The daily gazette., 1875-06-28
Il Poor Defence Of the WateT
Department.

SUIT 6CtfbSsy &btthPtS " uSiSh1 thC
extravaganu management OF the Water
Department in building the reservoir
and laying the mains. We have steadi-
~ opposed the building of the reservoir
at this time as unnecessary; but urged
tbatif continued. economy required that
1t should be done by contract. There is
too, we believe, resolution or an ordi-
nance OF Council requiring that all work
amounting to over $50 be done by con-
tact.
It is Somewhat strange that Egery
Ersning should undertake to oppose
what We have urged. But it does SO, as
will be seen from the following extract,
whicn we copy, with all its glaring false
hoods and errors:
1T Is true that the Gasetts is persist
entity declaring that there is something
about it, but that is not worth consider
ing for two reasons: one is that the Ga
sette does not really know anything
about anything, and the other is that
II has always had warm side toward
the old Republican Ring and always
! symrathiSed with it rather than with
the best elament in the Republican
s party.
One thing about this investigation,
which MIR. Pickels and the Gazette desire,
should be said now and here, and that is
that to be OF any value and command
any confidence it should be held with
open doors, open a least to the report
els."
There is no care taken in the above to
prove that j. is necessary to 60 on bor-
rowing and spending money to finish the
work. Vituperation, detraction and
slander is the whole aim of the article.
The GAZETTE and its editor did more
to break up the old Ring than all the
other papers combined. In fact the
Ring would have carried the Seventh
ward had it not been for the energy of
the GAZETTE and our persistent personal
efforts to unite the Democratic vote
against it. While this is the case we
have heard it said that Mr.. Croasdale
did not even vote-that no one offered
to pay his head tax for him. But We
are grieved to find latterly we are dis
appointed in the results. We much fear
that the present Ring, of which Eperg
Evening seems to be the organ, is worse
than the old one.
We did not know that Mr.. Pickles de.
sired an investigation; nor did we know
anything about Mr.. Wesley Hawkins
charges. 1t came to our knowledge that
a&davits were being made of certain
Irregularities about the Water De
partment through correspondent, and
we could not consent to withhold Tho
matter from the people as Every EVENING
did. That zee are anxious to have the
investigation proceed we admit; but W,
ere totally in the dark as to the wishe.
Of Mr.. Pickles. He has never said on,
word to Us on the subject, nor have spo
ken to him about this matter.
We have no doubt that Mr.. Hawkin
is sincere in his desire to have the al
legged 'irregularities" exposed. Nor d.
we believe he fears an open investiga
ton. Certainly we have denounced tn
attempt to conceal matters by closinj
the doors n the reporters. If this cours
Is followed, however, the committee will
have to take the consequences. The,
may find that it will be difficult to COZ
rect rumors and that they have acte,
very fool5hiy in attempting to discharg
their duty in suspicious and under
hand way. In fact the committee is NO
fairly made up. 1t ought to have inclu
ded at least five gentlemen taken fro1
our citizan5 noO memoara of the Cour
Gil; and we are surprised that Mr.. Haw
kins did not include this in his petitio,
Then ne could have had minority rC
port in which the question as to the n,
cessity for building the reservoir at tn
tine could nave been considered. W
hope It is not too late yet for the cit
zens to take hand in this matter.