New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-31
MEN TO BE NAMED TO-DAY.
AoUEpUcT COMMISSIONERS SELECTED.
THE MAYOR GETS ADVICE FROM MANY SOURCES
HIS LETTER TO MR. HILL CAUSES
MUCH AMUSEMENT IN POLITI-
CAL CIRCLE

MUCH AMUSEMENT IN POLITI-
CAL CIRCLES.
The Mayor did not announce his appointments
of Aqueduct Commissioners yesterday and said
that he should not do so until to-day Rumor was
busy as usual in supplying names for the new
Commission, and early in the day it was reported
that the appointment Of Francis NJ Scott ex-
Judge Hooper c. Van Worst, David G. Westervelt
and James T Van Rensselaer, had been determined
upon Mr. Scott, who is one of the assistant coun-
sci to the corporation, generally believed to be
among those selected as It is said that the Mayor
desires that the Corporation Counsers office shall
be represented in the Board, because of the many
vital questions relating to the compensation Of
the contractors and other matters Of importance,
the decision of which the Corporation Counsel is
responsible for But the Mayor while admitting
that he had practically made up his mind TO
whom he would appoint would not give the
names He said however that the appointments
he had decided upon included an experienced en-
gineer o practical mason-builder and lawyer Of
known ability.
During the day many officials and politicians
visited the Mayors office TO discuss the names Of
the possible appointees Among these visitors
were Senator Pierce, of the Senate Aqueduct In
vestigating Committee; State Engineer Bogart,
General Newton. ex-Controller Loew and ex-As-
semblyman Oliver. delegation representing the
Brcllayers' Union and associations of carpenters,
plastcrers and worl1ingmen, called to suggest the
name Of William Klein as the msson-builder' on
the Commission. The Mayor told them that they
had come too late He did not doubt that their
candidate was a good in every respect, but
the appointments had already been decided upon.
MEN WHO WILL PROBABLY BE NAMED
Among those whose names were mentioned as
John J. Tucker both well-lmown builders of ex-
tensive experience. They are both backed by
strong influence, and it seems probable that one
of them will be selected. John T. Agnew, as
conspicuous and influential Democrat, and Allen
Ihorndike Rice, as prominent Republican, were
also spoken Of As to the engineer who is to take
a place on the Board, opinion is divided among
General James Duane, the retired army engineer
officer; Colonel Z. K. Hahn, the general manager
Of the Manhattan Elevated Railway, and another
engineer. Colonel Hahn already holds such an
important and responsible post that few believed
that he could be induced to add to the weight OF
his responsibility by accepting one Of the Com
missionershps. The Mayors announcement is ex-
pected before noon to-day.
The letter published in The TRIBUNE yester-
day, giving the details OF how Mayor Hewitt
frightened Governor Hill into recommending the
Legislature to reorganize the Aqueduct Commits
sion, was a general theme of discussion at all the
political headquarters. 1t was looked upon by ali
the best Informed politicians as genuine account
Of the correspondence that passed between the
Mayor and the Governor on the subject. In fact
It's authenticity was scarcely questioned anywhere.
WHAT LOCAL POLITICIAN THINKS.
Said a well-informed local Democratic leader,
who is no longer a friend of Hilrs:
- was not all surprised to read the letter.
had been looking for something Of the kind every
day. 1t supplies a long felt want to speak
Every man of Judgment and common sense knew
that when Hill gave the Republicans the oppor-
tunity TO put him in such on unfathom-
able hole as they did on the reorganization
of the Aqueduct he must have been either out of
his mind or under some tremendous mysterious
pressure I'm not prepared to say yet that Hill
was not badly ratified. but we now understand
where the pressure came from. The Mayor was
at work, it seems He applied the screws and
applied them more effectively than l had any
idea that he would do
Mr. Hewitt saw his opportunity and embraced
it. In doing he displayed more shrewdness
than Grace, Power and all the rest Of that crowd
put together. He foored Hill completely Just
think OF a man like the Governor going back on
his only friends, throwing the brother of his
own Lieutenant Billy Sheehan, out of $4,000
Office. cutting the ground from under John
O'Brien's feet, standing Tammany's representative,
Judge Spencer, on his head and practically ad-
mitting the truth of all brought out by the Re
pubhcan committee, at the mere threat of Mr.
Hewitt who has been set down as q political
corpse But tell me, who the author of the
letter? I'm as curious as the Mayor himself on
that point The author must have seen the
original or copy OF it. Poor Hill don't
wonder he thinks Of getting out Of
politics and coming here to practise
law. His life is becoming burden. By the way,
this man Hewitt is a remarkably lively corpse,
isn't he ?"
MR. HEWITT HAS NOTHING TO SAY
Mayor Hewitt refused TO discuss the letter In
Yesterdays TRIBUNE regarding the one which he
is said TO have written to the Governor about
the Aoueduct, and which has caused wide spread
comment. He also declined TO answer any ques-
tions regarding the correctness Of the letter 10
which reference was made.
The Aqueduct Commissioners held special
meeting yesterday, which was attended by Mr..
Dowd, who presided, and By Messrs. Baldwin
Barnes, Ridgway and Newton. A letter from the
committee of experts appointed TO consider the
plans for the Quaker Bridge dam was read, statlng
that their report might be looked for early IN tne
coming month. The letter from Brown, howard
Il Co referred to in The TRIBUNE OF July @ol
evading the questions asked them in regard 10
whether Calvin S. Brice and Samuel inomas'
their surcties. were really partners IN the nrm
was read ana ordered on file. While evadlng tne
question directly the letter admits that the
interests of George Chambers and OF Columbus
X Cummings were transferred TO samuel lhonas
on February o. 1856, and October 20, 1885,
rcspectiyely IL is well known that Brice ana
Samuel Thomas are general partners In ad-
iourning the meeting the chairman did not say
= sine die though he undoubtedly thoush' So
HEMAN CLARK WINS THE VICTORY.
rrrner VAN UoEsFN GIVES MANY REASONS FOR |
DECIDING AGAINST JOHN KEENAN,