The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-31
RAMApO SCHEME HIT HARD.
FIERCE A7TiCE ON THE CONTRACT
~ THE IMPROpFMEN IA BOdRD.

noon. devoted entirely to discussion OF the
proposed contract between the hamapo Water
Company and the city tho opponents Of the
contract. led by Bridge Commissioner Shea
and Comptroller Golfer srranE a resolution on
the Board OF Pablo improvements endorsing
municipal ownc rshin OF thu water supply sys-
tenn end practically forced It's adoption. The
resolution was a surprise % the Tnmmany
members of the Loard. 1t seemed to be SIM
pie r.afllrmation Of the Democratic city plat.
form. but II any attempt is made hereafter 70
enter into contract with the Ralnapo Com.
pany. 1t will be necessary for the members 70
reverse themselves to carry out the plan.
More citizens attended yesterdays meeting
OF the board than have been present at ANY NJ
tho previous sittinGs. There were delegations
from tho Social Reform Club. the Citizens
Union. number Of civil engineers and spec
tators who had been attracted by tho agitation
over tho Roinapo proposition. when Preslnent
Holahan called the board to order. he read
cable message from President Circuit OF the
Borough OF Brooklyn. asking that the hamapo
question be laid over until he returned home.
letter Was read from tn" president OF tho
Board Of Fire Underwriters. In which 1t was
stated that the proper city Official had stated
that In its present financial condition the city
could not supply the necessary water. Assoon
as this was read MIR. Coier stood up.
Il want to state that tho proper city official
| has never made any such statement and that
| 1t isn't true. he said.
Then the Comptrollers report on the pro-
| posed contract was read. Tho persons tn the
| rear OF the room could not hear the CLERK ana
| began to shout. Louder"
Get down to the centre OF the ROOM" said
| Mr. Holahan. Everybody Is to have fair
| chance to-day"
| "Thanl; YOU" said Mr.. Coler. He looked
around at Mr.. Shea. and both smiled Mr..
| Holahan looked annoyed. The Comptrollsr's
| report reviewed the whole subject OF water
| supply. and at its conclusion said that
| with the debt margin duo to the new
real estate valuation and the further relief
that will be afforded by the adoption this fall
| OF n constitutional amendment taking the New
Yorl; county debt OF $50 0O0. 600 out OF tho city
| debt the city will have S63 100000 OF bond
| ing ability, out OF which money can DO provi-
| ded for water system extension. Mr.. Coief
| gave In the report COPIES OF letters that passed
| between him and the Department oil water
| Supply which showed that Commissioner Dali
| ton and his assistants had neglected to furnish
him with data OF the proposed contract. After
the Comptroller's report the clerk read
| exhaustive reports on tho present water
| systdm, and the Ramapo scheme from George
| S. Rice, consulting Civil Engineer: J. James
r. Cross. consulting Civil Engineer. and Eu-
gene L. Mclean. Chief Engineer OF tho FL
nance Department. Mr.. Rice had made
special examination OF the Esopus Creek wa
ter shed, from which the Ramapo Company
intends to get its water. All OF the reports
agreed that the Ramapo Companys plan was
not practical in the time proposed. ana thas
the city should own Ito own water system
As soon as the reading OF reports was
finished. Mr.. Hoahan called on the representa-
tives OF the citizens Union 10 stete tne't
opinion Of the proposed contract. the
speakers for the Union were Wheeler II. Peck
ham. Simon Sterne and Thomas A. fulton.
Mr. Peckham attacKeu the propooed cohtI"os
because 1t violated the policy OF municipal
ownership. and because the city hau tho po"ef
to do ali that the Ramapo Corporation can do
Mr. Peckham said:
Here is n contract suddenly proposed to you
as necessary. and mmed lately necessary. when
two months ago there would not have been
found man In all this city to advocate sucn
thing In this matter yeu must do what the
Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court OF the
United States once told me and the counsel who
opposed me we must do. We agreed on
course and urged him to follow It, He said
We must not only do right. but we must seem
10 do.right' Now, who are in the Ramapo Com
pany? II il should happen that men who are
strong in city politics are strong In this COM
pany; that men who by their political innuence
are able to sway the public servaOts control
this company. it would not seem right. mean
no imputation. You must know before this
contract is made who the shareholders In this
company are. and that they are absolute
strangers to the city government"
Simon Stcrne attacked the contract which. he
said had been so bad originally that the Cor.
poration Counsel called It outrageous.
"Oh no. Mr. Stcrne.' said Mr. Hoiahan. He
said unfair
Unfair he did say said Mr.. Sterne. but
unfortunately my education has taught me
that contracts unfair to the city are OUT
rageous"
Mr. Sterne read the contract over clause by
clause picking it to pieces. He declared that
| It placed no responsibility on the com pany. ana
was Il burefaced attempt TO procure the citv'S
powers and money TO do something that the
company didn't feel confident 1t had tho roweR
to do. Mr.. sterne said that the clause
providing that water should be delivered under
pressure from 300 feet above tide level meant