New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-04

suppose the head Of the Departnsn. MI. Keat-
ing will get the leader Of his party to ger major
ity vote, and the bonds will be issued
"And them" remarked Mr. Moss. the favored
contractor will get the work and the favored locai-
ties will get the improvements" To this opinion
the witness assentod.
Alderman David S. Stewart. Of Brooklyn. said he
had never opposed the issue OF bonds for the Lone
Island Water Supply Company. but he had not
voted for the Hall of Records bonds until he was
compelled by order OF the Court, because le thought
there was fraud IN the contract He knew that ~
had been hung up in the departments Tor sixteen
months under some dispute about It's legailty' ana
he conceived the opinion that the sudden desire 10
approve the matter resulted from some deal nav
ing been made If the functions of the Board OF
Aldermen were TO be simply ministerial. and the
Board was TO be merely machine 10 register the
wishes OF the Controller and other heads OF de-
partments Mr. Stewart said he had no desne 10
remain an Alderman. II was necessary III MS
opinion TO have a representative body TO pass on
expenditures of money, and he ala not thlhh IL
proper that the power to spend millions of public
money should be vested In Commissioner VINO
was a political leader
In place of the present city legislature MI Stew
art thought there should he single house. COM
posed of representatives from each Assembly dis
trct. He believed that taxation by ooroughs with
each borough supporting itself. would do away
with the present unsatisfactory state OF things
As matters were now the Aldermen were frequently
asked to vote money for purposes which they
practically knew nothing about The charter in
tended Mr. Stewart went on 20 explain, the Mu-
ncipal Assembly as a checking power on the CITY
officials and he could not see where the principle
Of nonuIar government came in II the Aldermen
and Councillors could be instructed by the heads OF
departments how they We're TO vote.
OPPOSED TO CLUB RULE.
rN ,,,o.. also cold ba uas onnosed 20 the
domination of the city departments from the Tam
many leaders at the Democratic Club. He was also
opposed TO the four years term OF the Mayor
Two years was long enough term. The Board OF
Aldermen alone would be sufficient check upon
the expenditure OF money by the administration.
There was no need for the Council and Board OF
Aldermen. one body ample. AS 1t was now
the two bodies confused matters and uipped each
other up
Mr.. Stewart agreed suggestion made by MI
Moss that the mardamus proceedings were part OF
an effort of the centralized government to coerce
the Municipal Assembly. II meant that New ork'
instead of having popular form Of government.
was ruled by an oligarchy as represented by the
Democratic Club with practically no control being
exarted In the interests OF the people. To take
away the power Of the Assembly 10 pass on imam
cial matters practically left no check whatever
upon this centralized government IT comes down
to this" Mr. Stewart concluded. 'the present con-
test is one between a centralized government and
popusr body 1t is a question whether this CEN
tralized government with the powerful assistance
of the Controller and Corporation Counsel is TO
succeed in compelling the Municipal Assembly TO
violate its conscience by forcing It TO do what It
thinks II ought not to do.
'Why do you suppose the city government which
through its departments held up these contracts
for sixteen months. became excited when the
Board OF Aldermen held up the matter for Few
weeks by a request for informationT asked coun-
sci. as Mr. Stewart was leaving the stand.
1T was to get TO friends Of the administration the
control Of the contracts they did not have before.
Councilman John J. McGarry Oemocrao. Of
BROOKLYN testified that he had voted for oil the
bond issues Examined by Mr.. Moss, he said he
voted for the paving bonds without nrst lhN,S-
the that the speCinchtlOns Tor IN"
asphalting were drawn that only one company
could supply H. He said he trusted TO the honesty
of Commissioners Heating In properly awarding u'o
'Cou1cilman Martin Engel deposed that in voting
for the paving bonds he was not aware that ne
was strengthening asphalt monopoly, %hlth
compelled New-York to pay more man dounle Nl.
price which the same asphalt could d" DoukH.
In London or any other European seaport he
only exclamation Mr.. Engel could orer TOT me IN
creased price re1ui,ed here for the material was
that higher wages were paid 10 tie onGsh0ttiItn
suggestion that he had voted FOL tn Loads SIMPLY
because he had been ordered 1 90 90 M,
Councilman Tn omas +. Foley, Al1>.Tan WOO,
ward and Alderman Elias Goodman advocated ."
single legislative body with increased powers. whic
Councilman AdoIyh g. HOttenrOth saw 30 reason
for the abolition OF either the Councll or bodIa
Of Aldermen. but was In favor OF granting more
power to both houses. 80 w..
The committee will not meet again until tues.
day next when II will resume the inquiry AT 4O"P
a m in Part TX OF the supreme Court