New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-07

The contract which was entered into by himself
with Mr. Barnes, as attorney for u MIR. Mcnges. ana
Mr. Rogers. He did not any money or checks
pass between Rogers and Barnes on tho day that
lhc contract was executed. but had no doubt the
money that is the 81 5 900, was paid stated.
The witness thought that Mr.. Barnes's relation
with this railroad contract was entirely cNtraneous
10 the investigation. This remark reused ME-
NicolL .,. t.o.
">You think said he to the witness, the fact
that Commissioner of the Aqueduct had financial
relations with sub-contractor on the wori. 70 olc
extent of borrowing several thousand doirs iro as
him is entirely irrelevant to this inquiry DO you
Mr. Clement hesitatcd He did not eAactly
mean to go so far as that
HAMILTON FISH, JR., TEsTIF1ES
Then Hamilton Fish, jr., took the stand n iittle
after o'clock and held it until the Committee adj
journed at 3 80 lie said that he first heard OF
q plan to reorcanize the Aqueduct Commission IN
November 1856 The first intimation came TO him
from General Hustled while that gentleman was
Speaker of the Assembly They met by chance
nt the Grand Central Station General Hustled
said that Mr.. Fish might be appointed Commls-
sioncr He thought it would be good thing TO
have the Commission recognized. Democratic
support was necessary to effect this, and Tor tat
reason Mr.. Fish was urged to see prominent Demo-
.rats.
Mr. Fish did so, believing, he said. that the
scheme, IL carried out, would prove beneficial to
the Republican party in Putnam. Dutchess ana
Westminster c0untleS. lie saw JOili " ip'IVh,
was then chairman of the State Commlties, aooub
il and secured his cooperation. lie dla hob See
Maurice b. Flynn, of that he was positive. Inc me
bill as originally drawn did not contemplate inc
removal of the Mayor and Controller
o-who drew the bin Al did, myself
Q-who introduced itl A.-Senator Hoysradt In the
Senate and Mr. Hustled in the House Mr.. husted tocK
active part in getting it through and some OF the
members Of this committee Senator Hendricks Tor one
assisted passage and the chairman was said to favor
Odd the Senators talk about favoring the In
teress OF the cityl A.-oh, yes; they ali have the
public interests OF the city ct heart in Albany (aush
ter.)
CUTTING OFF MAYOR GRACE
Mr. Fish said that he never saw Governor Hill
on the subject, but he did talk with Judge Muller
who promised to give his assistance lie first
heard of the plan to leave off the Mayor and
Controller weeks after the introduction of the bill
in the Legislature. Grace was Mayor at the
time !,
lie was in bad grace at the time remarked
the Commissioner, and Iammany han wah r.o
hin him tn G with HIS SopM Srs Bank failure
made known, and about the time that he had APP
pointed his young man to be City Chamberlain ae
You mean Mr.. WINS I presume" said Mr.
Fassctt So Yes, that is his name, think. ne
Republicans did not want the mayor anu - Uon u
nemocratic suggestion. and arose from the dislike
of Grace rather than from any opposition 10 ,nc
Controller for Withholding money rom M i,e
tractors The plan TO remove secretary McNuu11h
and put Mr. Sheehan in his place was hSI nmue
known to Mr.. Fish by Commissioner hiasw "nd
about a week before the change was mace, ana
Two months after Mr.. Fish had been made Com,
missioner. Mr. Ridgway suggested Shcehsn, ana
Mr. Fish voted for him because ne tno w.. Co ,me
Secretary should be on good terms with the Coui-
missioners Mr. McCulloh was not. Neither was
hc the lawyer Mr. Sheehan was
o-Mr Fish what is your salary A.-s5ooo year.
oYou don't serve as Commissioner Purely on account
M hut
The matter Of appointing subordinates was
touched upon Mr.. Fish added that ne was ;, 10
Mugwump but the Civil Service law now preValleu
ON the Adueduct, and all appointments were now
made through it, lie did appoint 1reTa OF ne tbe
tor Fassetts before the law weni l.o e''eo' oi ''
work and friends Of other Senators
A. Roardman asked: Do you remember how
YOU voted on the question Of substituting ru9oie
masonry for dry flling% The witness iooH ' "a. ~
Tho record and found that he did not vote on the
resolution He could not explain why the COM
missioners should make such a surprising change
and frame the solution authorizing IT IN sucn
vague and indefinite terms that nellher ne nur
General Newton could understand It, hao ne
been at the meeting he certainly would nave op
posed it, lie was greatly surprised to hear tne
testimony given by the present ana FORMER vi
noration Counsnls The Commissioners always
supposed that in allowing for the extra eActvaaoi
they were acting in accordance WIN 'he d"'ioe VI
"a" The inonirv will be resumed on Monday morning.
GENERAL NEWTON WILL CLEAR THE AIR"
General Newton, referring yesterday to his 'esti-
mony before the Senate Investigating Committee on
the Auueduct taken on Thursday said that the report
which represented him saying that the Aquoduct
would be without value to the city until the quaker
Bridge Dam was completed was Incorrect
"What did say the General added was that
the Aqucduct would not be of oneenth its real value
to the city until the Quaker Bridge Dam was COM
pleted BY 'one-tenth' meant an approximate hs-
Ire intended 10 illustrate the vast difference between
the powor of the Aqueduct with and without the
Quaker Bridge Dam. i was correctly reported as 10
the completion of the work 1t will take at least nve
years to build it,"
Referring TO the Senate Committees investgation'
General Newton said that II had become much DE-
logged; so much that nobody seemed 10 hno"
what either committee counsel were trying 10 get
at lie thought they did not have any distinct ldea
themselves as to what they were about.
"For the purpose Of clearing the air. said the Cen
era intend to write statement which VIII let the
sunlight In and set things right shall prepare my
statement for publication shortly"