New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-13
TRACING BROOKLYN FRAUD.
THE WATER PURVEYOR DOES CITY PLUMB
ING
40 REAL RECORD OF THE CONNECTION BE
TWEEN THE CITY'S MAINS AND THE

40 REAL RECORD OF THE CONNECTION BE-
TWEEN THE CITY's MAINS AND THE
SUPPLY COMPANY'S PIPES.
If the friends of honest government in Brook
lvn decide to make an attempt to have John T.
Adams removed from the head of the Department
Of City Works for his actions in regard 10 inc
connection Of the wster-mains of the city WIN
those of the Long Island Water Supply Company
what will they do with his subordinate, Henry
Hawkes., tho Water Purvcyor? Not only In this
but also in other affairs, he has been guilty OF
such actions steps might properly pe taken
for his removal Henry Hawkes. is plumber ana
has shop at No. 800 Flatbush-ave lhat Is MS
calling as a private citizen Officially he is, as
has been said the Water PurveyOr, and was APP
pointed to that place during the administration
of Mayor Whitney His name Is 10 he founn
peculiarly placed considering that lie is public
officer in the annual report of the Department OF
Parks for 1887. In the statement of bills paid
by the Brooklyn Park Commissioners in 1887 is
the following entry: Henry llawkes-PlumblnG
2 column headed No. of vouchers Sl.225 AZ
In other words Mr. Hawkes. received 81 -
from the CRY Of brooklyn for plumbing "niio
hod;ag the Office of Water Purveyor.
Article l. section ., of the charter of the CITY o'
Brooklyn reads:
M city officer shall be interested contract WIN
m. city or in any compensation for work done "r' VI
materials or supplies furnished to the city or any o
tractor or other person furnishing the same 10 'h' wy
nor shall hc participate in profits with Such contractor
or other person. receive any compensation comm"
Gift or reward for his services except the sslarN Ut
established by by an ordinance or resouuo" VI '
Common Council.
In behooves Mr.. Hawkes. TO explain tha' eh'iN
IN the light of the charter Perhaps he might
aIso GOV something about participating in tho
nro6ts Of the constant plumbing work going on III
tho Nnnicpal Building. Contracts are not no"
,oten in the name of public officers lhey nave
become too wary.
The animal report Of Mr. Hawkes. to the Com
missioner of City Works for 1889 dlscIoscs some
Interesting facts. 1t is extremely minute All"
records all the pipes laid during the year. To-
oatber with the dates when the work was uonc'
AS small piece of work as four fcct oil el@i'-hon
nine being laid in Dcgraw-st. on November i II
mentioned and many other jobs of no greater III
oortance. Yet there is mention of the con-
nec+ion between the mains of the CITY ana u'e
Long Island Water Supply Company.
What tangle Mr. Hawkes. is in. TN January
:. ,old Tribune reporter that all records OF
,h connection had been handed over to Mr.
Aaous On January Mr.. Adams told Mr. Icglcr
H., In had no records After that Mr.. Hawkes.
,rodnces record from his daily reports OF NoNcm-
i.r 1880. but cannot show the original cU'r
of John P Short, the foreman, 10 hm' 'iilnE
NJ the connection. Now in his minute s'a'"n'c"'
~ work. published before the necessity OF proving
this confessed connection legally made had arseh'
there is no record of it TO be found was 'heIo
.vor any record in existence before that necessity
arose? c,,xp
No ono has ever seen the original Of Chief In
.;reer Nevinss request for the connection, ana
Tho renort Of the Fire Department for $50 does
NOT sneak Of it, though that report oelghs I"
,.cord snch things as request for the removal OF
d'Unnudrift frr>l a hydrant. Mr. NcvlnS also SAYS
i,ent No COPY of his letter That connection
Tor The purpose Of protecting whole waro aeains.
Gro was of wonderfully small importance IN the
Minds Of these officials. Rather, II was eeGle.
confessed only under compulsion one "on'0i'
,shat excuse will next he invented.
g Adams. the brother of John p Adams, IS
reported have said that ne dlo moC conl
yganv and ne denies having any interest," i'll II.
r., Ncyins also denies his share III is III oruci
for Staples to become only nponen 7, Is
have no personal interest in the concern. At "A, -
.oid however that Staples will Try 70 holo Ihc
cdty To its contract let the courts decios VIZ" .%c
they NAV. If that is so II is fortunate unao w
Major is wealthy and can pay II ne IoSe uhe
case. - 49,, ..tocbod IN tho
visit Of Eugene Wood. the well-kno"n Iegsld'lNs
agent 10 Staples on Friday. IL is even ruinofcu
tbst an effort will be made TO pass phi com
neiling the CITY 10 buy the waterNTorks but su'h
impudence is hardly 10 be credited even 10 'e
A petition is being circulated and has received
many signatures for mass meeting at rhe
Academy Of Music on next Monday evening 10 cN-
nress aDproval Of Mr.. Zegler's action Many
democrats have signed it. letter was written
IN Mr. Gaynor suggesting that fund be ralsed
10 paw him. he was really actlng ioI one cl'I-
gems. but Mr.. Gaynor said that he couid not ac-
cept il. ,. .,a ,,,ora IN.
pleasant for the ring and there IS talk OF various
sbluf games being played to distract a''en'ion