New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-18
MR.. CROKER'S OPPORTUNITY.

While Mr.. Croker, just returned from Europe
still had his sea legs on he announced with a
great show of virtuous indignation that the
holding up Of bond issues by the Municipal AS
sembly was an extremely suspicious thing, and
that under his explicit orders search for "the
niger in the woOdpile" would be Immediately
instituted. That has been and still is an inter
estng subject of inquiry, but suddenly another
matter much more deserving of his attention
has come to light. We advise Mr.. Croker to
postpone the bond issue investigation and take
up the Ramapo Water Company's scheme to ex-
tract S., OOO,0 900 annually from the city treasury
for the term of forty years. Chiefly through the
determined opposition Of Controller Coler and
Commissioner Shea at Wednesdays meeting of
the Board Of Public Improvements this amazing
enterprise was halted for two weeks, and the
Controller will employ that period in ascertain
ing important facts about the water supply and
the resources Of the Ramapo Valley. 1t appears
to us that Mr.. Croker could not use the interval
to better advantage than in dragging out the
truth about the shifty effort of some Of his most
devoted and conspicuous followers to get the
city abruptly committed to an enormous con-
tract.
This Is business which closely concerns
everybody, and In the exploration OF which
everybody, without regard 10 his political afil-
iations, is sure to take lively interest. For on
the face Of II, as all must acknowledge, II is an
extraordinary circumstance that men constitut-
ing the very essence Of Tammany Hall, who
are so close to Mr.. Croker that they can hear
his pulse beat, should have been so eager to be-
stow $500, 900 upon a company which is gen.
orally understood to enjoy equally intimate rela-
tons with the Republican machine. Consider,
too, the suggestive features Of the process by
which the official promoters Of private interests
attempted to accomplish their purpose. The
Controller knew nothing about II until the last
moment but they were well informed that
one Of them travelled long distance to be pres
ent. The resolution was sneaked into the meet
ing, and the intention was to jam 1t through
The old, familiar combination of secrecy and
force, wasn't II? 1t has precisely that appear
ance, and in the absence Of an explanation no.
body Is liable to censure for making the inevita-
bic deduction
Here is Enthusiastically suitable field for the
exercise Of Mr.. Croker's talents as an investi-
gator and of his influence as the accredited
ruler of NewYork How does II happen that,
whereas he and his spokesman, as the Control
Ter reminds u.s. were only little while ago en-
phatically advocating municipal ownership Of
gas works and an asphalt plant, his nearest off,
cial friends are now so convinced that the city
ought to buy a large part Of its water supply
for the next forty years that they are anxious
to employ disreputable means for the accom-
plishmept Of so indispensable an object? Mr..
Croker has two weeks In which to get answers
to this and kindred questions, and II he thinks
that period too short Mr.. Holahan would find II
hard to deny request for more time, distressed
and Indignant as he was that there should be a
single days delay in comforting a 5000 ,000, DOC
boon upon the city. Indeed, he might be more
than reconced in consideration Of the great
pride and glory which would accrue to him
when he had COMPOUNDED his enemies by conclu
sive proofs Of the wisdom Of paying $1,000. 900 a
year for forty years into the treasury Of the
Ramapo Water Company.
In substantating such claim TO public praise
and veneration Mr.. Holahan might reasonably
rely upon powerful assistance. II, for example
the relations between the water company and
the Republican machine are In reality as init
mate as they are commonly supposed 10 be, Mr.
Raatt would doubtless be glad to assure the com