New-York tribune., 1899-08-31
BIG MEETING TO PROTEST.
THREE THOUSAND PEOPLE APPLAUD
THE COOPER UNION SPEAKERS.
CONTROLLER COLER UPHOLDs THE CITYS
CREDIT-FRANK MOSS AND THE MAZEr
COMMITTEE CHEERED


Fully three thousand New-Yorkers turned out
last. night to express vigorous disapproval OF
the Ramapo water steal at the mass meeting
in Cooper Union. called by THE New-York
Journal" The big assembly room was packed
to the doors. and an overflow meeting OF those
who were unable to squeeze inside was organ
lied In front OF the building. The audience
within was made up OF men Of all parties. 1t
hssed Croker and Platt, Holahan and Dutcher'
while It cheered Justify for Bryan. Coler, Mazet
and Moss Mr.. Coer was easily the lion OF the
night. although at one stage Of the proceedings
Frank Moss seemed about to divide the nonors
equally with the Controller Mr.. Moss had not
been expected to speak. but the audience called
for him so long and so loudly that he was forced
to comply. When he said the Mazet commit
tee would probe the Ramapo plot to the bottom
and would be glad to accept any suggestions
which "The Journals" Vigilance Committee
might make he was vigorously applauded.
The Controller aroused great enthusiasm when
in his speech he staked his reputation and his
office upon the truth of the statement that the
citys debt incurring capacity is sufficient not
only to construct all the waterworks 1t needs
but to build the long deferred rapid transit
tunnel road also
SIMON sTERNE PREsIDEs.
Simon Sterne was chairman Of the meeting.
In his opening speech he analyzed with cutting
sarcasm the terms Of the contract which 1t was
proposed by the Ramapo ring to force upon
the city, and which Corporation Counsel
WhaIen. according to his own account. revised
before sending it to the Board of Public Improve
ments. Mr.. Sterne showed that while the con-
tract recited the alleged fact that the Ramapo
had
bound to deliver pure water to the city; that
while the contract recited the alleged fact that
New-York's Fire Department needed water at
sufficient pressure to reach the top OF high
buildings the company not bound 10 fur-
nish any particular pressure; and worst OF ALL
the contract contained provision that any or
all of it's terms could be altered by consent or
the company and the Commissioner OF water
Supply whenever 1t deemed necessary; so
that it was impossible for the taxpayers 10
know into what kind of deal they were being
pushed bndfod.
Mr.. Sterne made another hit with the audience
when he showed that the company, notwith-
standing It's all embracing franchise. obtained
from the State for rothing, was evidently doubt
full Of its legal powers to condemn watershed
property and had inserted a clause In the con-
tract by which it would act as the agent OF the
city in exerting the right Of eminent domain
which the city undoubtedly has.
CONTROLLER COLER INTRODUCED.
Mr. Sterne's speech was loudly applauded, out
when he turned and introduced Controller Bird
S Coler the audience broke into cheers ano
shouts OF What's the matter with cofer? He's
Rird," Mr.. Coler's speech was brief but to
the poin, He said: -.
! ie
(applause) assembled TO condemn bipartisan }op
.aughter) Some fourteen years ago h cer.a,n ne d
pdocans red Il on sI Brookyn Now they are trying IT
They appear to @ Ss qpse se Tns onr as to they
get the stuff It Is not necessary for me TO char,
it than by stating the simple and well known fact
that the ns @ was xeas unEng me to to oo into It be-
fore fastening 1t upon the taxpayers (Hsses(
regret that am % not ts pGRe I,Es s9efkeF gsbs m put
want to say 1t positively and stake my reputa-
ton and my office on the truth OF this sta5ement
has ample capital with which TO construct all the
i needs and also the he STgsS R@Pa
OF municipal ownership. and If the party which
elected me departs from that principle IT Is my
party and not that am disoyal
credit for having warned him against the pro-
posed steal, and wound up his speech with
these words:
about s5O6OOO more every year than II ever was
called to pay for the purchase and construction or
won this fight, as win will. let us place the
responsibility where 1t belongs. prolonged ap-
plause)
George Doane Russell president OF the Young
Mems League. OF Brooklyn, was appointed sec
retary Of the mass meeting, and read kilograms
of encouragement from Commissioner Shea,
William Astor Chanler. Samuel Gompers and
! ceedng TO eulogize Mr.. Hill when he was
! drowned by three terrific cheers for william j.
Bryan Mr.. Russell quickly appreciating the
situation, said that If Bryan knew about the
! steal he would condemn 1t, too. This brought
! out another cheer for the Is TO l prophet.
Charles Frederick Adams then read some
| strongly worded resolutions con6emning the
| Ramapo iniquity which the meeting adopted
| unanimously and suggested that the vigilance
| Committee at it's own expense. employ counsel
| to aid Frank Moss and the Mazet Committee to
expose the iniqulty. The mention OF Mr.. Moss's
name brought from the audience loud cries for
speech, and finally Mr.. Moss. who was on the
platform, consented to say few words, as fol-
| lows:
As soon as this Ramapo business became public
matter. without waiting to talk to anybody about about
| the Mazet Committee all who are thought to know
| anything about this scheme we are naVlng some
! difficulty in finding some OF them, but We Will find
them all. and We Will gladly accept any suggestions
from the Vigilance Committee
Mr. Moss went to say that the time
coming when the public officer who betrayed
! his trust would be looked upon as worse
traitor than the man who fired upon our flag.
John ~ Parsons leader Of the recent street
| railroad strike. then urged the people Of New
| York to smite both the local Democratic and
Republican organizations for. as he said. trying
| 10 place the heavy burden upon the wage
! earners Of New York. and as the most effective
! way to do 1t, he recommended that they should
vote in future with the Independent Labor
party.
/ NJ. r. Naumberg.