Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-12

Work ON the Aqucauct Tunnel wiz
BE stopped Unless there is Further
Legtslaslon.

Le4tolAtl0n.
BAD INFECT or TEE pRcrs,oN or ran rnsr CON.
rRoLLER-uNLs0 TIE NATIONAL LEGBLAToRs m.
TkkFsk. ALL OPERATIONS WILL BE suePENDBp
OCTOBER 81, AND TIE TUNNEL WILL FILL wrrz
wAfsA
The decis'on Of the First Controller, rendered
Yesterday, TO the effect that the work on the
washington aQueduct tunnel must stop on the
lst OF November, unless Congress shall provide an
extension Of time. has sadly complicated matters
IN regard 70 this work. The letter Of the Con-
oiier, containing the decision, was to-day trans
mitted 70 Major Lydecker for his Information.
In the event that nothing is done Dy Con.
grS a tne WORK on the aQueduct wiz stop at
mel will gradually NIL with water. Thenceforth
tne WORK WIN be practically abandoned, for not q
s ssrOae can % done, until by means Of conyres-
1ect ID extended
fnE ooNTRoLLRRs OPINION.
the decision Of the First Controller that no
money can be EXPENDED on the aqneduct tunnel
after the LIST OF November was not reached until
he had very carefully considered the matter.
Of the opinion, Judge Durham was inclined 70 BE-
tss Of no stated s1an
tns Work q p g oeapessa S S9
49, o,oUoI A 1oeo. oio not expressly stpulats
penditures could be made. He, however, con-
cluded to take into consideration the evident
that an extension OF the time was inserted in an
appropriation bill and then Withdrawn, was prima
facie evidence OF the unwilingness Of Congress TO
IuLtner extend the limit OF time.
Tne controller thinks unofficially, that all work
should De suspended on the tunnel until alter the
congressional Investigation.
MAJOR LYDECKsRs PROTEST.
Mofn "a to-
the short time allowed by the urgent deficiency
bill, which contained the provision for continuing
the work up TO the LIST OF November. In his letter
OF october TO the Chief OF Engineers, which was
transmitted 10 Congress- he referred 70 his letter
the approval OF the act by the President This
latter letter contained protest against the time
allowed, which he declared was entirely too short
ELECT that the accounting ofr1cers will not audit
any accounts arising from work done or materials
purchased for this purpose after November l; but
II Is certain that no work will b undertaken In
the face OF such statement
WHAT MAJOR LYDEcKER SAYS
Major Lydecker said to q STAR reporter this
morning that as far as the decision Of the Con-
troller, published In yesterdays STAR, was con.
cerned, all the expenditures In the aQueduct tun-
mel would cease on the LIST OF November. He said
that there would not only be no money TO con-
tfnue The work. tut none TO maintain IL. Antici-
pating decision OF this character from the
contiOler, Ne Informed Congress several weeks
ago OF the eject upon the work II the appropria-
tons were not continued. But tue clause was
inserted as 1t now stands In case all work was
stopped on the tunnel Major Lydecker said, II
would be injured by fliing with water. This
would occur al the shafts, towards which the
tunnel sloped. Under the present arrange
menJ the contr ctor kept the tunnel free from
water under this provision or his contract.
In regard to Lieut.. TOwnsend's report, Major Ly-
decker said that II would serve an ofice record
OF the condition OF tho tunnel present. The sug-
gesLions In the report meet with his approval but,
OF course, no acLiOn would be taken in this direc.
ton or in any other until the committee OF inves.
ugati0n appointed by Congress completed its
WORK. Everything was held IN allegiance pending
that.
THE INVESTIGATION WILL SHOW.
One OF the Kendall Brothers, when asked this
morning oy a STAR reporter what he thought of
Lieut.. Townsends reporG, said that he had not
thought much about 1t. 81 have thought he added,
shat there Is entirely too much talk Lht, subject
Inc investigating COMMITTEES Will 0e appointed,
perhaps to-day, and Then everything relating to
This work Will be brought out The tunnel u
There and the work 10 1t Will speak for ltselL"
ARMY ENGINEERS VERSES CIVIL ENGINRERs.
An acquaintance OF tue Kendalls' who was
standing near remarked that he thought the criri-
cism OF the report ought not to be confined to the
inspection OF ODrien. He said that others were
equally derelict in their duty; that the suggestion
III the report OF the appointment OF an expert he
hoped did not refer TO an Army of1cer In his
opinion the further work OF the aQueducU ought 10
Dt. conducted NJ nj rv A az