The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-05-01
The Jobs ut Albany-The Croton Aque-
duct Bill.

duct Bill.
The session of the Legislature, already too
long protracted must soon close; but in Its
push through the worst of the jobs that still re-
main on the files Enacted upon. Among these
is the bill to abolish the present Croton Aque-
duct Board and to provide for the appointment
Of q new commission. The real object of
this measure is made manifest in the provision
Of the bill which deposes the chief engineer of
the department as a member of the Board and
makes him simply an employee. The present
commission is composed of Messrs. Stevens
and Darragh, one democrat and the other q
republican, and Mr.. Craven, the chief engineer.
The two former gentlemen have managed the
general affairs of the department in straight
forward manner, as prudent and competent men
would conduct their own private business;
while to Mr.. Craven has been entrusted the
entire control of the practical matters that
come properly within the province Of the engi-
neer. The long experience, superior ability
and answering integrity of Mr.. Craven have
been of incalculable advantage to the city, and
the honorable and Independent course of all
the members of the Board has secured to the
CrotOn Aqueduct Department good reputa-
ton in a municipal government VIGOROUSLY ex-
travagant and corrupt.
The first step to be accomplished by those
who now desire to obtain control of the de-
partment is to get rid of Mr.. Craven.
His intimate knowledge of the whole work
ing of the business, and his familiarity
with all the wants, expenditures and leakages
of the department, would render it impossible
that any great amount of fraud could be per-
petrated, in contracts or otherwise, so long as
he retained possession of his present position.
Hence the proposition and the bill to depose
the chief engineer from the board of directors
and to make him simply an employee of the
Department. move that would at once dis
pose of Mr.. Craven. With convenient en-
gineer of their own choosing the new Board
composed of politicians, would make the Croton
Department one of the most lucrative in the
city, and the cost of its management would be
increased at least half million dollars yearly.
There is no reason why any change should
be made in this department, and every argu-
ment is in favor of leaving it untouched. The
pretence of desire to make the Board nom
partisan is sham and fraud. The present
Board is bipartisan, and it is its firm refusal
to prostitute the patronage of the department
to any political objects, one side or the other,
that has induced the politicians to endeavor to
get it within their grasp. No complaint is
made against the present management, and
the people know that the water tax is about
the only tax they pay that is well earned and
honestly expended. The opportunity for
plumber is probably greater in the Croton
Department than in any other in the city, and
it is notorious that change in the present
construction of the commission would be
simply an increase in our taxation to the
amount of half million to one million dollars
a year. The republican Senators who pirate
about the corruptions Of our city government
are asked to support this scheme of fraud and
plumber. 1t cannot be consummated without
their votes. Let us see if they will venture to
put themselves on record in favor of such
measure