The New York herald., 1875-11-29
THE BROOKLYN RESERVOIR

ACTION DELAYED BY THE COMMITTEE OF THE
COMMON coUNCul-oPINIoNs OF BROOKLYN
CITIZENS ON THE AFFAIR.
II was understood yesterday that tho Committee OF
the Common Council on Law, Water and Drainage,
which met on Saturday night to consider the report
which they had prepared in favor OF appropriating
$500, 900 for the completion OF the storage
vor at Hampstead, L. l., had determined to delay
tion in the matter The for so doing is that-n
view of the pending prosecution OF the contractors,
Messrs Kingsley Keeney, and tho members of the
Board OF City Works, who authorized the construction
OF the work-it would not be wisdom their part to
recommend tho expenditure The probability Is, there
fore that action will be taken in the premises by
the Board Of Aldermen at the meeting to-day. The
been to the local newspapers are therefore, with
drawn for the present
ALDERMAN RoPEs' VIEWS.
Alderman Ropes, who at tho meeting Of the
committee Saturday evening but who is not u
member OF the Water and Drainage Committee, said
yesterday he advised with them as to the course no
deemed best to pursue There should be no more
money, he thought expended the work until the
stone facing Of the dam at the reservoir was complete
so as TO test and find out whether II will hold water
The members OF the committee said they had
proof OF this from the engineers who certify that the
work well done; that they had also the opinion OF
William NJ Evars and General Tracy TO the legality
of the contract In his opinion Alderman Ropes says,
would about $50 900 complete the basin and
then they could tell whether the Reservoir good
for anything or not
MR.. BLISS CONTRACT.
In interview with Mr. A. NJ. Bliss, that gentle
said that at the time the reservoir and sewer
tracts were awarded he was minority member Of the
Board and had little or no voice In its action. The
record would show that he voted against the
Hampstead reservoir project. and gave as his
that there question as to the necessity
of the work and that there strong public senti
ment against It. to which he deferred As the Third
avenue sewer contract, he said that he had not tho
slightest recollection whether he voted for IL NOT
whether the contract was awarded while he was
~ In hn Hn hat IN
all his official actions he has endeayored
for the public good and that he is only will
ing, but anxious, submit his official record TO the
closest public scrutiny He has no doubt Mr.. Fowler,
the President Of the Board will bear him out in the
sertion that at no time had he (Mr. Bliss any
control the policy of the Board its
action. Mr.. Bliss adds that he had per-
sonal knowledge OF any corrupt measures passed
by the Board He has often doubted the policy OF its
action controlled by his fellow members. In
clusion he expressed surprise that bis name should
have been used in connection with the matter At the
time he emphatically declares that his official acts
will bear any honest investigation and that he does
not shrink from this before any proper tribunal
SAYS
HERALD reporter called Commissioner Fowler
reference to his interview with Mr. Bliss. Mr..
Fowler said :-'T have nothing TO say beyond what
have already stated-that am anxious Tor the prose-
cution Of the suit There thing that looked
singular; that why they had included Mr. Bliss in
a SUIT on a contract against which ho voted
With reference TO the statement OF Mr. Bliss that he
minority member Of the Board and did not have
times the power that he desired 10 have Mr. Fowler
pied, lhal rs true Ar Bliss was the republican meni-
Der OF the Board; the other two Commissioners were
democrats and we sometimes differed with reference
to the policy of the department the action Of tho
reservoir question Whatever the Board took in
the matter feel satisfied was taken solely from a
Of public duty"
SAMUEL HUTCHINSON,
of the Taxpayers Association says they will employ
another lawyer to assist Mr. Cathern who has beon
getting up the aldavits for Mr. Parsons gather test-
mony against the parties implicated meeting of the
association will be held Tuesday night raise ands
to pay the counsel, but he would say where the
meeting is to be held as the greatest secrecy is neces
sary to secure