New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-03
THE RING is DESPERATE.
REFUSING TO SHOW BROOKLYN RECORDS.
DENYING THE RIGHTS OF CITIZEN IN ohpIh
TO COVER UP THE WATER SUPPLY RAs-
CALITY-owNERS OF THE FRAUDU-

-Ahn p Adams, the Commissioner OIL ivy
Works. has admitted that there is conheC'ioh
between the water mains of the city oil brookSh
and those of the Long Island Water Supply Com
pany at Manhattan junction ana Droau"aS'
There are two men in Brooklyn who SAID yester-
dav that within sixty days Mr. Adams had denied
that there was any connection between the pipes
of the two systems, or if there was he knew
nothing of it, Whether this be true or not, aV
least the connection is admitted now, ana IL IS
said that il was made in accordance with the Ie-
ouest of Chief Engineer Nevins, OF the flle De
nartment. and was done openly and according 10
the usual methods of the department. Inc usual
procedure in making water connections is aS ioi-
lows: A permit is granted from the oince oi 'lic
Commissioner of City Works and II Is sent 10 inc
Water Purveyor. He makes out sip, Keepihs
q stub similar TO that Of checK-oook' Arhlcu
with the slip the workmen then may make ulc
oornection A record is also made OF the WORK
having been completed. Therefore there should
he a record of this connection at Manhattan Juhc-
t;sn and Broadway in both offices. beyond thls
there was. it is said, some correspondence Oh u'c
subject If this is true, the letters should pc on
file in one office or the other. these papers "io
mart of the public records of the city OF bfooNSn'
and are of right subject TO inspection pS any 0'''
zen of Brooklyn.
YESTERDAY Il
rho Office Of the Water Purveyor and asked the
DEPUTY purveyor, d. j. Hagerty. to snow hin
any naners at that office in any way bearing Oh
Tho snbect. either record of the request Tor Une
connection permit order or record of the WORK
having heen done He was referred 10 the VI
y.ror Mr. Hawkes. and to him the request was
roneated Mr. Hawkes. referred the inquirer 10
tho Commissioner of City Works. lie ala ho'
dienu,e the reporters right TO see the papers put
remarked that he guessed he had turner
,ben over to Mr.. ADAMS be'hihA-
inc himself TO he on bis guard al lhaV
noin1 of the conversation Mr.. Hawkes. reiuscd 10
rive any further information, and declined 10 say
nositively whether or not any of the papers were
really in his Office or not.
The reporter next called at the office OF The
Commissioner of City Works. Mr.. Adams was
NOT in. and the Deputy Commissioner, James a
Martha. was requested 10 show the papers Nheh
Mr. Mnrtla learned that the inquirer was from
The Tribune, he smiled and said ne had ho'''l'S
10 do with the Long Island Water company
business and that before those phnAc lec'IuS
oorId no exhibited Mr.. Adams would have 10 be
seen Soon Mr.. Adams entered, and applcauo"
was made to him for view of the papers. lie
repeated his statement of few days ago, that
there was connection at Broadway and Man
see the papers now
when can sec them. Mr. Adems?' the re
porter asked.
when this case is over was the reply. The
Commissioner then turned 10 his desk and began
10 look over papers and talk TO his clerk. Finally
the reporter asked why he could not see NE
PAPERS. but he received no answer. After time
he repeated the question, and Mr. Adams re-
piled that he would not talk about the anHr'
He mad nothing 10 say and would not show the
papers Then The reporter made formal demand
as a resident citizen and elector Of the city OF
Brooklyn 10 any record of papers showing or
concerning such connection. AT that point the
Commissioner arose and started TO 60 into his
private Office. but was stopped long enough ioS
the reporter TO inquire: DO You refuse M de-
mand ,"
No | don't refuse il.
Then where are the papers p
oh that's another thing" answered Mr. Adams
as he went inside his private office and slammed
the door.
Is there another city in the United States where
nublic officers dare refuse 10 show the public
records Of their Offices 10 a citizen? Why was II
ysfused in this case a? If the connection was prop
erly and legally made what objection could there
he 10 allowing the utmost publicity to Tie papers
in the case The refusal itself is confession
of fraud. But does any one really eneNe 'n"'
the connection properly, openly ana leH"iN
made. and that there are any papers DfaTihe
on the case in either the office OF Inc wafer
Purvevor or Of the Commissioner Of CltY N0rKS
Granting that there really are some such papers
IN existence docs any one believe that they are
not fraudulent on their very face? Inc REFUSAL
can De interpreted in no. other way.
Jnolarcrs approached Edward trccl Yesterday
p
10 ask him if il was true that ne was one %
the stock holders Of the Long Island water supply
Company which was about 10 gran - ,oVo'V"o u
Tho ritv's money. He refused even to listen 10
questions. much less 10 answer them. lie did ho'
denv rbat he was stOckholder Neither does
Thomas T Ncyins. the chief engineer Of the
Fire DEPARTMENT, deny his interest. Those per
sons VINO have been familiar with the affairs
Of the Long Island Water supply Company from
tho ti,ne when the Commissioner Of tlty WORKS
nersecnted Samuel Hatton into selling the company
IN Staples the broker, 90 not hesitate 10 Say
that another Of the stockholders whom Staples
represents is C. G.. Adams. Jc"cllcr VINO has
a store at Fulton-st and Elm Place. mo OWLS
the stock of the Long Island Wafer supply 'oh-
many? Edward Ficcl. Thomas +. Ncyns, I. I
Adams-the list grows longer. John /. Adanlss
The Commissioner Of City Works, is an influential
member OF the Brooklyn government that was
about 10 pay 81 ,25O, 900 for the Water Company
Jobu = Adams is a brother Of e. {. Adams!
Nayor Chaplin yesterday did not think it worth
,.hile 10 SAY anything about the attempt 10 brow
80 Noycs g. Palmer, which was described yes
-. t,th AS great accuracy as Is possible N
.iIiSy the doings of men banded together for
secret c operations and accustomed to carving , on
a,e,omcut in their own way regardless OF lhc
eoi,a - citizeus for information about their
Ic9nesS or ,hc laws under which they act They
niS Teonests for information as unreasonable,
k,,t
40 - slG" attSmpts TO get the reporters not 10
p pu% Of 5p" o snS s"5 re fSs
president OF IN 10 oncr 10 sell was made
Mayor, III "i innnircrs were unreasonable. One
l rsraZps ma sRe do What he win with his owl and
Sas ANY one doubted that they own n "s"rni