New-York tribune., 1886-05-24

TENS OF MILLIONS FOR The AQUEDUCT
Much will be expected of the Aqucduct Com
mission. 7 he recent changes in that body have
called out sharp criticism and strengthened the
suspicion that there is danger of joDbery on an
enormous scale. There is altogether too much
of he chairman of the Democratic State Com
mitee in the sub-ways Of this scheme. 1t is
unfortunate that politician so restless, de-
vious, and 50 full of devices, should have so
large a share of the contracts. 1t is unfort-
innate that this politician should be conspicu-
ously and notnriousy attached to the fortunes
of Governor Hill. whose campaign for the Pres
idency he is pushing by every plan lie can
frame.
When O'Bien and his associates made their
bids. experienced contractors. men who had
handled armies Of lubOrcrs and had carried ont
huge undertakings, said that there was some
thing wrong in the figures. They did not think
that OBren and his friends intended To com
plc,e their task fairly and faithfully for the
prices agreed upon. There would either be
scamping in the work or swelling claims for
extras. 1t was generally believed that these
political contractors expected to make their
profits at Albany, and not in the shafts and
happened To confirm these views sin &c the ex-
cavations were begun. The eXtrayagant job
of lining the aqucduct with brick where the
tunnel passes through solid rock was adopted
by the commission. Fine pickIngs for some
body in that brick lining Big claims for TIM
Der work are set up though by the honest sig
niicance of the contracts the contractors should
pay for their own timber. Meanwhile Mr..
O'Drien has fortified himself in the commission
strongly that there is an uneasy feeling
abroad. 1t is feared that this aqueduct will
cost whatever the contractors choose TO make
it cost, and that they expect to pile up trcmen-
dous fortunes out of it. When the con-
tracts were let a total cost of So, 900, 900 10
500 600, ,OOO for the increase of the water sup
ply was talked Of Now the politicians are
guessing" that the city will have to pay
100000 900 to 500, 200, 900 before the affair is
finished. That seems to be pleasant prospect
for the taxpayers, doesn't it9
1t is clear enough that the only hope of escape
from a crushing burden an appalling waste of
public funds and a lasting blot on the clty's
fame, lies in the public spirit of the commits
sion. Every man of them should be firm as a
rock i'll resisting political inf fence and the de-
contracts should be Igidly adhered to, while
the utmost severity of requirement as to the
quality of materials and the soundness of work.
manshp should be enforced. This is no COM
mon case. The commissioners cannot afford to
be generous and Ddulgent. To yield an inch
at any point Will let in food that will sweep
away all barriers. Plainly safety lies in strict
justice and the letter Of the law. Every scheme
To Increase the expenditure should be scrutl-
nl:ed WITH unsparlng rlgOr and rejected unless
public utility positively demands its accept
ance. No of the schemes of the Tweed
Ring offered such opportunities for plundcr as
this. Keep al scandal. all suspicion, out of it.
1t was a grievous mistake to remove the
Mayor and the Controller from the commissions
They needed there as the official repre-
sentatives of the municipality. But the Mayor
has only himself to blame, if the distrust of him
and the dlsinclination to leave in his hands
great financial responsibilities have become
prevalent both in this city and at Albany. His
ENHANCEMENT with the affairs of Grant Il Ward
and the notoriouslv bad character of soms of
his appointments fully Justify this feeling.