New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-30
THE NEW AQUEDUCT.

FEATURES OF THE PENDING MEASURE.
HOW IT DIFFERS FROM THE BILL Prepared Bs
MAYOR EDsoN-TAMMANY's HAND IN ITS PREP
ARATION.
FROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBuNEl
ALBANY, April 29.--The bill TO provide now
Croton aqueduct for New-York City has been laid
aside for few days by the Senate. In the mean
time it may be thoroughly examined by tie tax
payers and the politicians of New-York careful
comparison of the engrossed bill with that approved
by Mayor Edison does not reveal any great chauges
except that one which is so disliked by the Mayor
namely, the naming of the Aqueduct Commission
ers. Three Aqueduct Commissioners are named
the number of citizen members" of the Commis-
sion is reduced from four to three and the Mayor IN
deprived of the authority Of appointing the four
citizen members" There is another amendment
of the bill which hss not hitherto been noticed:
vacancies among the citizen members" of tho
Commission are to be filed by the Governor and not
by the Mayor. The Tammany Hall statesmen"
here suspected that the Tammany Hall Senator's
Messrs Grady and TreanOr, had not carefully de-
prived Commissioner Thompson, of the Department
OF Public Works, OF the great powers granted him
In the Mayors original Agueduct bill, Senate bill
No. 3f3; powers that were taken away from him In
the Mayors second bin, Senate bill No. $685. These
suspicious mainly aroused by the fact that the
discarded Senate bill No. 343 had been made the
basis of the third bill on the subject now under
discussion. But il John Kelly examines the new
bill to-day he will find that his henchmenn were
faithful to him. They carefully incorporated in tho
bill al the limitations on Mr.. Thompson's powers
that are to be found in Senate bill No. 395. Some
person has evidently read thoroughly both Senate
bills No. 343 and No. $685. and has transferred to tho
former all the limitations on Mr.. Thompson of the
latter.
1t would seem therefore that the Mayors oppo-
sion 10 the bill rests solely upon the change in tho
appointing power; and perhaps also he is opposed
to the appointment as Aqueduct Commissioners Of
the persons named in the bill. The reduction Of
the number Of "citizen members" of the Comms-
sion great dissatisfaction here; it being felt
that the Mayors suggestion that there should be
majority OF citizen members" of the Commission
good one. The naming of John c. Spencer,
an active Tammany Hall politician. as one OF the
Citizen members " is also much criticised. Fur
thermore it is thought that such careful preparation
to exclude Mr.. Thompson from the control Of the
work is little absurd If, in few years, with Mr..
spencer's cooperation and that of a compliant
Mayor and Controller. he secure that very con-
troll.
1t may be well to detail for the benefit of tar-
Payers the notifications and omissions from SEN
ate bill No. 395 as compared with Senate bill No.
343. In the second section the following in rela-
tion TO the plans for the new aqueduct is omitted:
The said Aqueduct Commissioners prior to the final
sous Interested full opportunity to be heard respecting
such plans, and shall give public notice OF such hearing
Aud at such hearing or hearings testimony may be pro-
duced by the parties appearing before them In such
ner as the Commissioners may determine And each OF
them Is hereby authorized to administer oaths in any
proceeding pending before them.
In section % the words subject to the approval
of the Board of Estimate and Apporti0nment" arc
omitted from the sentence:
The said Aqueduct Commissioners subject to the ap-
proya OF the Board Of Estimate and AppOrtiOnment OF
the city OF New York. may with owners and persons
interested in any real laid down said maps
owners persons Interested for the taking or using aud
occupying such real estate.
In section 80 the following words are omitted:
No contract shall take effect until the Commissioner,
majority OF them shall certify thereon in writing
that its acceptance will in their judgment best ths
efficient performance of the work therein mentioned
Another safeguard is withdrawn IN the omission
of the word unanimously" In the following sen-
tence from section 80:
The said Aqueduct Commissioners procure any
work TO be done without contract, not involving
penditure OF five thousand dollars II they shall
unanimously certify that In their opinion IL for the
public interest that such work shall he done and In
such certificate they shall state their therefor
The following sections omitted:
Sec So The said Commissioners shall in every caen-
dsr month file in the Office OF the Controller OF the City Of
an account OF all expenditures made by them
them during the preceding month and abstract or
each occount shall be published In The Cfy Record.
Sec So ANY vacancy occurring in the Office OF or
said four Commissioners TO be appointed Aforesaid
shall be filed In like manner the original appointment
Any OF said Commissioners may be removed for inability
or failure perform his duties TOR malfeasance in
office by the General Term OF the Supreme Court in tho
First judicial Depart nent under such OF proceed
may prescribe, and the decision OF the General
Term OF said Court shall be final
Sec 81 No person shall be appointed by the said Com
missoners by the Commissioner of Public Works in
spec0r superintendent who shall be certified by At
three members OF the Commission TO be competent
and lit for the duties OF the position for which he Is
applicant ana experienced In the subject matter OF the
employment.
Sec. 3s Tue said Aqueduct Commissioners are hereby
authorized and empowered 10 proyide suitable offices for
transaction of the business OF the Commission and 10
provide proper and Deedfu furniture and safes FOR tho
Of its documents and TO employ necessary
Gle, aud messengers subject TO the approval OF tho
Board of Estimate and Apportionment OF the City OF
Newlork
There are entirely new sections, Nos. 80. 36, 81.
3S and 80. One states that any reservoir con-
structed in Westchester County shall be subject to
such sanitary regulations the Board OF Health
shall prc.crbe and another that the city of New
York snail build and maintain such new highways
and bridges in Westchester County as are made
necessary by the construction OF the new aque-
duct Section 80 reveals that there is some town or
city in Westchester County that would like To OBJ
tain CrOton water. 1t authorizes the authorities
OF New-lork to enter into contract after tue con-
struction of the new aqucduct TO supply any vil-
lagc city along the line OF the aqueduct with
water.