New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-04
in the best and highest sense for the welfare
of the American Nation.
THO JOBS BEA TEN.


Last week two decisions OF the courts gave
| the deathblOw TO two jobs which, IL 'hey hau
| been successful, would have cost the ci'ieS oi
| New-YOrk and Brooklyn millions OF money
| These decisions, taken in connection WIN ohe
recent unnistakable declaration OF the people
in favor Of a pure judiciary. afford convincing
| proof that in the courts the people may still
have full confidence, and that the a''eihp'S vi
crafty and INSCRIPTIONS politicians 10 h'ah'p"
late the courts and use them for their own pur-
| poses are forcdoomcd 10 failure. 1he hrSt III
| These decisions was that Of the Court OF APP
meals in the AU,icduct case, the second was mat
| Of the General Term in the Second Dstrlc'. set
ting aside Judge Prltt's ruling in the Long Isl
| and Water Supply litigation
| Hy the first this city is saved the sum or
sG ooo GOO or 81 OooO0O The action was brought
bv O'Rricn a Clark. Aqueluct contractors
| 70 recover n larg" amount for alleged extra
work on the great tunnel through WHICH INV
Croton water is now brought To the cl'y As
the work in question was necessary 10 inc
proper completion of the Aqucduc' 'h' @'!
contested the claim Of the contractors III" '""
tended that nothing was due them bpy"h" TIE
omount called for by the terms of Inc contract
The suit WAS decided in the citys favor III the
Spccial Term and again at the General Irrih'
and last weeks decision by The Court OF Ap
pcals settles the question finally, iniSiiu'h ~
II was stipulated that the ease just paSS'" OH
should be- regarded ~ Il test ease. ana 'ii'' III
the other suits involving the same ISSUES sh""iu
stand or fall by this one.
The Brooklyn decision is even NOR" siGhhl'
cant. although the amount Of money inv"'"i
l. by no means so large. The Water supply
ioh assumed great importance about the mnidl"
of Noyor Chapin's second term. three years
o,o and the resulting scandal caused HIM Ia DE-
co, aside rs Il candidate for the Mayoralfy Ill
thc following year although he WAS exceed
;nclv anxious for "vindicaion 'hapin. to-
rcthcr with the Controller ana 'ity A"'''"r'
made n secret bargain To buy our Ill" ""''i
Supply Company nj the cXorhitant prl'' "'
81 30 900 BY Il happy accident the discovery
Of this bargain was made in time I" permit INV
bringing of a suit 10 proven, lis coIsuiiiiiI'oon'
ond whom the ease reached the General Term
IL ,vos decided that the cty's right To make
the purchase had expired under the iaW' !"
1899 the Legislature passed Il law p'rmi''"S
the city To acquire the property ana au'horH-
ing The appointment of commission I'D up
nroise lis value. There was some scand;ii I'D
connection with the makeup of the coininis-
sion. but AT length the hearing was coinplr'"i'
and a ma iority OF ;hc commission -thrc" nenl-
hers decided that the companys property ana
franchise were worth $4,000. This result was
hailed by the people of BROOKLYN with d"lgh''
and there was keen disappointment when Judge
Pratt. before whom the report OF the colnins-
sion came for action. decided 10 set aside me
award As the law was framed. grave mus
flee was done 10 the city In that. while the
company had full right of appeal IN the case
Of an adverse decision. the city had none. but
this defect was rcmcdicd by lceislaiiv" act las'
spring and the appeal was taken. win the TO-
s,llt made known on Friday, the award al
S,7oo0 being affirmed The net money gam
10 the city is thus SGsO,0O0 but the net prac-
teal gain is much larger.
These two decisions are cmphaticalIy d'ci-
sions in favor Of the people and against rings
In which certain politicians are largely con
ccrnal As such they possess more than local
interest They confirm and strengthen popular
confidence In the courts. which has lately been
dccpcncd by the defeat Of Maynard ana the
election Of such men Gaynor ana Gary.