New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-24
TIME FOR RAMAPO INQUIRY
PRESIDENT KING OF THE MERCHANTS
ASSOCIATION TALKS OF ITS PLANS.
AZ EFFORT TO BRING TO BEAR THE lNFbO Enc
OF TAXPAYERS AGAINST THAT OF
MERE POLITICIANS.

=. EFFORT TO BRING TO BEAR THE INFLUENCE
OF TAXPAYERS AGAINST THAT OF
MERE POLITICIANS
,r,,,an F King president OF the Merchants AS
.o.lstion. said yesterday in connection Win the
nroposed Ramapo investigation;
-, Merchants Association is glad that at last
80 BOARD OF Public improvements mas passeu a., d
resoSo" ,nvestieate thoroughly all the conditions
Grounding the city's water suppE,, 1x 20 en-
nes.s.scotio, 70 make suggestions which we trust
LII he practicable, concerning the pss' MaH 70
n NEE ~. population of Greater New-York and the
i.crease in bu!lded area. 49,. u.o,,h .r5 r-os-
ar,fv ~ the city as are light and air The cues
,,or therefore has been and Is serious s one, one
llSi.b reouires the most careful and thorough IN
NhlgGGo,,Cn before any course Of action is taken
vS,ab viii bind the city for long period Of time.
,-,,rrNsroN OF TINE AT LAST GRANTED.
Wa made application several weeks ago TO the
Board Of Public Improyemen's d so sxteD
iio1 Of time our position in TINS whole mater
was very fully and competeX se, lOr'a n IN, me
coz tsI~esdv published. Mr.. Holahan introduced
resolution sTapns b us an Daton co OF
~ water supply. and another resolution was
adopted IN It's es sts4d ~ pge sGbeot to that Comms
49, Then we had several talks with Mr.. Dalton
ana CO.io~ cor an extension OF time 10 make this
spis...sgat.on this time through Mr. Dalton. We
hoped that acton % seferres but am glad to say
w. extension was granted yesterday
ny ,v,-~v-LVe We have been going on with our
MssW IVA -; have been endeavoring TO get hold OF the
~ 'ubich ought 70 be in existence. an inspection
Q. sts his work We shall Immediately appoint
= ecroro,ttee OF men Of standing, who are taxpay-
erS 80 ~ water supply and who deeply and
a.,ii, concerned In a sufficient supply OF water for
~ ~ borolehs Of this city.
az we ~ felt that We lad right 10 make this inves-
.,getion The members Of this association number
v-rers bankers transportation men. hotel pro
r-iators and managers; In fact, almost every hne
S-scfv or Indirectly interested in this subject not
only as business men. but as taxpayers and II
question OF this water supply gone over carefully
and intenigently by unbiased persons before any
thing was done that would bind the city. as ex-
pressed through the officers OF this association was
eminently NJ and proper
TAXPAYERS AND NOT POLITICIANS.
wish to use this incident to emphasize and illus;
trate my hxed purpose to direct me wen "a i
trusted 70 me toward breaking down the frequent
q ~ public business and that direct action by
taxpayers is impertinence In municipal ouslIess
the proper political function ends with the seec-
ton Of the men, and those men are Thereafter ile
servants OF the public. and not part OF the pubic:
Between elections theiT ouiy Is 20 t bsl,eve That
tbe most direct road 10 economy and efhciency IN
municipal affairs is TO create IN oinc'al minus
To maintain constant supervision. 10 criticlse
methods. 10 suggest improvements 70 Tequlle 81
Inc ~ detafls-these are rights OF the taxpayers
WHICH n exerted steadily and reasonably. are more
powerful than any political machine ann 20
To that end am evolving UNIQUE piece or ousl-
ress machinery-a permanent stan or eapap!e men;
expe~ts in many branches Of public affairs ana
business relations directed by the practical sa-
gacity OF men Of large affairs. representlng tas ne
the city The purpose is TO protect the CITY ma.
teriai Interests through an efficient and permanent
rsr!zation by means Of which the merchants
land owners financial interests and citizens geherJ
oil lines ~
force and command their proper place n llnu-
encing the public business. II IS because me pu-
noses methods and utility Of such public machinery
are well illustrated by our action IN the halnapo
matter that alude to the subject here