Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-12
PROBING RAMAPO JOB
Mazet Investigating Committee Re-
sumes Its Labors Today.
COMMISSIONER DALTON ON TIE STAND
He and His Chief Engineer Differ
as to F acts.
QUESTION OF CONTRACT

NEW YORK, September 12.-The Mazet
sions here today.
Assemblyman Hoffman said that as a
representative OF the democratic party he
would ask and Insist that the full truth of
the Ramapo wntcr deal be made plain
without regard to the politics OF witnesses
and that to that end he thought 1t neces-
sary that Senator Thomas G. Plat be
called.
The Ramapo Water Company proposed to
lease to the city certain water rights for
the sum of $5.OO0.O0O year for forty years
The contract came up unexpectedly in the
board of public Improvement, and was only
defeated on tie vote.
Frank Moss, counsel to the committee
said he had received information nearly
three months ago that some move was to
be made in the Ramapo water case An
investigation was made, and showed the
c1tys water supply to be abundant that
ml'Hns of gallons were going to waste
every year. but that the system of dis
tributiOn was faulty.
we got plenty of evidence to sustain
these two positions said Mr.. Moss, land
then. just as We were about to adjourn at
our last session, the news came that the
expected was about to happen.
1T did happen. but, owing to the good
vigilance of the newspapers, the Ramapo
deal is now declared to be dead.
Stock Jobbing Concern.
ut was stock jobbing concern, with no
ability to do aught toward carrying out
its contract, but able perhaps to make
money by disposing Of it's stock and Sc
curities
when the attention of officials were
called to these facts they still persisted in
tanning this contract through. If they
could not see the condition of the COM
pany for themselves they were guilty of
gross Incompetence and negligence
The corporation counsel and commission
er of public improvements proved them
selves incompetent and ignorant, and it
was incumbent upon the mayor to remove
them. Failing to do this, the response
bility is on him and after him on an Off
Ger higher than him.
These commissioners. three Of them at
least, owe duty to certain organiza-
ton which admits responsibility for them
and whose leader has declared that they
will be punished If any wrongdoing be
shown"
VIM. Dalton. commissioner of water sup
plies, was the first witness called. He pro-
duced copies of the proposed contract
with the Ramapo Water Company and of
the reasons he offered to the board of pub
lie improvements in urging the contracts.
These We're put on the record evidence.
Mr.. Moss offered in evidence the state
ment made by Controller Cole against the
contract, the certificate of incorporation of
the Ramapo Water Company and several
annual reports of the company
Mr.. Moss further put in evidence a state
ment from the secretary of state, dated Au-
gust so, 1899, to the effect that not any of
the capital stock had been paid in.
Bought Some of the Stock.
David T. Davies took the stand for mo-
ment and swore that in 1894 he bought
the real estate exchange at auction 800
shares of the stock of the Ramapo Com
pany. He paid $46 for these and lot of
other stocks.
Commissioner Dalton, recalled, said he did
not claim any special knowledge as to the
water supply for this city when he entered
upon the duties of his office.
Il have a chief engineer in my depart
ment," said Mr.. Dalton, land rely upon his
information. My chief engineer is Mr.. Bird
sail"
Ibid Mr.. BirdsaI advise you to go into
the Ramapo contract?'
mo, sir; not that"
"Well he did advise you concerning the
water supply and talked about the Ramapo
company"
He said must get water some way,
and if there was no other way we would
have to get it from the Ramapo company"
Engineer Birdsall was called. Mr.. Moss
asked him whether he had advised Commits
sioner Dalton, previous to the meeting of
the board Of public improvements, to go
into the Ramapo water contract.
Not into the Ramapo contract was the
answer. II did not see the contract in fact,
before that meeting