New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-01
TIE R4V4PO Danger.


Tho immersion appears 10 he growing that
the Ramapo plot is not dead. When the present
nopular indirnation over the scheme has sub
sided. We are told the Tammany city officials
will resume their negotiations with Mr. Latter
hach's clients and make the $20ooooOoO con
tract. Voters are urged 10 support the Con
stitutonal Amendment relieving this city or
the county debts for purposes Of determining
debt mourning capacity so as To deprive ram
many Of all excuse for seeking additional water
supply from private companies instead OF max
inc any necessary extensions Of the city's plant.
The Controller Is evidently fearful that the
tcnnorary Injunction which delayed the steal
will he dissolved after election, and that no VIII
be powerlcss further to stop il. In the face or
such situation the Mazet Committee must feel
that one Of It's most important duties IN It's
work for honest politics and good government
in this city is the complete exposure Of all the
ramfcatons Of this scheme. So long as the
actual owners Of the company and the actual
promoters Of It's fortunes are in hiding the
danger will be imminent. show the people OK
actlv who would profit by the contract with the
city. Then such men as there may be IN the
company Of responsibility can be Shamed INTO
using their influence to withdraw from tho deal
and in those stockholders who may he or no.
toriOus character the company viii be so re
vealed that even Tammany must hesitate. IT
thc committee should show 1t up as Repuon-
caH company Mr. Plat and the RrpuDllcan
organization could then he forced 10 break up
IT'S omen trading with Tammany. II us owner
shin can be traced home TO Mr. Croker ana his
associates a new and stronger case than mas
vet been made might be presented to the courts
So long as the operators and the operations OF
the company can be kept in the dark nothing
has really been accomplished by the committee
I'm saving the taxpayers from this raid
It is Of no use for Republicans TO think they
can shoulder all the responsibility upon ram
many if the contract IS finally made. MI
Platt's was the power that put the company IN
nositlon - deal Mr.. Iauerbach negotiated FOR
the contract Mr. Mazet suspended investlga-
ton nj n point which gave the plottcrs chance
70 seek cover and reform their plans. Mr. Platt
NV his silence under charges has weakened
the case against Tammany. His failure even
IN discourage tie activity or Mr. lauternach
and Mr. butcher. over whom he has the great
est influence. leaves him and the organization
which he leads 10 bear their share for the
scandals participated in by their political
friends under their cOnsenung eyes II II was
proper for Mr.. Plat last spring 70 make the
Astoria Gas bill-a private enterprise OF his po-
litical frlends-a party measure. it Is equally
propcr for him To make the defeat OF the
Ramapo contract-another private enterprise or
his political friends n party measure 10 the
same extent II he had the power 10 make
Republican politicians support the one enter
rrse which he declares 10 have been good
one-with that we are not now c0nccrned-he
has she power 10 make Republican politicians
abstain from and oppose the other enterprise.
which is admitted 10 be a bad one. He cannot
have power over these men and then refuse to
answer for their acts The law Of master and
servant is too well settled in politics as well rs
in business for that
This is situation which Republicans must
face. and II IS useless for them To try 10 call
the deal purely Tammany matter. as Mr..
John Proctor Clarke. of counsel 10 the Mazet
/ Committee IS rcputcd to have done in these
words
When n Tammany man says anything about
Ramapo he says that IT IS n company promoted
by Republicans. Admitting that the statement
IS true. the fact remains that the company
never got anywhere near making contract
with the city until the present Tammany ad
ministration came into power The Ramapo
company tried to make contract with the
city Of BROOKLYN und Republican admins
thing with the former city ~ New York. under
Mayor Strong and the effort was a failure.
Under a Tammanv administration Tammany
oficcholders take up the rejected contract and
DO their best 10 force II upon the city That
seems 10 indicate that the Tammany influences
back # the company are stronger than the Re
publican pull
Tammany is deeply Interested in Ramapo.
There is no doubt Of that But when Mr. Clarke
thus seeks 10 minimize the share " Mr. Plalts
friends IN IT, he merely calls attention Ia the in
dcations 81 their partnership with Tammany.
Mr. Clarke says the company could not get
contract from Republican administration In
Brooklyn Was not the Plat Influence paricu-
larly weak over Mayor Schioren? His was one
Of those non-partisan administrations which the
organization dislikcd Was il because he would
not grant It's members such favorSl Mr. Clarke
SAYS the company could not get contract from
Mayor Strong. Who abused Mayor Strong 80
bitterly "a Mr.. Platt and Mr.. Lauterbach?
Who was II but Mr. Iauierhach who gave
n 10 The old teapot" ill he reused the
cheers Of n Republican County Committee AZ
that famous meeting when he announced his
preference for Tammany rather than a non