New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-21
EAGER TO AVOID THE ISSUE.
AN APPEAL IN THE WATER SCANDAL CASE
MAYOR CHAPLIN TRIES TO HIDE THE FACTS OF
THE STEAL BEHIND QUESTIONS OF LAW.

THE STEAL BEHIND QUESTIONS OF LAW
Mayor Chaplin and his associates in the Long Island
Water supply Company purchase have at last taken
step that gives some indication Of what has been gs
under the lev crust Of silence that has covered
the plans and thoughts Of the ring. Corporation
Counsel jerks. Of Brooklyn yesterday served upon
Nj. GayHor notice Of appeal from the decision OF
Justice bartlett. made January = continuing the
Injunction pending the trial Of the action brought by
William Zegler. This appeal was a surprise u manv'
as jerks had all along allowed the impression t.
prevail that he would not attempt to appeal. but
wouli try the action
The appeal is decidedly significant Of the feelings
OF the persons implicated in the scandal When the
decision Of Justice Bartlett was handed down The
Tribune said that IL greatly tn be feared that the
officers would not 10 try the on the questions
Of fact. bu would pro,.r II possible. TO confne the
argument 10 the questions Of law. II would be cN-
trcmelv unpleasant for Of the members OF the
ring to be called to the stand and have TO answer
whether or not they had any interest in that
stock. which for protection Of its owners Is held IN
blank Experts might swear 10 disaSreeabe facts
about those records of the connections between the
water MAINS said to have been made in the fall OF
1889 the ink on which is still green.
The attempt Of the city officials to throw every
obstacle in the way Of investigation would not
look well The facts as 10 the value Of the
rams hacklc water plant compared with Trecartin's
letters and the Mayors wondrous tangle Of figures
would be damaging. All this Is for the time gotten
rid Of by the appeal. for attention will be then con
centrated the questions Of law. For what other
reason would the appeal be taken some time ago
Mr.. jerks himself said frat the injunction was the
most natural thing in tho world and that in nearly all
cases OF that nature IL was continued pending the trial
II that it should have been continued and the case
tried Why appeal from proper and natural decision
if there Ia such hurry to have vindicaton on the
facts as has been pretended
The plea Of the supporters of the deal is that Mr.
Gaynor has shown intention to delay the trial I'M
reasonably That plea IS without foundation. The
ring would be glad 70 have trial before Mr. 6aynor
could get together his evidence Of their rascalty lie
has not DELAYED. The suit in the first place was
brought in great haste and additional facts have
been discovered. and II IS proper that they shoud %
introduced in an amended complaint. This makes
the officials crOan. How much moro would they
eroan IL on the first Monday in February In spite OF
the appeal Mr. Gaynor should announce that ne was
ready 10 try the case. on that day 1t will come mp
in special Term, but in the ordinary course ot pro
ccdurc il would not tried at once. The appeal VIII
come before the General Term on the second MONDAY
in February
II has been suggested that another reason for the
onucaI is the clanor Of the hungry ones for the
81 900 II the General Term should dissolve mo
Injunction the sale might be contaminated As 'h'''
is no appeal from It IN temporary Injunction ''''''
II this is the reason tn hungry ones are hungry '
deed and willing to burn the cats paws 81 ''"
chestnut picker, without rcmore They might H"def
snch circumstances get the money. but II Mr. H's'r
finally won his casc somebody would have t" pas II
back and Mc,-r-. chaplin and Jackson are DOT"
wealthy
said a prominent Democrat Yesterday II seems ~
mo that mi, appeal IS dcd confession 81 weakness
on the par ~ The city officials. IL attempts 10 pJ"
dice Mr. Gayuor's action by saying that possibly N'
nav not be ready on the first Monday in February H
Is very plain that instead Of rs not being r'"S
they are not ready or are able 10 prepare dcien
On The fact. otherwise they would NOT r' - "HNl'
ali Of sudden to get rd 81 the injunction or irtl
think that the case j, one That sh'uld De Ucu "i
Il, merits. ~. .t.. io,,rd,.4e ,~o
tnalIur ha>to tp rcicN" thcH-"N"- a. -p''"iN :,
po,-blc NJ the iniputatiou- under which me, ar t.
ing by reason OF the frivolous charges maze u' NJ
Thee frivolous charges that the ohc.hs "t We
Cifv OF BROOKLYN paving Tl.2ro"oO i'r COZ.
many Tint according 10 10, own PRESIDENT on NAV 81,
ras worth only r-3.12O. that they were buNng Iii
that stole It's water from the oty's own mains, tha
The propcr city officials were told ~ II long ago ta
havo Influence I'm tho clty government. that TIE ia"
under which the purchase is said 20 be made is M
constitutional. that the authority granted oven u
constitutional ha- expired hat ~" regulations N'I'
conducted IN eccrct. and when discovered ""Tc ''
cludcd I'm spite u protects. ana mat since mo 'l
Lr-p Tho hole ofird al power ~ ~" civ has lfr
evcrc cd 70 urcyent the p4futf from -rtrc M an O"
f,,t I'M The case 90" hiding oi pubic lr'"fus
and tie intimidation II wtrcs-r'.