New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-08
THE AQUEDUCT TANGLE,
A MEMORIAL TO THE LEGISLATURE
MAYOR urwIrI's CABINET" WANT TO GO BACK
70 TILE nrIaIxAL COMMISSION.

MAYOR UEwITT's " CABINET" WANT 10 w DAT"
TO THE oEIoISAL COMMISSION.
The MAYORS "Cabnet' yesterday after considering
tho Aoueduct question, adopted the resolution and
memoriai Owen below The document has oceh ior-
warted to the Legislature, signed by the Mayor anu
all tho heads Of departments. IL - unaers'ooa thai
Mr. Hewitt Is the author of the memorial:
Al conference OF the Of Departments OF the CITY
Government called by tho Mayor TO eonsoer pfoP'sea
legislation in reference the constitution OF the Aque
1uct Commission, It unanimously heso'eo- ih~s
memoral be prepared Legislature, requesting mat
the constitution Of the Commission shoua % feor7e "
its original composition consisting OF the MsJof TINS oon
troIer the Commissioner Of Public WORKS. ana tnree
specially named In the act 10 Wit: James
c. Spencer william Dowd and e. O. BALDWIN, - inc sue
cessor OF George W. Lane.
The undersigned therefore, earnestly request me Legs
lature not TO adjourn without repeating the act py whcn
tho constitution Of the Commission was changed "e
are moved to this conclusion not merely by the consde
ton OF the Injustice which done TO the city BY adding
three commissioners at useless expenditure OF sioooo
per annum to charged TO the city, but BY the fuhef
and more important consideration that the work remaining
to be contracted for VIII involve very large expenditure
possbly equal to that which already been incurred
The original Commission entirely satisfactory 70 our
citizens and no impuaon was ever made upon their IN
tegrty or their sound judgment In the execution Of the
great duty eonnded them Since the Commission has
been ,econstructed. scandals have arsen and politics
are supposed TO have entered the decisions OF the
Board 1t is absolutely indispensable Tor
the public good that this great work should DC kept
clear OF oil mercenary considerations and oil political en-
tancIcmens Public opinion IN this city may be said TO
ue practically unanimous upon this subject and among
ourselves conducting several departments OF the city
government including Democrats and Republicans alike
there Is no difference OF opinion that justice requires
prompt action part Of the Legislature IN order TO
preserve this great tho eofrupng influences Of
jobbery and politics.
II is proper 10 call attention TO the
fact that the Commission was originally
constituted upon the theory that the city should
have three officers constituting oneha OF its members, 50
that would be impossible officers at least to
prevent execution Of ony scheme or the expehdtue
OF any money which did not meet with their approval
The Commission present constituted actually sub
OF city the absolute control OF
members who have chosen by the people 10 per-
form any public function whatcver The demand for
rule In this city has been constant and Is not now
disputed by any considerable class Of It's Inhabitants.
The Aqueduct Commission at present constituted is
Migrant exception to this principle and appeal to the
Legislature with confidence restore at least the meas
Of home rule far as the aqueduct is concerned,
which provided for the outset Of tho undertaking.
In conclusion deem IL duty 10 state explicitly
Legislature that do not think that legsa
ton except that which restores the management of tho
work TO the Commission originally constituted Will be
acceptable the people Of this city, and we are therefore
opposed all compromises such that which proposes
add the Mayor and the Controller to the existing Board
which already cumbrous for efficient results.
A COUNTER BLAST FROM Mr. RIDGwAY.
The following letter from Commissioner Rldgway
Is evidently intended as u reply to the "Cabinet'
memorial. Tho Commissioner says;
Assertions made In the public press rejecting
the methods adopted by the Aqueduct Commissioners
In carrying out the law which enables them construct
aqueduet dams and reservoirs FOR increased supply
Of water for the city OF NewYork ana statements In
spred by persons interested who
represent the sentiment OF the public, but who, in
reality, only express their deslres Disgusting the
selfish motives which lie beneath. In reply to this
only that 1t is to be hoped that full and search
Ing inquiry will be made to the integrity Of the work
and tho methods adopted by those having It In charge
The OF the Commission whole and the Individual
of each Commissioner subject connected
with tho work matter record which cannot be
trovefted ana no amount OF misstaEment can make
falsehood appear truth II these honestly
investigated and the facts presented the public as found
regard the statement that the interests Of the city
only be protected by adding the Mayor and Controller
TO the Commission, theory or sentiment have
support but only such, unless be admitted that
the only Of fitness In carrying public work
DO found in the Of those elected Mayor and
Controller Of the city OF NewYork If this be it is
sad commentary the Integrity Of the people that
there but two men in a population OF about
1900 900 whose honesty and ability such as 10 make
them worthy OF trust
Respecting this ISSUE would like say in regard 10
the Of tho Commission prior TO the time OF the re-
organization in May 1885, and when :he Mayor and Con-
troler members wthout the slightest reflection
upon them that they inefficient because
their other duties prevented them nom being present at
the meetings The Mayor IS now exo.cio member OF the
following Boards and Commissions Board Estimate and
Apporohmen, Board OF Street Openings, Commissioners
of Emigration, Gas Commission, Sinking Fund Commits
son Board OF Subway Commission, Brooklyn Bridge Com
mission and BosEd Of City Record. And the Controller Is
member Of the following Beard OF Estimate and Appor.
tonment, Board OF Openings, Gas Commission.
OF Revision and Correction Of Assessment Sinking
Fund Commission. And II they attend 10 these they
would certainly have but little time, together with their
nfhe dute he Of To he
mission.
NOT ABLE TO ATTEND MEETINGS.
The building OF the AGlcdue is a big subject, AMI the
Committee OF Construction which is composed Of all the
members OF the Commission have frequent meetings at
which present the Chief Engineer, Deputy Chief En-
glneer and Consulting Engineer when matters important
the progress OF the WORK fully discussed and pre-
pared for official action Of the Commissioners at their
weekly meetings. when they go into effect. 1t must,
therefore, be borne mind that because of the Mayor and
Controller being ofco members Of these Doars above
named together with their other duties that require
attention. they would Of necessity be frequently absent
even the weekly meetings, and it would be physical
mpossibity for them to be present al the committee
meetings often enough understand fully the details Of
the work. In this way. them their action would be
largely perfuncory and believe would initiate against
the speedy completion OF the work
The number OF meetings held when Mayor Grace
member Of the Aqueduet Commission seventy four
which present fortyvc and sbs-nt twenty nine
times. The number Of meetings when Controller Loew
was member eighty.one, at which he present
sixty three absent eighteen. Controller Loew
also q member Finance Committee (Which Is
porsnt and supervision all disbursements Of
the Aqueduct Commssion), and during his term seventy
one meetings held lie only present four times
and absent sixty tines This is plain mater Of
record and easily verified by and believe that
the people nsead Of being told what they WANT prefer
to have cold facts submitted TO their Intelligence Is
there any greater for placing he ayor and Con-
troer on the Aqueduct Commission than for making them
members OF the Police Dock Park or Excise Boards
members Of the Commission that has charge OF the
construction Of the bridge over the Harlem Rverl
e. L. RIDGwAY, Aqueduct Commissioner
NO INFORMATION TO BE WITHHELD
Controller Myers yesterday received letter from
President Spencer, of the Aqueduct Commission, re-
plying TO the Controllers request for certain infor-
nation regarding the work on the tunnel Mr.. Spencer
SAYS that he cannot answer the Controllers Inquiries
until Ia has received the report OF Chief EnRneer