New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-19
HOT WORDS OVER A CONTRACT
CHARGES OF CORRUPTION MADE AT THE
BOARD OF IMPROVEMENTS MEETING.

THE CITIZENS WATER SUPPLY COMPANY OF
NEwrowN ORDERED TO SUPPLY QUEENS
FOR THREE YEARS IN THE FACE OF
BITTER oPPosrT1oN-PATRICK JE-
ROME GLEASON KEEPS IN
THE PUBLIC EYE.
The Board of Public Improvements. after the
liveest session yet held by that body, passed the
Queens water resolution yesterday afternoon. au-
thorizing the Commissioner OF Wafer Supply to ex-
ecute a contract with the Citizens Water Supply
Company Of Newtown, OF which Cord Meyer Is
president for supplying not less than i've hundred
thousand gallons OF water daily to the city OF New
York at the rate OF S65 for every million gallons and
much more at the same rate as the Commits
sioner OF Water Supply thinks is needed for three
years. The water. the discussion showed Is to be
supplied Queens Borough. but the contract does
not announce that, the agreement being entered
into by the city OF New York with stipulation as
to where the water is TO be delivered.
The resolution was adopted after long and
wordy night. in which Presidents Grout Of Brooklyn
and Bowey OF Queens. with a delegation OF tax
payers from the latter borough fought the passage
tooth and nail and Commissioner Dalton OF the
Water Supply Department with Commissioner Nc
CARNEY Of the Street Cleaning Department. Com
missioner Kearney Of the Department Of Public
Buildings. President Holahan OF the Board and. In
cldontaIly, Patrick Jerome Gleason. ex Mayor OF
Long Island City. took the other side The subject
came up on a favorable report OF the Corporation
Counsel the proposed form OF contract. I'm
medately after the reading OF this report President
Bowley OF Queens entered a protes; against the
passage OF the contract telling OF efforts made by
certain in the former municipality OF Long
Island City to throw away the water plants owned
by tho city and make contracts with private COM
panies. After reading his own protest. and de-
claring vehemently that the Democratic party had
won last falls election on platform opposed to
private franchises. he introduced Mr.. Horak. chair
man Of committee representing the Taxpayers
Association OF the First Ward OF Queens.
Mr.. Horak more vehement than President
Bowley in his opposition to the proposed contract
He openly charged that crooked work done
by those officials who were in control In the old
city ex-Mayor Gleason looking and listening with
evident interest though frequent wink at the re-
porters showed TIM, he did not wish to appear as
taking the denuncaton Of his own work very seri
ously. Mr.. Horak said that there had been tamper-
ing with the waterworks. and ne. as practical en-
gineer. knew that the works had purposely been
run In such way 10 make them as useless as
possible. Stops had been put In water mains. with
small apertures through which the water had 10 be
forced by the engines in order TO make the pressure
adequate. and the bottoms Of wells had been filled
with sand TO obstruct their supply OF water
TO the pumps. He pleaded that the waterworks
could be made to supply enough water with small
outlay.
III God Almighty gives us the water free on the
big watersheds over there why should We pay high
prices TO private companies for It - he asked. This
has been tried In the past to get money out
OF The rotten administration Of Long Island
City made taxes hlEh that many a man had his
property conhscatcd because he could not meet
them This Board Is too big to want to be making
money out OF us We trust 10 Its honesty. But II
there is somebody who does want 70 get more
money out OF us. for Heavens sake. he should
learn at once that all our money Is gone. We
haven't any left"
President Hoahan interrupted tho speaker 10 ask
him II ne realized thnt he WAS making grave
charges against the Engineer Of the Water Supply
Department IN stating that the Queens plant was
being manipulated. since Mr.. Biresali who was
Acknowledged TO be the best expert on water sup
ply matters In this country. had reported that the
plants could not be worked Mr. Horak said that
he did not attack Mr.. Birdsas honesty. but be
leved that he had been hoodwinked as many OF
the people OF Queens had been. He went on 10
say that the men who had manipulated the
supply under the old regime were s,i in their
old places
Il say solemnly that the same evidences exist
to-day last year that the supply IL being tam
percd with" continued Mr. Horak. 1T cannot mean
anyt thing else when the pressure at one time Is 70
great as 10 burst iop-story pipes and at another
so Low that Il won't reach alovo the frst floor
Changes In tho water in the wells won't make II
so that In one part OF the the big mains are
full and at high pressure. while only Few feet
away there is no pressure on small pipes. Any
engineer will tell you that water doesn't act that
way OF its accord
President Holahan called for n vote mo-
ton TO delay and there difference OF opinion
as the right OF borough presidents 10 vote. The
charter gives them. singy. vote on questions that
concern their boroughs President iiolahan ruled |
that only President Bowley OF Queens could vote |
but he changed MS ruling when president circuit |
contendcd that the contract did not specify the |
cSntrnef aetlne the Whole city. All were allowed
vote. Presidents Peters and Hanen voted against
ed 1t. ''''''''''"'''''
President Grout then took tack. He called
Board no; the same presented month or |
two before injunction proceedings stopped the
first attempt the contract through. When |
this contention overrulod he asked II the Com
missioner OF Water supply mad ever made an inves-
81 a million gallons In the contract. when IT had
Island City OF $50 Commissioner Dalton said he |
hadn't heard Of any such offer.
president Bowlcy OF Queens informed this Board |
OF that fact at a meeting some time ago. exclaimed
Ex-Mayor Gleason at last go, chance to make
the Board for some weeks to make. He said that all
the tale that President Bowley and Mr. Horak had |
with the affairs OF Long Island city for twenty-five
years and could say that there was not enough |
and no man could get 1t. however mucn ne spent.
President Bowley interrupted. but Patrick Jerome
hand and talking. After he had said as
much as ne thought polite In the face OF the evil
dent Impotence OF the members he handed TO the |
President a protest from OF his constituents
and a written offer 10 supply the city with water as
good as the Citizens company's for $40 u million
gallons.
Commissioner Dalton followed Mr. Gleason with
another demand Mr.. Horak for a direct state
ment that the water supply In Queens had been
since January.
Can you say definitely that there has been crook
ed work going on?" demanded the Commissioner.
Il charge that the water supply system in Queens
has not been properly conducted since January l."
was the reply.
Well II you were secretary OF the Grand Jury
as you said you were. why didn't you bring this
thing TO the attention OF tho Grand Jury and have
Il Investigated at once?" asked the Commissioner
We'll ! am OF the same party as YOU" replied Mr..
TIorak and ! said when the administration
came in. Let them have chance to what they
will do That's the reason have never called the
attention OF the Grand jury to IT,"