New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-22
MAYOR AND RAMAPO DEAL.
HIS SUDDEN RETURN CHECKS MR.. GIG
GENHEIAIERS POWERS.
MEN WHOSE VOTES WILL DECIDE THE
QUEsTI PRESIDENTS SHUT
oUT-A STATEMENT FROM a. B.
BoARDMAN-THE CHARTER AND
THE PROPOSED STEAL.

BoARDMAN-THE CHARTER AND
THE PROPOSED STEAL.
An unexpected visit Of Mayor Van Wyck at
I the City Hall yesterday was regarded by some
OF the officials there Of much importance in
connection with the Ramapo water steal, which
was attempted last Wednesday at the meeting
/ Of the Board OF Public Improvements The
Mayor would not talk about the Ramapo Water
Company and its contract. His silence was in
terprete1 by some Of the officials as an indica-
/ ton that he favored contract by which the
/ city would be obliged to pay the water company
/ over 81 600 600 year for forty years He re-
mained in his office only few minutes, and then
went away. saying that he was going TO Free
/ port, Long Island, 10 finish his vacation.
The Importance Of the Mayors brief call at the
City Hall rests mainly upon the fact that II VIII
| prevent Randolph Guggenhemer from doing
anything as Acting Mayor in opposition to the
| Ramapo scheme. BY the restrictions mentioned
/ IN the charter Mr.. Guggenhemer cannot be
/ full fedRed Acting Mayor until the Mayor mas
/ been absent from the city ten days. Mayor Van
/ Wyck had been at Saratoga attending 70 the
| wake OF his brothers Presidential BOOM and ne
| had been absent from the city ten days on sat
| urday morning Mr. Guggenheimer Acting
the Saturday half holiday and Sunday, the
Mayor suddenly drops in at the City Hail. and
stays there long enough to destroy Mr.. Guggen-
heimer's authority as Acting Mayor FOR ten days
/ longer. Mr.. Guggenhemer on Saturday morn
ing declared that he was opposed TO the Ram
apo steal and the Mayor may have read his re-
marks in the newspapers at Saratoga on sun
day.
The vote Of the Mayor on the Ramapo water
contract a week from tomorrow may either
put ali end 10 the scandal or fasten the netarl-
ous job on the city for forty years. Corpora
ton Counsel Whaen Yesterday declared that
by the terms Of the city's charter the borough
presidents would not have the right to vote on
the question Of forcing the RamapO water con-
tract upon the city They were allowed 10 vote
last Wednesday upon the question Of delaying
acticn on the water contrlct under a ruling or
President Holahan of the Board of Public I'M
provements. but Mr.. Whaen said yesterday that
they would be debarred from voting upon the
confirmation Of the water company's contract
under the following provision contained In Sec
tion No. 4lO OF the charter. relating to the
Board Of Public improvements: NO president
Of a borough shall have vote in said Board
except upon matters relating exclusively to the
borough Of which ne is president"
THOSE WHO WILL DECIDE.
Mr. Whalen said that there could be only ten
legal votes on a proposition such that 70
give a contract 70 the water company. These
v--es can be cast by the Mayor, the Controller
the Corporation Counsel. the president OF the
Board Of Public Improvements, and the SIX
heads OF departments who are members OF the
Board Of Public Improvements. When the ques-
ton of making a forty years contract with the
Rauapo Water Company comes up before the
Board Of Public improvements on August 81
therefore the officials who have the right TO de-
eide the question by their votes are Mayor ' an
Wyck Controller Coler. Corporation Counsel
Whalen. Maurice F. Holahan, president OF the
Board of Public improvements; William Dalton
Commissioner NJ Water supply; James p. Keat-
ing. Commissioner OF Highways James McCar'-
nev. Commissioner OF Street Cleaning James
Kane Commissioner Of Sewers; Henry >
Kearny. Commissioner OF Public Buildings
Lighting and Supplies, and John l.. Shea Coil'-
missioner Of Bridges.
Controller Coler is making a vigorous hGht
against the steal Commissioners Kearny ana
Shea voted with him last Wednesday 20 delay
action on the water contract and Commissioner
Shea will certainly vote against the steal Com
missioner Mccartney is spending a long vaca-
ton AZ White Lake. y Y. and he may be
called 10 the city 10 vote on the water contract
a week from tomorrow. His deputy, Captain
Gibson would vote against the steal as ne
voted with Controller Ccler last Wednesday.
Holahan. Dalton and Keating are supposed 20
be ready 70 vote ror the contract. Commissioner
Kane was absent from the meeting last
Wednesday, and his attitude toward the stea4 ~
not known Mr. Whalen would not tell yester-
dav whether he would vote at all on the water
contract. but his approval OF the form OF con-
tract has been regarded by the politicians as an
indication Of his willingness 70 have the con-
tract fastened upon the city.
The Controller has asserted that he thinks the
steal will be beaten. but several ofhclals feel
much uncertainty and suspicion regarding the
plans and possible orders Of Richard Croker
The Tamnany boss has been keeping away from
the city and ont Of the reach Of newspaper men
since the attempt was made 10 pass the water
contract and there has been a report that ne
will remain on the ocean on board his frlehd ;
yacht until after August 80 Some Of the off,
cials are inclined 10 suspect that Mr.. Cloker may
have given orders TO have the water contract
forced upon the city in his absence. Nobody
seems TO doubt that most OF the members OF the
Board Of Public improvements are subject 10
his authority and ready to obey his orders
MAZET WILL INVESTIGATE.
II was announced yesterday that the Mazet
Committee would investigate the proposed
Rauapo water steal. Subpoena servers in the
employ OF the committee were looking up mem
bers Of the Board OF Public improvements and
serving upon them subppnas 10 appear oeIoFe
the committee on September l.. II was said
that the investigation Of the proposed steal
would include an inquiry into the Ramapo
Water Companys affairs sufficient TO show
that the Republican organization has made no
deal with Tammany on behalf OF the STEAL
whatever NAV have been accomplished by indi-
vidual Republicans.
In view ~ the fact that General BENJAMIN +.