating by the borrowing system, and
the day will soon come when the State will feel
1t like milestone around her neck, dragging
her down to the depths of bankruptcy.
Let every one, therefore, vote against the
loan, and let whatever money is required for
the public service be raised by direct tax.
The canals have always been q fruitful source
Of swindling and fraud for the leaders of all
parties Every few years new loans have been
raised, either to complete these never to be fin