New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-18
4 SCHENE THAT SHOULD DIE.
AUDAC1Ty OF AQUEDUCT CONTRACTORS
COMMISSIONER HOWE DEyouNcEs THE BILL
FOR An ARBITRATION COMMITTEE.

COMMlcSl .NER HOWE Dl.NOb NN'o ii'A@ D'''''
FOR An ARBITRATION COMMITTEE
The audacjous scheme Of the New AGueduct con-
tractors 10 ret their c,ms against the city settled BY
means OF special legislation at Albany Is attracting
considerable attention. Walter Howe, one OF The
Republican members Of the AGucduc, Board, WIS
asied on Wedncsda, whether the Board. by lis action
al any tine had given the contractors any ground
10 mqint,in that The, were unrrasonabN ohstluclcd
In obtaining any money due or 10 become due T. tcnl
On account Of their work upon the Aqueduct.
Mr. Howe answered cmpha'icaly that the Com
mi,si,nels had al al t!mts promptly approved and
passed upon all monthly estimate, and o'hei cl1lm'
for payment. except In such a. III tie written
opinion Of one OF another Of the Counsel u the
Corpo,at,on were either Invalid or doubtful. Tne
commissioners were unanimously in favor Of giving
the cases t. be brought in support OF such claims
The earliest possible hearing and tiiIs and there
fore approved the offer made BY the Counsel TO the
Coporation to give these suits the right II pref ece
ON all the calendars Of the courts, Up - the Court
Of Appeals which is accorded 10 the cty-with such
n preference, the claim OF the contns'trs that they
may be UNREASONABLE distracted Oh delayed Was a
mere pretext
Mr. Howe expressed the hope that when the bill
reached the Assembly the Republican members world
scri,sy oppo>e IL AT every stage that at least the
citizens Of New York might get from the friends Of
the bill some for the passage Of such an eA-
Z tr.ordiuary measure As yet no suqi explanation mas
bce offered uncs, the statement made by the counsel
for The actor, - the senate committee be
considered namely that il is not fair t. ASK the con
tractors to 60 before a jury OF taxpayers who will
have to nav their share Of the To be a1aried
The answer 10 that proposition is that section LOB
Of The Consolidation Act provides that all claims
against the city must be brought before the courts
OF the city, This has been the law Tor many
years and under all contractor, and citizens. rich
ali, had their rights determined, and
no ATTEMPT has ever been made to change il until
the appearance Of the bill which passed the senate the
other day-wiere section l,lO3 II repealed IN sec
ton n,crpOla;cd since the hearing before the senate
cn,nmitt.e This provides that all such actions or
proceedings must Le brought In the lid Judicial Dis
trict. - -
tractor, NAV bc gathered from the statement made 10
The senate Committee reported In the ALBANY core
snoudcuce vi of the papers That the ory
caVjtias discovered were made bN the investigators.
who dug out rocks and tmbers and then tOOh photo.
graphs of the holes for against the contractors and
q few others ordered lett by the COMMISSIONERS thti
| selves ., ,,., 1900, ~.
tngusled engineers General Duane john BOSIr'
| and Mr. Colliugwood. and it may he said the entir
Aoueduc board. for all the cOnin ~slOnrTS nave spct
much time in and about the cavities and caves III Inc
tunnel. have them opened. have eone NJ mo
item and have WALKED around IN some OF thrW "l'c'
I they opened
That the contractors should POW seek to recover
cornpens alton for Cling up thcsc caviilc, for VINO
they had already been paid - or more q 'uplo warn
f,r making solid originally arOuSes the ndlgIt on ui
,crest and attention Of the peoples representatives at
| Albany. Mr.. Howe added that TIE hlli TO" a. We
Assembly, was In his opinion. wholly bad ana rs
uassace would work great injury to the ciyS Interest