The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-10-18
CATARACT OF TALK,
Hearing in the Water Con-
tract Certiorarl Be-
gun Today.
MAYOR WANSER TESTIFIES
Baited by Allan L. MeDermott
as to His Reasons for Lik-
ing the Jersey City
Supply.
APPROACHED BY NOBODY
No Collusion Regarding the
Specifications The Mayors
Expert knowledge.
APPROACHED BY NOBODY

sat in Chancery Chambers this morning
to take testimony, as directed by Justice
Lippincott, in the matter of the granting
of a writ of certiorari removing
the award of a contract, for a water
City Water Company, to the Supreme
Court for review. At the table in front
of the Commissioner sat the following
eminent counsel:-Ex-Judge A. @. Gar
retson, Charles D. Thompson, ex-Judge
Frederic Stevens of Newark. Allan L..
McDermott, w. D. Edwards, ex-Judge
Blair, Spencer Weart. Chas. C. Black,
John Griffin, Chas. L. Corbin, and W..
H. Corbin.
In the rear benches were Street and
Water Commissioners Harding and Kai-
ser, Finance Commissioner r. Simpson,
Messrs. John J. Voorhees,, John ]. New
in, Martin Finck, Lebbeus B. Ward
and John Macarthur.
Mayor Wanser came in about ten
o'clock and he was the first person called
to the stand. Ex-senator w. d. Edwards
and ex-Judge Garretson represented the
Jersey City Water Co. Messrs Blair
and Weart looked after the city's inter-
est, the remainder of the counsel were
for the applicants for the writ of GER
tiorari.
The Mayor, examined by Mr.. McDer-
mott, counsel for the Board of Trade,
described at length the terms of the
water specifications which were drawn
by City Attorney Weart. During the
drawing of this instrument the Mayor
was not consulted, he said, and he held
no consultation with the Jersey City
Water Company before the award was
madel He. of course, consulted with the
members of the various boards interested
in the contract.
WAS NOT INFLUENCED.
Mr.. McDermott asked if he had been
approached by anyone about his action
in the matter.
''No, sir
The Mayor said that one member of the
Board of Finance had asked outsiders
what action should be taken in the
water contract. 'and the member was
greatly influenced by Mr.. Lebbeus B.
Ward" he said.
Mr.. McDermott then spent much time
in asking questions about the several
watersheds, and the Mayor showed an
intimate knowledge of their capacities
Then Mr.. McDer1nott asked questions
pertaining to the average increase OF
consumption during the past five years.
'sIs it during that time over one pei
cent?''
'I don't know: the records will show
said the Mayor.
"But you are Mayor said Mr.. Me
Dermott.
Eyes, and if you We're you could moi
answer off hand" said the Mayor.
81 ann glad I'm not Mayor" said Mr.
McDemnott. with a smile.
"And so am T." retorted the Mayor.
AMPLE SUPPLY.
Continuing the Mayor said that in his
opinion the supply of water in the
grounds of the Jersey City Water Com
pany would be ample for at least fifty
years to come OF course. he said. the
water at these head waters would have
to be stored.
Mr.. McDermott reverted to the question
of consumption by asking If the Mayor
had, before he signed the resolution. de-
termined whether the supply necessary
for Jersey City would increase during
the next twenty-five years in the same
ratio as it had done in the past twenty
five years.
sT object to that question. because it
it beading and His Honor has answered
it BEFORE inte1posed Mr. Edwards.
The question was again put and the
Mayor replied that he could not say.
Ibid you consult with an engineer
about the specifications? asked Mr.. Nc
Dermott.
Several
'Name them.''
"Hershel, Pratt, vermeule, Inman and
Wyatt"
QUESTION OF SPECIFICATIONS.
"Are you quite sure you never saw
those specifications before they were
adopted?'' asked Mr.. McDermott.
"Quite positive," said the Mayor.
.sWho prepared the specifications that
were used by the Street and Water
Board?'
81 object" said Mr.. Edwards. 'The
Mayor has answered that question three
times. 1t was done by the joint CONSUL
tation of the engineer, the Board of Pub
lie Works and counsel"
Showing the Mayor a copy of a letter
sent by the Mayor to the Board saying
that form of specification for new
gravity supply We're sent for USE Mr..
McDermott asked who prepared that
form. The Mayor didn't remember.
sWho were present when these speci-
fications were made?'' asked Mr.. Nc
Dermott
IT don't know said the Mayor.
Mr.. Edwards at this point cleared UP
a misunderstanding between the Mayor
and Mr. McDerrnott on the specification
alluded to by showing the copy of the
letter to the Mayor. extracts only of
which had been read The Mayor
prauptly said
.Oh. these Why. of course, I sent
them. ] didn't know which specification
you referred to"
"Who drew them?'
mr. Weart and myself said the
, Mayor.
NO CoLLusION.
"Before these specifca siors were made.
ala YOU have any consultation with any