New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-05
THE Hampstead RESERVOIR BILL.

PROTEST OF REFORM DELEGATION FROM BROOK
LYS-EvIDKNCEs PRESENTED To THE GOVERNOR
OF FRAUD IN THE EXPENDITURE OF MONEY
FIVE REASONS WHY THE BILL SHOULD BE W.
TorD-FRIENps or TIIR BILL IN ALBANY.
fPRom REGULAR CORRESPONDENT TIRE TRIBUNE.
Albany, MAY A delegation of Reform
ttHus OF Brooklyn, consisting OF Samuel Hutchinson,
Daniel McCabe, Edward s. Backhouse, Samuel McEroy,
aud Henry strubling, waited upon Gov Tden this morn
Ing TO protest against the bill COM
monty known as the Hampstead Reser-
yoir ei which has passed both Houses and now awaits
the signature of the The b is well known TO
be Of the smartest Jobs OF the Brooklyn Ring Is sub
randly approprates SjoOO00 more for the completion
ofthe Hampstead Reservora work which, according to
The original specifications should have cost not more
than 81 100000, hut which, under contract system
in every respect TO the canal contract system had
already exceeded that sum by Sl36,OOO.
The delegation in an informal presented long
array Of facts and figures ohe Governor showing that
te contract which was let Kingsley and Keeney for
the above could have been let TO William Beard for
f73l 0OO and that the contract prices in the award
which 20 TO make up the $500 900 tho basis of the
original contract when labor and material were much
higher and much greater than Mr. Beard had offered
70 do the work for. The delegation also held that
the additional work not needed that nobody but the
Ping favored It, that IL worse fraud than the
Tweed Ring had been guilty Of, and that Mayor
1--WE reasons for asking that It be vetoed:
J. That any increased capacity TO the new reservoir
over that at first begun Is unnecessary 2 That the
original leislatiun illegal g. That the contract was
made In fraud 4. That the present hil would legalLe
previous Illegal transactons ard o. That the Iegisla
tura has not the constitutional power to perpotuate OF
make valid n fraudulent transaction.
The Governor IN reply said that the delegation should
have attacked the b While Il in course OF passage
through the Legislature. II THEW great deal Of respon'
sby and extra trouble upon him 10 have Objectionable
bills receive their first opposition after they had reached
him II would be impossible for him TO master the whole
subject within the limited hme allowed him, as every
moment was taken up with his executive duties. lie ur.
dersoOd that there might be fraud concealed In IT, as
there was in q great many Of these municipal
bills and he had been trying 20 get chance to intro
duoe this subject Of municipal Indebtedness TO the
LEGISLATURE without far because his time bad
been 30 closely occupied with other matters BE de-
sred before action upon the BILL TO hear from Mayor
Hunter and thought that II tho bill obnoxious the
Mayor should certainly have written TO him aoOutit
During the interview, the Governor was informed that
several friends of tho bill in Brooklyn desired TO be hcari
In reply the arguments OF the delegation present. and
OF bis suggestion its discussion postponed until TO-
morrow at IL o'clock. The delegation then left batch
Of documents with the Governor, and withdrew.
Messrs. Kingsley Knsella and several other brooklyn
men arrived tonight, to argue in favor OF the bin.