New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-23
XIII That BILI.

There are some hopeful indications that tho
Hill designed TO enable Aqueduct contractors
IN rol, the CITY of New-Yorll of about 80, 0O0,-
600 NAV be defeated in the Assembly after
all. When sixty-one members put themselves
on record in favor of this impudent swindle
last Friday and only thirty six against IT, there
seemed to be no hone. But since then storm
of protests has disturbed the equanimity OF
John O'Bricn's recruits and several of them
are said to be on the point of deserving him.
No sign Of a general stampede has appeared,
but if only few run to cover the plot will be
frustrated. That is not the way in which the
bill ought to be laid to rest 1t ought to be
buried in deep grave exclusively its own,
without mourner, tho Assembly to man
eagerly assisting the interment but the most
that we can hope for is that large minority
will be buried with It,
IF, instead Of defending the just interests of
the city, the Aqueduct Commissioners were de-
tclmined to withhold money honestly earned
by the contractors if public hostility had been
craftiy and wickcdy aroused against ill-uScd
men, who had done their whole duty with
scrupulous honor-even then the Legislature
would have no excuse for the creation of new
tribunal TO decide their claims. They would
he safe in the custody of the courts. What
then can be said in behalf of Il measure which
seelt to put premium Oh deliberate villany
and to Iatify and reward stupendous frauds
by compelling the city TO pay double for the
privilege of enforcing it's contracts? Not a
word can be said or a vote cast in support of
such proposition without dsgraciDg the man
who speaks that word or casts that vote. And
vet twenty-five Republican members OF the
Assembly refused to let this bill be killed last
Friday. Here are their names {: Adams. An
drus, Barton, Bradford, J. |. Burns. W. Is.
Burns, Curricr Curtis, GARDENER, Gibbs, Gret-
singer. kimball, Kurth, Leroy. AIase, Nixon,
J. X. OConnoT, Page Rhodes, Sawmiller Shelf
fer W. c. Stevens, Treadway, Weed White;
and Hamilton Fish refused to vote.
We will frankly acknowledge that the pres
ence Of some of these names in such a list would
never surprise us. But there are many others
that are not accustomed to Ire found in such
company. What are they doing there now?
That is question which every honest citizen,
and first of all, every honest Republican, has
a right to ask 1t is question TO which thou
sands of voters will demand plain answer
between this date and next November. We
''Nt''
conclusive and satisfactory explanation that
they can possibly devise viii be vote against
the bill as soon and as often as it comes up
hereafter. That will be equivalent, it is true,
to confession that they did not know what
they were about last Friday but ignorance is
not mortal sin.
From moral point of view the repetition
ly Republican Asscmblymaa Of his original
fault would not be aggravated by Democratic
exhibition OF repentance. But, il politics must
be taken into account, what. we should hko
to ask, will be the inevitable verdict OF the
people and effect upon the party should Tam
many members reverse their former action
while Republican members persisted in be
fricnding the bill? There is some reason TO
suppose that the first Of these hypothesis may
como true. Mayor Grant joined in the indig-
nant protest which the Aqueduct Commissioners
sent to the Legislature last week. 1t was hard
| to believe that he was sincere or even TO doubt
! that he had sent contrary orders 10 Albany III
advance in view of the fact that the Tammany
| Hall Senators. Brown Rocsch and Stadlcr
voted for the bill, and that Stephen J. Ollare,
the Tammany Hall leader in the Assembly, and
several of his colleagues from this city fol-
lowed their example unhinchingIy. Some Of
these men now say that their minds were en-
lightencd by revelation from headquarters
during the recess, and that they have returned
to Albany with instructions TO vote against
O'BIien. We advise Mayor Grant to make
assurance. on this point douby sure The
spectacle presented last week when tho Tam
many leaders were making ardent protests
against the bill in this city, and It's humble
servants voting steadfasty for it at Albany
was far from edifying
Just one word more to every member Of the
Republican majority in the Assembly: Vote
to kill that bill, from high motives. because it
is corrupt and contemplate device to swlndle
this city If some Of You on this occasion are
allured by low motives, think twice and vote
| TO kill the bill rather than yourselves.