The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-13
THE RAMAPO JOB RIDDLED.
Moss ASKS DALTON II HEB IN "ANY
OTHER CROOKED JOE"

tho Water Commissionors' Ignorance
About the Big Contract-Comic EnGin SER
Ing Croker To 10 Questioned To-Day.
That curious and extensive swlndle known
as the 'Ramapo job" which came promi-
nently into public notice after the summer adj
sournment OF the Mazet Investigating Com
mittse, was made the subject OF the investi-
gators inquiry at the opening session OF the
Committees fall term yesterday. Most OF the
day Water Commissioner William Dalton sat.
or rather wrigged. in tho witness chair. and
answered questions when he couldn't get out
II. A more artless dodger than Mr.. Dalton
hasn't yet appeared before the Committee. and
his efforts to avoid direct replies to Mr.. MOSES
queries were endless. When he got chance
he launched into deman that som ebody-rre-
terably Comptroller Coler-shoud tell him how
the city could get water without the aid OF the
Ramapo Company. As to the nature OF that
organizations assets. the possibility OF its per-
forming what IL promised. and the methods OF
its proposed water delivery his Ignorance was
quite phenomenal His form Of the familiar
Tammany retort. That's my private bust
ness was couched in more Diplomatic terms.
That's an engineering matter" was his
reply to all attempts at getting anything out
OF him regarding the methods of water supply.
and no referred everything in this line to
Engineer Birdsall. who was as he said paid
$1,000 a year by the city to answer questions
like that"
MOSS INTRODUCES THE RAMAPo JOB.
After the Committee was called TO order In
Part TX Of the Supreme Court John Proctor
Clarke. OF the Committeo's counsel. spoke
briefly OF the late James O. Crawford. Sergeant
at Arms OF the Assembly. who died In the Com
mttee's recess. and aske that note in appre-
citation OF Mr.. Crawford's services be included
in the minutes. Chairman Mazet and AS
semblyman Hoffman also spoke in eulogy OF
Mr.. Crawford. and It was announced that
Deputy Sergeant at Arms F. W. johnson would
act in Mr. Crawford's place.
As soon as Dir. Moss announced that he
would take up the Ramapo Job. Mr.. Hoffman.
In behalf OF Tammany Hall. read typewriter
article demanding that Senator Plat be called.
Nobody paid any attention to this echo from
the Democratic Club. and the business OF the
day began with brief address by Mr. Moss.
lie said that when inquiry was made at tho
last session into the water supply OF New York.
the public thought the matter irrelevant, and
did not see to what 1t tended. but that the Com
b,ittes had information at that time about the
Ramapo Job. He would show. he said. first.
that 1t was an utter i'm possibility for the Ram
apo Company to supply the city with the
amount OF water named in tho proposed 5000.
UOO.OO0 contract. and that the whole thing was
a stock Jobbng affair in which the city. having
been used to float the bonds. would be left
without the water. which the company was to
furnish. and with only 100000 forfeit money
upon the abandonment Of tho contract. which
the chemers could we'll afford; second. II pos
sibe who the stockholders Of the company are.
and whence came the pull to carry It's
schemes along: and third. complete record
NJ the present supply and the prospective sup
ply. which would be valuable for future refer
ence
1T will be made evident" said Mr.. Moss
that the public officials who tried to push this
scheme were guilty either OF gross negligence
or incom potency. or OF worse. and they should
have been removed by the Mayor. upon whom
the responsibility now rests"
AND PUTS MR. DALTON on EXHIBITION.
Mr.. Moss paid a tribute to Comp troller Coler.
to the citizens who had arisen against the
grab" aud to the newspapers He then called
Commissioner Dalton. who testified that he
was a wholesale butcher and Tammany dis
trict leader. After securing from him copy OF
the Ramapo contract. of the witnesses argu-
ment in favor OF the contract, and OF the Comp
trolers reasons against it. also some OF the re-
ports OF the company. the lawyer asked Mr.. Dali
ton to step down and called David 7. Davies. All |
that Mr. Davies did was to testify that In 1904
he purchased on the Real Estate Exchange
from the receiver OF the Marine Bank 500
shares Of Ramapo Improvement Company
stock. with lot OF other securities. paying $40
Ior tne enJlre patcn. lnen hr Oalton was re-
called.
Had you any special knowledge or ability
In engineering or in the matter OF water sup
tly?' asked Dir. Moss. to Mt you for the posi-
ton OF Water Commissioner
AN ENGINEER OF EIGHT HORSEPOWER.
oh. yes" replied the witness confidently.
1--WE got an eight horace mower angina in NV
Establishment Besides. | used to bs n car.
penter"
But YOU wouldn't consider that Won vera in
4 position to antaronIze the Testimony OF az
bert engineers. would youP"
"Oh. have an expert enelneer Mr. Birdsal
He knows all about those thinRs"
Immadi,teIv Mr. Mos.astad tb. w,tnas.i /,
hr.Birdsall had advised him to approve the
Rauspo contract and imm ediateIv Mr. Dalton
baaan to souirm md tvjst and ev.da ,nov.r.
Ing to repetitIons Of the ouestion that thera