New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-20

ana .x,s, Justice to all and in accordance with all the
facts in the
have fc,, that the tine would when the only
thing that would satisfy the public expectation In New
York CITY would be revolution OF this Board
Of AQueduct Commissioners and the busting each one
Of hem and making entirely new departure we
must Gene to that at last and possibly 1, is the best
Thing 70 do 70 but 10 r. altogether too Important
matter to he handled here opportunity for pohuea
advantage by either one party or the other
The Constitution gives the Governor power to can the
Legislature together extraordinary occasions 70 meet
important public emergency. 1t is grave question
in my mind emergency would JUSTIFY
the Governor calling the Legislature together has ex
listed o. Is in existence.
Senator Cantor followed Senator Fassett with
a speech assailing the Republicans for their action
on the prison question. Then upon motion OF
Snator Raines the Senate adjourned The Govern
or's message regarding the Aqueduct Commission
is given below:
To the LegSaslre
By Chapter 400 o: the laws OF 1898 the Legislature
provided FOR the construction Of souedue; for the
city Of New-Tork and designated the Mayor, the Con-
troer and The OF Public Works OF said city,
and three citizens named in the bill as Board OF Aoue
suct Commissioners have charge OF such construction
The act Of 1888 amended by Chapter So o, the
Laws Of 1856 whereby tbs Mayor and the Controller
omitted Commissioners and TIRES persons b nared
BY the Governor be appointed auditing
three persons appointed and confirmed and
serving at ire present time.
Tho present Aqucduct Commission thsfefore consists
OF ofseal o. she city the Commissioner OF Pub
lie Works who is member ofclo. and SIX citizens
three named in the Of 1888 and three appointed by the
Governor ana confirmed By the Senate under The Of
1856
advised hat 81 has ayps,r upon investigation
pending in REGARD the Aqueduet ana other matters
in the city Of New.YOrk. that the Board as const
tutei has been harmonious body. but that for
time there has existed much dscord and lack Of
cooperation among lis members whereby public interests
have suffered IN some degree. also Informed that
o. Commissioners have had business rcs
lions with some Of the contractors or subcontrsctos
thereby committing imropriety II nothing more
subecting them criticism and necessarily embar
RAISING them in the proper discharge Of their duties
II is claimed that other have been shown az
feciing tie letting O, contracts and the performances
Thereof the derent Of the interests Of the city. OF
all these matters however have accurate osacsl
knowledge the investigation which is ex pare is
still pending and report thereof has been presented
and under such circumstances It would be Dsnestly i'm
proper for express opinion thereon especially in
view Of ths fact that II the charges alleged against the
Commissioners arr enaur established they are liable to re-
novsl by and proceedings for such would
ouestionsb,y be instituted
The suggestion which desire 70 concerning the
AQueiuot Commissioners not Therefore basod upon
assumption Of the truth o, the allegations made
them bu, founded upon inherent defect mistaken
policy the in question creating the Com
mission arising OF tho improper which the
whole Commission created 1t must be conceded that
both OF these violated the principle OF :" home
rule which has be REGARDED essential the
proper o. Municipalities That general pn-
cips usually endeavored enforce and whenever
departure from 1t has been permitted 1 satisfied
mistake has been made.
The statute approved M predecessor nsnei
three the bin itself That unwsc.
any other officials be Designated. those
should have been selected By the local authorities
and by The Legislature. Here the first mistake was
The OF 1885 continued the but while
not naming the three additional commissioners in the bill,
II empowered Governor Q: the State select them
ard the sena1 to confirm them. This was likewise
mistake The additional commissioners should have been
appointed By The Mayor az New York
1t is submitted at this tine WHEN public attention has
been called the subject TIA, 1t s wise 10 return 70
first principles and the local authorities Of that
city to control the sructon Of the Aoueduet
ty their officials by citizen commissioners Of the!r
own choosing and hT commissioners selected either
BIZ Governor and Senate ihc Lcsisi1'ure This
would give that city benefit OF the principle Of Home
Tuc- 70 entitled IN reference is municipal
Affairs and would relieve the Legislature from further
respons!bity in connection with construction Of
purely local Improvement; and the passage oi such
measure would q Itself be reflection any o:
the commissioners but condemnation OF vicious system
q legislation unadsedy adopted which should not longer
be sanctioned
The retal O, The sendaorv act Of 1886 alone leaving
the act O; 1888 untouched would be tac approval Of
the and would not furnish an adequate remedy
Il would simply partially mistake, ana sun
perpetua,e wrong system Of legislation.
an advised that many OF the complaints made against
the AQucduc management arise out OF the aetons OF the
old Commission created under the act Of lSsS and bc
fore the reorganization 1880 II WAS the original Com
mission that aSarid the principal contracts alleged TO be
disadvanaceou % NevYork City sad controlled their
performance durns period o, about eighteen months
The farcst and advisable course is to enact
measure aboshng present Board and creating new
Commission 70 q The Mayor the Controller the
Commissioner q lutc Works and the President OF the
Board Of Aldermen who should be Commissioners ex ofco
and three e7ens appointed BY the Mayor who should
constitute the remaining Commissioners
This plain and simple which nc reason
able objection can be urged 1t affords prompt and
erectua remedy all Of the matters complained OF
scains; the AQueduc Board II casts rejection upon
the prsscn, Commissioners Discriminate between
them and partisan advantage but simply re-
stores % city az New York and It's officials the proper
eorxro and management important public improve
nent OF which It deprived By both Of the statutes
s,oresaii
Therefore su6iec; 81 aoo,ishng the whole Of the
p-esen: Board and establishing in the manner
indicated respectfully recommended for your consdera
ton AZ the extraordinary session now being held
DAVID HILL