New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-25
RAMAPO CHARTER TOTTERS
LEGISLATURE NAY BE ASKED TO RE-
woke JoBBERS' PRIVILEGES
l. STRONG TALK WITH EX-CITy WORKS
COMMISSIONER WHITE. OF BROOKLYN,
IN WHICH HE SAYS THE SCHEME IS
UBIQUITOUS IN EVERY WAY.

IN WHICH HE SAYS THE SCHEME IS
1NIQUIToUs IN EVERY WAY
Every day adds TO the number Of influential
end public spirited citizens who are arraying
themselves against the proposed Ramapo water
steal and offering their advice and support 10
Controller Bird S. Coer. who has been the
recognized leader in the fight against the
scheme from the first. 1t begins 10 look If
the attempt TO force contract upon the city.
by which the water company could receive
about S5oO0Oo0 year for forty years for water
furnished 10 the city, would be the means OF de-
stroying all prospects OF success which the COM
pany might have had. So much public indigna-
ton has been raised by the audacous plot that
the Legislature probably will be asked TO revoke
the charter OF the company and take away from
1t the rights which it is supposed to hold
The City Club has determined TO send to
Governor Roosevelt a communication regarding
the dangerous power the water company q
supposed TO have in grabbing water supply sys-
TENS. 1t may be suggested TO the Governor that
q special session Of the Legislature to deal with
the water company would be justified The
Controller has declared that he believes the pro-
visions in the companys charter which are sup
posed TO permit the grabbing of lands. lakes
ana TlNeIS loI lls use III oldNc dAo NHSNiiEN4
tutional and that the courts would so decide
IL test could be submitted TO them.
THE New-York journal has started a move
Ynent for the formation Of a Vigilance Commit
tee Of citizens to work for the defeat of the
Ramapo conspiracy. Ex-senator David p. Hill
is announced as counsel for the committee, and
ex-Mayor Abram 8. Hewitt Everett P. Wheeler,
Simon Sterne. William c. De Witt. Woodbury.
Lsngdon. Samuel Prince. Peter B. Olney. John
Phillips. L J. Callahan. William J. OBrien and
John n. Parsons are mentioned as among the
citizens who have signed the call for the forma-
tion Of the committee and for mass meeting
OF citizens to give expression to public opinion.
The meeting will be held at an early day.
CITIZENS SPEAK OUT.
Ex-senator Hill is said to have denounced
the Ramapo job and consented to give his best
work to the committee organized to kill the Job.
Expressions Of opinion by citizens signing the
call for the formation of the committee have
been published as follows:
Abran s. Hewttt-My private opinion is that the
steal is dead. Yet II should be carefully watched,
lest it its head again; The Journal" is right
the City and the taxpayers Coler is only doing his
duty but ne is doing It fearlessly and thoroughly.
and should have the cooperation OF all good cio-
William C. De Witt will aid in any way within
nv power 10 defeat that wanton perversion Of the
Charter and outrage upon home rule known as the
Peter B. oiney~You may use my name on call
simon sterne-I have no doubt that the Vigilance
Committee win make il impossible for the RamaPo %
company to rob the city The steal s the mo most IN IN
famous ever eoncocted and l. for one, Will hght
Woodbury. Langdon-TI VII % -anythIng 7 can -. 70
stop the Ramapo steal The Vigilance Committee
c6Ier's brave stand against the Ramapo water
works steal nave Ie! ~ r,,ed ~ ne Course
and how anxious to JOIN any COMMITTEE 20. Of
ns f sn 'hss @ TO was serve 5yRE Rh W Mr. osr in
mittee in opposition 10 the Ramapo steal L--,,-,,,
M 81 our citizens as The Journal proposes to
9gs PeoPe % our prTge Although he scheme
seems 20 be dead. il may he only Sleeping; c,er-
+rsI Federated tnion-The delegates from the
various labor Tg9Rs me RseaP water 70 scheme at our
rneetins in Clarendon Hall last Sunday and they
viii cordially indorse The JournaIs pa" -
Winam J. o'Brien. chairman Independent Labor
seal and pronounced for municipal ownership rs
cure for all such civic evils as accompany puonc
contracts with private corporations
Arguments on the injunction order obtained
bv THE World" will not be heard before JUS
tice Bookstaver in the Supreme Court to-day
the time when the order was made returnable.
CORPORATION Counsel Whalen has asked for ana
obtained delay in the hearing until September
7 The DELAY will prevent any action on the
Ramapo contract by the Board Of Pubic I'M
movements at its meeting next wednesday
Meanwhile the engineers appointed by Controi-
Ter Coler TO investigate the citys water supply
and the Ramapo Water Company Will oe al
work Their reports are expected 70 make 80
strore case against the proposed contract
that the Tammany members OF the boaru oi
Public improvements who wanted 10 lorce Ihe
contract on the city will not dare 10 persist
IN their plan. Mr.. Coler yesterday appointed
J. r Freeman, OF Providence X l. profiii-
rent engineer. as one OF the lhVes''sa'oi' -
the water supply for the city.
]. C. SHAW SAYS IT'S ILLEGAL
Another opinion against the legality OF the
proposed Ramapo contract was sent 20 lhe Oon-
troller yesterday. II was written oy 'ohH ~
Shaw. and # reinforces the opinion which the
Controller has received from ex-Judge Johh =
Dillon. Mr.. Shaw's opinion IS as Aoiio"'
There 10 be singular n the news
the various interviews whien dpPraa pPa ,er New-York
papers about Section All OF the Oreaser "a
~ t. srooa tba Sornora ton Counsel down, seems 70
be Of The opinion that it grants unlimited pow
gresi mistake IL is on the contrary, hInltSuOh S
On The powers Of the Commissioning OF Water sup
IN Asas on power to Contract showing
that Mr. Ash looked upon the mater Ihe bni as a
] do-not as granting unlimited power pu' %
Amits ton Of power. - VIE. 4. ,,atad "a
In this morning. paper MT De w. -reater 20 Kew
saying This section came into the SIease i1Lts i;
YORK charter from the Consolidation aCS Tds tnot
an entire mistake as you easily NeIily ~ @
Ing al Mr. Ashs book Wherever section Is taHS ~
from a prior law the prior law Is quoted at ti,e
foCt ~ the secfion This section in my judgment
restrans the Commissioner Of water SupPS I1O1a' I'm
entering into contracts unless he obtains the Snr
sent OF the Board OF Public Improvements go ant
the contract in all It's details is suDmltteo 20 H. a
T. is unlawful for the city or any depdf Ii ~ ~
make any contract save in accordance win htnI {n
provisions and requirements OF TINS hcti va 20
lYTOylsions and requirements hereby oecla eu
establish the exclusive rule for the making OF su 40
contracts Nv opinion is this makes 5ecuoli 70
Gpplicable 10 any contract which the ComInssioheI
ot Water Supply may desire 10 enter into, az, am
convinced that this Is the correct inieFPIe
Notwithstanding the decision which the ,Cor,ppoIv