New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-04
NEWS FROM ALBANY.
THE AQUEDUCr COMMISSION BILL.
MAYOR EDISON AND MEssRs. POTTER DowD, CANT
AGNEw AND WHEELER BEFORE THE sENATl
CITIES COMMITTEE.

MAYOR EDISON AND MEssRs. POTTER DOwD, CAbr1
AGNEw AND WHEELER BEFORE THE sENArp
CITIES COMMITTEE
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIpuNE.I
ALBANY, April 3.-Mayor Edison, of New.
York. again appeared before tho Senate Committee On
Cities to-day, for the purpose Of explaining the ohsa
features Of the Aqueduct Commission BILL In bic conn
psuy four other members Of the Water Commssnn
Orlando B. Potter William Dowd John 7. Agnew and
Hugh Camp. There were also present at the hearing
Everett p Wheeler representing the New-York C1viy
Service Reform Associations Ed" Cahll representn9
Tammany Han and John ]. OBrien, representing he
Republican associations of New-York. Mr.. O'Brien ex
pressed satisfaction at the prospect OF cftixene
instead Of politicians having o majority on thu
Aqucduct Commission, saying he had feared that q
would be used political machine against the Repab
hcan party. There seemed to DO impression among
welinformed persons tho Mayors circle that he had
already selected the four citizen members Of the Aque
duct Comnisson and that his choice had fallen upon
Mr.. Dowd, Mr. Agnew, Mr. Potter and Mr. Camp. II
when the bill becomes q law, the Mayor should maze
these selectio would evenly divide the citizen mem
bers of the commission far politics are concerned
Messrs Dowd and Camp being Republicans and Messrs
Agncw and Potter being Democrats.
Mayor Edison first addressed the committee. He SAID
that the bill mad been completed. and that fs pro-
visions had been unanimously agreed upon. "Ths
active work OF the commission, consisting OF the Mayor
the COntr0lcr, the COMMISSIONER OF fubNc ana
four persons to be appointed by the Mayor 10 to bs
DONE" he said, Through the Department Of PublIe
Works. This thought was right In view OF the fscs
that the Department hac made all the surveys and maps
for the work. aud had the necessary machinery AT the
time there provision that any one commissions
shall have power than another The bill also pro-
yides now for thorough investigation OF the plan of
the Department OF Public Works for the aquedne
1t also required that the commission shall take sst
dence and determine whether not great dan abal
be built at Quaker Bridge" =
MIR. Potter stated that under O provision Of tho ev
charter work requiring expenditure OF over 900
could be done the city except under contract mo
commission had deemed advisable to raise this nmH
to 5000 In the Of the aqueduct The commis-
soncrs also authorized to accept any bid hRs or
low for providing supplies, rs they deemed 1t for tho
city's interests There also provision that ths
city might issue bonds to pay for the construction "s
the aqueduct at per cent interest, neo
from State city taxation. Mr. Potter thought thae
the cot of pumping water and plumbing would eqaal
the interest on the dcht"
Mr.. Dowd said: 81 have nothing TO say except ssse
il Is almost alarming necessity that we Ahoud haso
more water in New-York Below FOrty-second-st the
water doesn't go above the second floors, and know
gentleman in Thirty who cannot get II as'vo
his first floor 1t evidence before us that seveSA
large fires bad occurred owing TO the scarcity OF water
Senator Graly-Mr. Dowd. are you In favor OF iAs
Mayors appointing the citizen commissioners or OF thar
being named in the bill .
Mr. Dowd-well, think we had better have the Msyss
appoint them We must hold some man responsible
Senator Iussell-What IL your opinion. Mr. Potters
Mr. Potter-It Is our unanimous opinion that tnS
Mayor would select the best commissioners No oseia
the city knows who Is M TO serve On this osa-
mission. Any other method, experience as state
shows would be disastrous
Mr. Camp-I have talked with many Republicans and
Democrats and they Of the unanimous opinion tsas
the Mayor will appoint the best men. myself an q
that opinion.
Mr.. Potter--whether this work costs S23,o0Oooc Or
$40 900 900 the work must he done.
Senator Rus.ell-Lave you thought ofimitns tao
expensel
Mr. Potter-we have All the contracts are to be sp-
proved by all the aqueduct commissioner The Beard
of Estimate aud Apportonment will then make app'o-
prations Every one in the city, therefore, will krsw
the coat as IL proceeds We have provided for monthly
report. A.. ...
work is TO affect tho counties OF Westchester and Pat
nam some authority should be given the rsnt 70
confirm Mayor Edison appointments. We wouil asve
the Governor given this cOnhrmatory power we nvs
no doubt all that the Mayors appointments waai1
meet wi h tic approval of the Governor. We woud 1so
Ike 90 sggeat that inspectors Of the work be selected "
competitive examinations" =.
The committee then turned to tho consideration u
other bills. ...
The committee tonight decided to report for the eeb-
OF the bill as II was brought Iso
b Y Mayor Edson to-day from New-fork. NO amsAo
mcnts were made to the bill.