The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-11-13
CHURCH MILITANT.
The Water Engineer De-
nounces the Journals
LibelouS Attacks.
THE BIG FASsETT FAKE
Strong Letters Of Endorsement
From Leading Citizens Of
New York.

Mayor Wanser this morning signed the
resolution of the Street and Water
Board, authorizing the expenditure of
SIS, 600 for the engagement of expert en-
gineers to examine the water specthca-
lions now pending and to report whether
or not the best interests OF the city are
concerned under them. He also signed
the resolution which prevents the Board
of Finance from expanding a similar sum
for the purpose of procuring expert as
sistanee. The resolution appointing Ben,
jamin S. Church still hangs fire. The
Mayor declines to say what he proposes
doing with it.
The Journal has waged such q wal
on Mr.. Church because of his nne
ton with some alleged crooked work in
connection with the New York aqueduct
the following spicy letter to the Mayor:
/ beg to state in submitting the ac-
c~ompanying letters, that the scurrilous
attacks tina have been made Upon me
latterly through the medium of q Jer-
sey City newspaper, are maieVoient Ell
this whole crusade against me as bare
faced, trumped up evidence by ~discharg-
ed, disgruntied underlings. employed and
found unworthy of trust years ago. on
the work which / was in charge. More
over, permit me to say that malice alone
is not apt to furnish a motive sufficient
for such industry and expenditure of
time as has been devoted to waging this
war upon me. Clearly, there must be
private schemes for q water supply
which these people are fearful OF having
submitted to a man of experience. /
regard myself honored and my profess
sional reputation strengthened by the
enmity of such men. Lying fnsinuations,
gossiping, garbled half quotations from
AluA a1-a4 CO aaI1@d al yynC nm FIN n
Committee is a new role for that
ancient political engine to be made to
subserve. At the time of their ~iercest
efforts to prove something wrong in my
whereon to hang a valid accusation:
This is shown. by my remaining Chief
Engineer of the new Creton aqueduct
long after the Fassstt Committee was
discharged, and Consulting Engineer a
year after I resigned as Chief.
If there was any foundation what
ever for the shameful deductions the
writer of the article published seeks to
attach to the Fsssett investigation, 1
leave to yeur judgment whether the
press of New York at the time, OF the
bursed, would have allowed me to re-
main for one day Chief Engineer in
charge. My poN Ion was invulnerable
then as now, ah1 l defy any man to
AS for letting of contracts, the en-
abling act for the new Croton aqueduct
empowered the commission to use dis
oretion in awarding bids to competent
bidders. These were not necessarily the
lowest bids. Surely, if a mans strength
Of principle and uncompromising ad-
herence to what he believed TO
the ae e eaenaes e1 he makes Da aieATufs Beg t 70
state hat 1 consider these attacks strong
evidence that 1 ave never feared TO do
B. S. CHURCH.
STRONG ENDORSEMENTS.
The letters referred to by Mr.. Church
are practically recommendations from
prominent men of New York City. One
is from General John Newton of the
United States Army. He says Mr..
Church is an efficient and honest en-
gineer.
Andrew H. Green. ex-Comptroller of
New York, says that Mr.. Green is a
man of high character and ability and
believes that he will serve Jersey City
well in the capacity of consulting en-
gineer.
]. Pierpont Morgan says he is a man of
integrity Of purpose.
Hamilton Fish declares that he is emf
nently qualified to fill the position of
engineer.
Chief Engineer Edward R. Moore of
New York City recommends him very
highly.
Mayor Wanser Is considering these let
tiers, and it is probable that he will ap-
prove of Mr.. Church's appointment.
The Finance and Street and Water
Commissioners held a consultation in
Mayor Wanser's g. private Office this morn
ing. The subject of appointing an en-
gineer to succeed Mr.. Barnes, who re-
signed, was discussed. No definite con-
clusion was arrived at.