The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-11
THE TRIAL OF Mr.. FOWLER.
CHARGED WIrH REFUSING TO Only
the COUNCILS ORDERS.
Gen. Pryor Obiecting to some Of the Members
of the Court of Impcnchment-Mr DE
wins Speech Against the Accused ON n.

Gen Pryor Obiecting to some Of the Members
Of the Court of impeachment DE
wins speech Against the Accused Omcial l..
The trial CT William A. Fowler, the
Ilrookly City Works Commissioner suspended
by Mayor Schroeder for non feasance In once
in refusing to obey the Common Councils or
ders to cont lete the I'm and build the gates Of
the Hampstead reservoir, was begun by the Com
mon Council yesterday afternoon, President
French In the chair Mayor Schroeder sat along
side the President, and President slocum and
Commissioner Adams were attentive spectators.
MIR. Fowler, whose handsome. smiling face had
been missed from the marble halls Of the City
Hall, was with his lawyer. Gen. Roger A. Pryor,
VINO faced the Corporation lawyers. De witt.
Johnson, and Knaebel. serRt. Cain and pla-
toon OF policemen kept a sharp eye on the lob
by. which IL was suspected had been filled with
clacquers In Fowler's interest There was
scarcity OF Democratic Aldermen In their seats
those In attendance being known as the Al
dermen who were elected TO their Offices With
out the aid OF Mr.. LaughlIn and the IL NJ.
After the roll had been called, and the papers,
hitherto published in substance, had been cad,
men Rowley. Raw and Acker. as members Of
the board conyoked to try Mr.. Fowler, because
they were not Indifferent and Impartial as to tho
question Of his innocence.
Mr.. DE Witt said the protest was pretentlous:
that the Common Council was sitting not as n
court, but rs a BODY exercising Its legislative
power and 1t had taken on the forms and cere
monies Of court OF Impeachment, because the
said Fowler had so elected. The request
tantamount to denial Of certain wards their
representatives.
be regularly tried and speaking II the charges
said that they were engendered Of corrupt
men whom he had challenged. He moved that
Aldermen Ray! Rowiey, and Acker be excused
and excluded from voting.
Alderman Rowley sndeavored to explain, but
Gen. Pryor insisted that he should be sworn.
Alderman Fisher denied the right to exclude
any member from sitting IN the board.
Alderman Arnot moved to receive the protest,
place II on nle, and override It.. The. motion
Alderman Sterling Demj SID; vi You ' ex.
clude every man from the board who has ex-
pressed his opinion against Mr.. Fowler, there
won't be any left to vote"
Corporation Counsel De witt In opening. said
that the people OF this country were resolved on
and virtue In public life. Revolutions In this
country looking TO the establishment Of purity
through the ballot box. In ooedien to this
popul ar sentiment, the Chief Magistrate OF the
CITY has deemed 1t his duty to suspend one of
the CITY Works Commissioners. At the time OF
the Mayors accession TO once there existed ac-
cusations AGAINST Mr.. Fowler, but as they ante
dited his last appointment, he determined not
10 90 back OF that time. but he set him
self TO work to reduce the city debt,
and to obtain purity In the city Offices.
He found that the greatest part OF the debt
bad been expended on water works, and that
much of this had been centred about the Hemp
stead reservoir, which. since 1871. had cost over
$l.+OO,C0. The Mayor discovered that by finish
Ing the stone-facing OF the dam, and by build
Ing the gates. at the cost OF $4,000 $4,000 the
reservoir could be substantially compile ted 80 as
tn hold l.OOOO,OO0 gallons-enough TO last the
city I'VE or ten years. This was the Mayors de-
termlned policy. Against IL. two members Of
the City Works BoardMr Fowler one of them
planted themselves. and IN the contest that
followed the causes for this suspension accrued.
He had evidence to show Mr.. Fower's uniform
co0Deration with Kingsley 4 keeney since the
reservoir was begun. He began to show evidence
OF the Hampstead reservoir corruption bv re-
calling the water night that was made basis aud
source for the scheme OF the reservoir. Its ba-
Sis was ~ at the ponds yielded only A00.OD l.
Ions day, an error resulting in imperfect gaug-
inc by Engineer krkwood. Ia 1853 the old Wa
ter BOard ~ their report said that there WAS an
ample supply Of water for the city for years to
come. ana explained the situation OF a pond
that could Weld millions OF gallons more. In
April this old board was legislated out of Office,
and Messrs. Fowler, kinselia, Bliss, and North
run were made Commissioners and Julian w.
Adams was appointed Chief Engineer to sup plant
Moses Lane. Who IL this Julian W. Adams2
Kingsley keeney IN a difference between
them and Engineer McEiroy on the WalIabout
Improvement. He supplauted Moses Lane be
cause Moses Lane had inteTfered vita Kingsley
keeney In their project OF LAYING the A.
lantic main. Hardly had Adams warmed In his
seat before he prepared an elaborate report
announcing that the supply of water was totally
inadequate 10 the city's needs, and In July
mark the rapid progress 81 the scheme-slr-
VOWS were ordered to be MADE. ON June -.
$50, Mr.. Fowler submitted the plans for the
Hempstea al reservoir.
he trial Is to proceed from day to day until 1t
l. finished.