New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-01
MAYOR EDISON TO BE SUPPORTED.

THE MEETING AT COOPER UNION To-NIGHT-H0w
THE ORIGINAL AQUEDUCT BILL WAS GLANCED
ACTION OF FIRE UNDERWRITERS.
The public meeting to be held at Cooper
Union night to sustain Mayor Edison in his efforts to
the proper bill TO procure increased
supply of water for the city attracted good deal Of
attention yesterday. number OF prominent citizens
called the Mayor in regard to the subject The Mayor
said In reply all inquiries that he had part In get
ting up the meeting, but he thought that there was
pressing need OF demonstration of the kind. letter
from the Mayor will probably be read at the meeting To-
night.
Mr. Emo and the other gentlemen interested in getting
up the meeting said that Samuel ID. Babcock would
probably call it order. and James ~ Brown OF Brown
Brothers, the bankers, would preside. Among tho
signers to the call John Jacob Astor, Joseph A.
Drexel ii. b. Cafin. Hamilton Fish, Edward Jaray
John jay, John A. Stewart, d. o. Mills, John j. Cisco,
Lord Taylor, Bates, Reed Cooley, and great many
other leading citizens OF the metropolis, number OF
whom will make speeches The meeting is to be called
TO order at 8 p. N.
Some interest created by the report circulated
Yesterday that Hubert o. Thompson Commissioner Of
Public Works who hostile the meeting and Its pur
pose. would pack the hall with employees OF his Depart
ment and would endcavOr to turn the meeting into
demonstration in favor Of the Aqueduct bill that has
passed the third reading In the Senate or else break up
the meeting altogether. The discovery of the plan will
keep order 1t is expected that some interesting and
pointed speeches will be made and the subject 10 one
Of the greatest importance to the taxpayers the com
mittee expects full attendance, although not much
effort has been made TO call public attention to
the meeting 1t has been called short nos!ce be-
II learned that there was disposition on the
part of the politicians the Legislature TO rush through
the Objectionable that has been already favorabJ
considered In order 10 hwart that purpose,
II possible, committee consisting Of o. b. Potter, VIII
lam Dowd and Hugh n. Camp went to Albany yesterday
to point out to the members OF the Legislature tho
serious defects in the bill that has been reported and
acted upon in the Senate.
Congressman Waldo B. Hutchins and others who arc
to take part the meeting tonight caeda at the Mayors
Office yesterday compare the bill reported to tho
Senate with the prepared by the Mayors Con-
mission. Great astOnishuent was expressed at the
radical changes made in the bill sent 10 Albany by tho
Mayor Under the bill reported to the Senate. the power
to build aqueduct is chiefly bestowed on the Com
missioner of Public Works, and many OF the important
safeguards contained in the Mayors bill have been
stricken out In explaining this wide departure from
the plan of tee Mayors Commission state
Senator said that 1t was the result OF trickery
OH the part OF agents OF Hubert o. Thompson, at Al
bany. One Senator boldly charged that the Senate bill
had tampered with. and that hai been done by
an ex-city official who wasrecenty in Albany his hand
writing having been discovered on The altered bill
As the measure now stands (or at least as IL
stood yesterday, the Commissioner OF fuohc
Works ia empowered to make surveys and submit
to the Aqucduct Commissioners plans FOR the adueduct
dams ETC. The Commissioners are TO accept OF reject
them In the other plans are TO be submitted
In the Mayors bill, the Aqueduct Commissioners could
modify change the plans submitted The Senate bill
confines their power to accepting rejecting Mr.
Thompsons plans without empowering them TO mako
plans Of their own, wnich might indefinitely delay the
in the Commission should be opposed TO the
Quaker Dam other pct projects OF the commissioning
NJ plbic Works. The latter To submit ana
specifications contracts etc majority Of the Com
mission approve plans and contracts and can accept
at least Commissioners required In the Senate
bi the work aud materials called Tor by the contracts
Commissioners OF Public Works and he is to have the
power 10 appoint such engineers, supervisors aud
salon and the Controller is to pay them and other
necessary expenses upon the certificate OF the Comms
sioner OF Public woIks. In the Mayors bill this power
was vested in the Aqueduct Commissioners, and no
person could be appointed except upon tile certificate OF
three Commissioners that he competent for the place.
A wellknown Republican who was examining the a pnt
said yesterday thai with appropriation OF 100000
draw from, and unlimited power to appoint engineers
inspectors, ETC., the Commissioner OF Public works
would be powerful man at election times.
In the Mayor's.bill, Commissioners apprase lands
were to be appointed after due notice az a General
counsel were limited TO certain amouns
apprase lands to be appointed at Special Term In
the Second Judicial District, and the Corporauel
Counsel appoint such assistant counsel as he may
Mt as the limit to their is stricken out
The amount OF work tlat can be done wthout c9nscs
in the Senate b all making possible increased expend-
lures and increasing the powers q city omcers wmo
many important safeguards are LEFT out
The New.York Board Of Fire Underwriters yesterday
adopted the following resolutions In support oil Mayor
Rsso,sed That this Board rsafrms It's approval ofths
principle embodied in the Senate BIN No. seo providing
for the appointment OF four OF tho @ .,
sS.Sss sos. ss Z e sssesd BON s.sn. sd