Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-06-18

The WATER WORKS QUEsTIoN.-Editorc IF IN.
Star: Can you answer in some way a simple
question which shall propose to ask Can you
tell what causes the delay in the execution If the
Water Bill lately passed by the City Councils
The legal objections of the Mayor to the former
bill have been removed by amendments submit
ted TO and approved by the Attorney of the Cor
poration. The bill itself passed the two Boards
by nearly unanimous vote, and approved by the
Mayor. Why then does not the Mayor move in
the matter? The citizens are anxious TO avail
themselves OF the boon given them bv Congress
Surely it cannot be that the Mayor is still persist
ing in his notions Of Water Board. | cannot
for moment suppose (whatever his ideas were
before,) that he entertdins hope of carrying out
such scheme as that presented TO the boards by
him in regard to the Water Board; and yet one
would suppose from the movement made in the
Board of Aldermen on last Monday, Che introduc-
to1 OF new Water Bill } that it was made with
his full knowledge and consent If this be ,, no
greater outrage was attemp ted To be perpetu-
ated upon the citizens Of this community
Now, let us see what are the Objectionable fea-
lures in the present bill, and how he (the Mayor
proposes to remedy them through his friend, the
Alderman from the Fourth Ward. | unders and
and well know from The book that the mode OF
| making the contracts is the mountain to I've re-
moved. The present bill authorizes the Water
Registrar to advertise for and receive proposals in
duplicate for all the materials and work required
/ in the distributi of the water one COPY to b.
sent to the President of the Board of Aldermen
and one copy to tine President of the Board o
Common Council; which bids are to be opened id
the presence of the two boards in Joint meeting
ana any other persons who may desire To be pres
ent. The Mayor then, by an ordinance, is direct
ed TO make the contract with whatsoever may be
tie lowest bidder, provided he or they give such
security as may he approved by the Mayor One
would think that by this course of action the
boards were giving all the publicity 10 the matte,
that could be given under any circumstances
thereby lessening the chances for anything like
corruption.
Let us now pass to see how the new bill which
the Mayor appears TO he waiting for, proposes tC
dispose OF this half million of the people money
TO take the reputed statement Of the Alderman
who presented IT, aud appears to be its father tn.
new bill with the exception of few unimpor
tint amendmenisl provides for a Water Board Ia
be composed Of tire; individuals whose duty il
VIII bc To make tue contracts, and OF course
thereby disburse this half million of money. Tn,
Councils then are now required to enact bill
giving this absolute power over the people.
money to three individuals to he appointed by thu
Mayor; that is they to authorize three un
known men (as yeti TO make and dispose of al
contracts for laying the mains, ETC. for the distr
button OF the water throughout the city. Now
appeal tO the citizens whether this course Of ac.
ton is better than that already adopted by the two
Boards, and whether they are to be humbupped
out OF their rights much longer by this excessive
aud unwarranted proposed one sided legislation
For one who supported and voted for the presen,
Mayor, say no! N.Y.