The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-19
COLER PREPARES FOR WAR.
WILL FIGHT RAMAPO WATER SCHHhB
TO HITTER END.

.,.,or PLAT for Himself and Mr.. QuiEE
Tor the Republican Organization indiE-
rnptIy Deny Participation in tho Pro-
I.ct-uoInhan Drawing In His Horns.
conptroller Colers engineers began yester-
d.v 70 prepare for tIfar examination OF the
untsr situation in the boroughs OF Man uattan.
tho Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens. so that they
csn yet together the data which no intends TO
u.e in lighting the proposed contract with the
I,a,,'arn water Company. Mr.. Coler said that
,h. further he examined the plan the more
sar,os,v no believed that 1t was an
s,,,roge,us lob lie added that he In
,opdnI TO fight 1t with every means
Mt his DISPOSAL. Mr.. Color has received word
from a number OF citizens that they agree with
him and intend to help him In the fight. The
ErookIyn League intends to take action ana
urge the residents OF Brooklyn to aid the
Comptroller. Secretary Fulton OF the Citl-
zsns' Union called on President Holahan OF
the BOARD OF Public improvements yesterday.
and asked him II he would grant hearing on
tho subject to n number OF engineers and citl-
vens n, the next meeting OF the Board on We'd
resdnv OF noxt week President IIolahan said
that he would.
Later President Hoahan said that he believed
IN tho principle OF nun jcipal ownership. and
would advocate the construction and operation
~ ,be ,gotcr plant by tho city. II he could be
convinced that 1t was practical. without bring
ing to s'nnistlll all other public Improve
nen's twas his opinion that at the present
time II was impractical for the city to spend 80
much money IA an adequate water supply sys-
tom would cost. without suspcnding all other
,uhric works, and that until it was shown to
him TINT there was ample money to carry on
ali the great enterprises to which the city Is
committed and build the water plant at the
same time. lie would favor getting the water
from the company which offered 1t on the best
terms.
The charge was made yesterday that the
Rnmapo contract was the result OF political
deol and that Senator Thomas G. Plat was in
terested in the company. Senator Platt told
n SIN reporter that he hadn't time to deny all
the stories that we're printed about him. and
that this particular ono was 81 evidently false
that no denial was necessary. or the charge
tbatths Republican organization was interest
Cd in the IIamapo company and It's proposed
contract with the city, President Lemuel Z.
OuigC Of the Republican County Committee
said:
"f the Republican organization 10 what I
suppose It to he-tho Republican State Com
mittee and the Republican County Committee
it has as much interest in this Ramapo
Water Company as 1t has in the government OF
Liberia senator Platt has as much to
its contracts as he has to do with the showers
that fall from heaven. and II this contract Is
made. he will derive IA much financial benefit
from It az he does from the clouds in the sky.
AZ for the Republican organization being be-
hind the Ramapo company. IL 1t is behind any
body in this affair. 1t is the Comptroller.
I'VE believe that the city should not be
under obligations to any person or to sny cor
roration for its water supply 1t should own
its water supply system absolutely and
operate it for tho benefit OF tho citizens. In
this matter we believe that COMPTROLLER Coler
is right There is not an atom OF truth in this
story Of political deals and influence so far as
the Republican organization is concerned.
That may be stated absolutely and finally"
Comptroller Colcr has called on the Croton
Aqucduct Commissioners for full Information
a. to the present capabilities and the possibility
OF development Of the Croton watershed. This
information he will use In fighting the Ramapo
scheme. 1t was said yesterday that there was
little question OF the right OF the Board OF Pub
lie improvements to make the contract with
out submitting it to the Board OF Estimate or
the Municipal Assembly. A contract for water
was made by Commissioner Dalton with the
Citiaens' Water Company OF the Borough OF
Queens last year after the corporation counsel
had given an opinion that 1t need not be SUBJ
mittcd to any authority except the Board OF
Public improvements. Assistant Corporation
Counsel Hill said Yesterday that the votes Of
the Mayor and tho Comptroller in the affirma-
tive were not necessary to make the contract
legal and that bare majority OF the Board
alone is necessary.
Acting Mayor GugRenheimer said yesterday
that he believed there was no danger OF q
water famine in Manhattan and the Bronx al
present. nor would there be any for years to
come.