New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-30
MAYOR. GOVERNOR AND AQUEDUCE
DID MIR HEWITT GEORGE MR. HILLp
AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY FROM RESPONSIBLE
soUIcEs-THE GOVERNOR SAID TO HAVE
BEEN FORCED by SHARP LETTER TO
RECOMMEND THE AQUEDUCT

BEEN FORCED BY A SlhtSf ~
RECOMMEND THE AoUEDUCT
REORGANIZATION.
70 the Edttor OF The Trtoune.
Sir There was a modicum of truth In the story told
in The Tines few days ago, about the letter Of
Mayor Hewitt 20 Governor Ill., relative 10 the AQue-
duct Commission. but II was 80 far from being the
whole truth and contained statements that were
so palpably untrue, that the Mayors denial of the
story has been taken BY many denial oil the fac.
that he wrote the Governor at ALL that he had any
communication with him relative to the last Aqueduct
legislation. careful and exhaustive inquiry made
Of persons who fully of all the facts hes
resulted In the discovery of the following cxtraord
nary state Of affairs showing the Governor 10 have
actustcd only by the abject cowardicc and
not BY any motive OF public good, in making the
recommendation which he did, for the reconstruction
OF the Commission.
Governor Hin probably made the greatest mistake
of his life in calling the extra session of the legisat
ure as future disclosures win demonstrate. About
the time the Legislature convened Mayor Hewitt,
seeing bis opportunity. wrote the Governor oical
letter. demanding OF him that he should call the
attention of the Legislature the necessity for Aque
Duct legislation This letter couched In the
strongest possible terms, and is said by those who
personally know what IFS contents TO be some
thing entirely unique In political literature. IL re-
viewed the Governors with regard TO The bill
which removed the Mayor and Controller from the
Board and legsiaed Messrs. Barnes Fish, and Ridg-
way into Office II summarized and consolidated such
part OF tho records Of the Committee showed
Hlls completely with the contractors, and his per
sona interest in having Board satisfactory TO them
and charged him with prosiitutinc his office for
personal Interests and with having consped to bring
into being a state Of affairs which would enable him
TO pay his personal political expenses out Of the
pocket Of the City OF NewYork The letter demanded,
in behalf of the city that the wrong be rghted,
and did not hesitate TO point ont in detail how
tic Governor had violated every principle Of
local self aud from the lowest and most
vulgar political and pccuniary motives. The lctfcr
wcnt further ami askrd for restitution to the city
Of the moneys which had ultimately gone to pay the
Governors nutes. and altogether such stunning
aud unanSwcrablc document. strong, well
COURAGEOUS that Mn at that he must in some
way conform It's demands have open contro-
vcrsy with The Mayor the merits Of the case. lie
saw his complete inability to compete with the Mayor
in such contingency a. the latter. and at once dc
crnIincd to make the hest Of 10 aud himself at
hc expense Of bis friends and political partners. and
without consulting of ihese nc determined TO fol
low thr which hc pursued.
Surprised AT not seeing the letter OF the Mayor In
J'in, the morning after It's receipt he saw way Of
T.. atkins his fall and helping himself; his secretary
Colonel Rice, sent post-hasie to Ncwfork to see
the Mayor The Mayor was at his home In RingwoOd
y J.. and there Colonel Rice found him. He said that
he camc from tho Governor ask II the letter could
other letter ever written by Mayor TO Governor
that II ought not permitted to remain the
records and that. II IL could DO recalled, the Mayor
and the Governor could readily find some means 81
coming TO an agreement as 10 what should be done
.hi> the Mayor Tcrcmpory refused ia do and Colonel
ricc'> mission seemed to be likely to fall whether
the Colonel n the Mayor third time is uncertain
but hc certainly him a second time The Mayors
refusal brought out the colnteH proposition
would re possible for him, probably, TO modify
ihe letter somewhat and mitigate its plain spoken
sspcuy. To the possibility of this the Mayor as
sentcd. and Colonel Rice next appeared at Ring
wood reporting the result OF his mission to the
Governor. It with the letter In hand and with the
phrases and sentences which The Governor desired to
have modified or omitted indicated. The Mayor went
the suggested changes and acquicsced In many OF
them, but not all The Governor was particularly
anxious 10 have all reference 10 The payment OF his
notes out Of the Legitimate profits on section IL
omitted but this change with few Others, the Mayor
refused make When Colonel Rice had got all
OF the modihc atoms the Mayor willing TO make
the Mayor said that he would rocaL the first letter
ard subs ttuc for 1t tho modified which had been
agreed on, the latter be treated as the original IN
the event of the Governors recommending to the
Legislature the passage OF bill restoring the city TO
lis right OF control the Aqneduct business, Out
that ia the of the Governors failure TO make
such "A recommendation, the first letter was to be
treated a. the original and the Mayor was TO be at
was thus placed by the Mayor practically In the
position Of duress and secretary intimated that
proper Recommendation would be made The Gov
crnor thus driven 10 the wall made the recommends
lion, deserted all tho with whom he had pre-
yotsly consprcd against the City of New-York, and
dominated bS cowardcc and fear of the consequences
to himself, just he had boen in squre's case found
himself hoist by his own petard OF extra session.
siln third letter written by the Mayor
Aror the Governor had sent in his message, Mayor
Hewitt wrote him again, applaudns him for his cour
age not only ia rcmedyng wrong, but In recognizing
fully the principc of home government by cities,
ard saying that lie The only Governor who had
eycr recognized this principle fully and completely
and Without qualification or limitation This letter
the Governor has been at liberty to mako public, but
be has because II Is said that tho letter
hss rider 10 the effect that the has not yet
restored 10 the city treasury the sums derived from
SECTION L. of which he was the beneficiary.
Among the buffalo, Brooklyn and Tammany Han
politicians who have now become pretty well &C
oualnted with tho reasons which controlled Hill in
the dcsertlon of h.s friends before the investigation
was completed act which was equivalent to adver
Using them guilty before :helr trial was hnished
and all for the purpose OF saving himself at any cos
.he effect has been to produce decidedly changed
state Of feeling The belief IS beginning to prevail
that, "a prominent man said to-day, lie is
unsafe tn tie to- d selfish coward, and will under
pressure desert his dearest friend, and when tho poll
tcians know him we'll as do, they viii have no
use for him ONE WHO knows
New-YOrk, July CO. 1888
IA reporter was sent last night, on receipt
Of the above letter to see Mayor Hewitt in regard
TO it, The Mayor not found At his OVID
house. No Lexngton-ave. there was no response
to long continued ringing of the door bell, while
at the house Of his brother-in-law, Mr.. Edward
Cooper, in Washington Square, it was said that the
Mayor supposed to be out OF town. The
statements in the letter are extraordinary
and the source from which it comes seems so
entirely trustworthy. that THE TRIBUNE hardly
feels justified in delaying It's publication, although
IL regrets extremely It's inability to accompany