New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-17
DISCUSSING THh AQUEDUCT BILL.
THE COMMITTEE or SIXTY REQUEST THE GovERyoR
10 WHO IL.

THE COMMITTEE or SIXTY REQUEST THE GOvERSOR
10 VITO II.
There was meeting last night in a parlor
Of the Fifth Avenue Hotel Of the Committee Of xiv .
pointed recently at the citizens mass meeting In the
Cooper Union on the subject of the proposed
new uqueduct. ExJudge Arnoux presided and !
Noble Stearns acted secretary. OF rnc,nbers Of
the committee the following we're present: John Law,
Charles II. Marshall James KclwicE, William Rhine
lander Stewart, Douglas Campbell Oswald Ottcndor'er
J. W. HAYES NJ. y Whiting. Ambrose snow William
Morrison, Henry A. Oakley, Henry Dexter Amoa
f. Emo ana John II. Drsler Representatives w,r.
also present from the Board Of Trade ana Trans
poltation and the Central Taxpayers Association Mr.
Armour announced tue Resignation. because Of tho
pressure OF business, % DE &. X. Agneu ID Willis
james. Everett + Wheeler and Morris X. Jcsup and l.
Z. Holman. John II Washblrn. E.bridse r. Gerry and
". Van NordcD were elected in Their stead.
Tue subcommittee appointed for the purposc AT the
last meeting Of the Committee Of sixty submitted re-
port Oil to Aqueduct bin recently enacted bv the
Legislature and now awaiting the action Of the
Governor. Tho report drafted by
Douglas Campbell and embodied a portion Of
4 pamphlet written by him Tor the Municipal Society
some time ago the Deacon system OF detecting water
wasie employed In Liverpool Eng W. r. Stewart
read report IL discussed the subject In three az
poets: first, the COnsttutOuality of tbs bill:
second, tho personnel OF tho Commission
and third question whether there was danger TO the
city postponing for year the passage Of an Aquc-
duct bl. 1hCeOmmtee thought thai the constitutions
alny of the bll open to grave doubt
80 far II relates to the provision
naming the Commission. To tho second point
tnere WAS objection. TIE principle OF board
alth even number Was extremely vicious It was dc.
clared aud lett to be appehcudcd all the dangers that
have been IN other bodies similarly organized Inc
til, moreover was a political measure far as the
organization Of tie Commission was concerned ana
l,.f,
bodt. legal or other checks could secure economical
honest construction. The politicians on the board
would belle their record II tAey did au in
nucnce out Of proportion TO their number The conclu
Of hc committee touching Tie third point that
could be no danger IN delaying action oi a more
complete examination. Tho history of the aaueduct
agitation was reviewed from It's inception. five years
ago. and extract from Il report made by Allan Camp
bell then Commissioner OF Public Works. In 1880 was
cited TO SHOW that the construction of a
new aqucduct might safely be deferred
for twelve OF ffieen years The question
OF was discussed to show that a large saving
might result from the adoption OF plan ana the
example Of Liverpool was given Illustration. The
tin view Of these facts, to which are 10 be added
grave doubts as l" the COnsutuOnaty Of the present
I'LL, and the lack OF public confidence in OF the
members OF the proposed commission. most uuhes
taungy report tha III our opinion, the Governor
Should veto ne Aqueduc, bill and that he be
earnestly requested 40 10 do. Your committee have
therefore adopted Ihe following resolution;
ResOir,d IN the opinion or this committee the
bill for construction OF aqueduct before
The Governor should bo vetoed by him and that the Com
fnittrc SIXTY should the most efforts
effect this object"
wnld Ottendorfer stated that as he a member Of
the subcommittee he wished II 10 be- known that the
report and resOu on had not been anmousy adopted
iI1nrh they had received large majority. The report
was roceive ed and discussed. Mr. Emo said that time
wnnld be gained by having the bill vetoed, though
the ueope snoud walt year for another Mr. Morrison
said the bin vicious one. The so-callcd citizen
commIssoners not strictly citizens but represen
taiyes of political parties. one was aIammany Demo-
Graf another member Of tho County Democracy, and
The third had been called u "TammaDy Republican"