The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-08
THE RAMApO WATER GRAB.
EX-SENATOR HILL HOLDS CROKER
AND TLMMANJ RESPONsIBLE.

He Says That tho Six Omcials Who Voted
for the Contract Did What They Were
Told to Do-Finds That Senator Platt
Never Had Anything to DO with the Affair.
ALBANY. Sept 7-Regarding Richard
Cookers responsibility for Tammany Halls
connection with the Ramapo water grab the
Hon. David b. Hill has some positive and az
hrmative opinions. This was fully demon
strated this afternoon Mt the hearing before
Attorney General John @. Davies on the appll-
cation to annul the charter OF the company
Counsel for the comp any in the course OF his
arguments sarcastically criticized the asper-
sions cast by Mr.. Hill upon the six Tammany
members OF the Board OF Improvements who
voted for the Ramapo water grab. and In clos
ing the argumen Mr.. Hill delivered some hot
shot into tho ranks OF Tammany Hall He
said:
The counsel says that I have attacked the
officials OF the city OF New York. and he gener-
ously comes forward and defends these III -used
officials They need IL badly. They need q
deience-nol set Of public plunderers ever
needed It more than they do. Holahan. the
champion. who said publicly when asked:
What about this company Who knows m UGH
about itT I don't know anything about It:
1 know nobody conn ected with IT. know
nothing about IT, makes a contract for
$200.00O,000 and knows nothing about It.
The men who put forward this co ntract are
not squeamish they are not asking counsel on
the other side to defend them. They are Just
proceeding right straight ahead. saying moth
ing. saving wood. getting in their work. doing
II. No defence is made anywhere. There
has been plenty OF opportunity for them
to give reasons for their action. There
has been silence that 10 ominous throughout
New Y,'k city. The public reasons and the
private reasons that they have will sooner or
later come out unless there is something back
OF this thing that nobody knows anything about
It will all come out sooner or later. who owns
the stock. what brought this thing to the front
SO euddenly-all these facts will appear
Now. am here to comment, In my capacity
as counsel. upon the action of the public off,
cials engaged in this transaction. They are not
on trial now. 1t is true; that may come later.
This proposed Ramapo grab will enter into
the political and other history OF this State for
great many years to come. in my humble
judgment and on tho day these men sought
to fasten this contract upon the city they
wanted to do so then and there.
Action was postponed only because the con-
spirators had been thwarted. That 10 all. The
arguments which the public press reported
were that they opposed adjournment because
they wanted that contract approved then and
there. Just as it had been approved by tho Cor
poration Counsel OF the city OF Now York.
What is the use OF mincing words2 Every
body knows 1t. 1t was there to be put
through like a great many other things
that failed. The murderer leaves some
trace behind when he secretly murders in
the night. Conspirators attempting to put
through great public Job always leave some
Track something gives way. there 10 some
mistake. One vote was missing that they CAL
cuiated upon. Therefore, under those eircum-
stances. have the right to say that it was kept
secret. The fact was that Dalton had made
reports both ways on this subject. He had
made another report. not alluded to here
that he had plenty OF water for the city OF New
York. That was when they were on some
other tack. have no confidence In the report
OF some OF these officials; the community has
little c7nfd enoe In them. They do as they are
told. They write up or write down. report or
not report.
1t has been said that in some way the name
OF tn, distinguished leader Of the Republican
party has cen coupled with this corporation.
have discovered nothing whatever that justi-
ies the assertion. and am here to say that I
do not believe. from all that can find In the
case. that he had anything whatever to do
with it. or ever has had. and 1t gives me pleas
ure to make that statement l can find no
official OF his party active in defence
OF this steal. 1 can find no newspaper
OF his party defending this action
! can find no one who enjoys especially
attempting to vlndicate this scheme sought to
be put through. And. therefore. l have the
right to say. and 1t gives me great pleasure to
say 1t, that I do not think he ever has
had or now has anything whatever to do with
this Ramapo business. 1t Is not for me to say
who else may be connected with this. and l
care not whether they belong to my party or
to any other party. The thing is a bold faced
unmitigated swindle upon its face. and, no
matter who it hits. should be followed up to the
end"
Mr. Naumburg. IN presenting additional afi-
davits which he thought would complete his
case. said the company had not filed annual
reports with the Secretary OF State as required
by law for the Jars 1891 and 1892. but that
such reports had been filed each year since
January 1893.
Mr. seheuerman thought public clamor
should not be allowed to force the annument
ofa corporation charter. He denied the first
allegation that the com pany had violated the
law IN suspendnR its business for period OF
more than one year. and declared that no proof
Of such allegation was forthcoming from the
applicants.
An AFFIDAVIT OF the Chief Engineer OF the COM
pany. p. E. Nostrand. was read. showing the
survey work that has been In progress under
bis direction and detailing the options upon
land that would be needed In the con-
struction OF the reservoirs throughout Hud-
son Valley This AFFIDAVIT detailed the eff
forts Of the Ramapo Company to secure a
sontract with the Brooklyn authorities in
1850 to furnish that city with water. Elabo-
rate maps had also been made detailing plans
tor storing water and generating electrical en-
orgy for transmission to New York city. The
afidavit alleged that options upon 5000 acres
Of land throughout the Hudson Highland and
Catskill Mountain regions had been secured
This affidavit was read by Mr.. Scheuerman
with view OF showing that the company had
been pursuing Its ordinary and lawful business
bince its organization. and he asked During
what year does the opposition contend that the
company transacted no buslness?"
Senator HIll-We contend that you have
never commenced business