New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-15
WATER SUPPLY DISCUSSED.
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP THE TOPIC AT
THE CITY CLUB MEETING
| SPEECHES BY CONTROLLER COLER. DIR.
| BIGGS AND OTHERS-THE CON
| TROLLER ALSO TALKS OF DOCKS
AND RAILROADS.


Controller Coler F. c. Moore. president Of the
Board Of Fire Underwriters of New-York; Or.
Hermann NJ. Biggs OF New-York University. bac-
terioogist Of the Health Department; Professor
Frank Goodnow and James r. Burnet the
speakers last night at n meeting of the city Club
In Thiry-fourth-st.. called for the purpose of dis
cussing Municipal Ownership Of the Water Supply
OF the City of New-York"
Controller Coler said less about water supply
than he did about municipal ownership Of docks
and the underground railway. He adhered closely
TO his manuscript but dropped it twice,
and IT was then that he most interesting He
said, IN answer TO the question rs Ramapo Dead?
well according to the charter II requires unani-
nous consent in the Board OF Estimate and Appor-
tionment to pass an appropriation to buy water,
and the Ramapo scheme will get my vote"
The Croton watershed award was 81, 400 OO0," said
the Controller. in his mpromptu remarks. 1.-THE
commissioners fees amounted 100000. and OF this
sum per cent was for ographers bills. 1t
would be better to condemn property by the old
jury system. The city would then have TO pay
about % per cent more than II ought 10. but 1t
would the difference between that and 90 per
cent. II we remove these commission abuses 1t
will be doing more good than removing one or two
Objectionable characters in politics" said the Con-
troller, while every wondered just whom he
had in mind.
Wheeler n. Peckham presided and proposed
toast to the memory Of George Washington. TO
whom he paid tribute. At the guest table with
him. in addition 10 the speakers. Richard
Watson Glider and Professor Nicholas Murray But
Ter.
THE CONTROLLERS SPEECH.
Controller Coler received cordial greeting He
said in part:
| do not wish to be understood as advocating any
rash experiment., and do not favor plungng the
S into debt that Mould be 9 Gsb fGs
incurred for public benefits that yield revenue
general welfare. A debt that is not charge upon
the taSpayer9 SHOULD NOT be included in those fS
city.
At the present the city derives profitable reve
nue. from two great public works-the docks and
b bs city OF sa is me- on by by
bonds issued to acquire It, and amortzing the prn-
over the cos Of OF the ss
tenn must be enlarged ana extended from time 10
t because Use we are n0l gong 10 DuE any Wdtea
corporation (applause), but the receipts will in
crease even more rapidly than the expenditures,
own free OF debt, vast system OF waterworks
revenue. The bonds issued for waterworks will not
be paid out of taxation, and the interest charges
bookkeeping because the revenue derived from
water sold is ample to pay both principal and in
The city Is about undertake another invest
menl. which believe will ultimately be even more
profitable than docks or waterworks. That is an
underground rapid transit railroad. (Applause)
~,
in the act authorizing the building of this road
and what promises to be the most valuable fran
away from the people. But in this enterprise we
are again Handicapped by those unnecessary hnan-
path of municipal progress The cost Of the I'M
foreground railroad is to be charged against our
vided that the contractor shall pay TO the city a
per cent in addition, to provide sinking fund
Under this arrangement the city VIII own the
property free OF debt at the end OF hfty years ana
not 1O liar of or
will have come out of the pockets Of the taxpay-
ers, yet we must charge II an against our POI row
teiiigent financiering and il is not progress.
| 1t is not my purport to enter upon any extended
discussion Of the question Of municipal ownership
| with me that the time has passed when the city
Will dispose Of public rights and powers wlthoHt
we shall hold for the public beneht nut or what
use is a valuable franchise or a great public prop,
| erty II we have not power to develo? it for the
| general good? Remove the antiquated constitu-
tional restriction upon our borrowing capacity a let
US build great system of waterworks ana great eat
system OF docks bring back the commerce we
hayS 9r AT 6 o sa Outlying All these
revenue yielding investments should De sepdi az dted
weipb mon our credit and our ability make
progress. Then we should have ample capital go TO
| provide every public Improvement necessary i0'
" This may sound radical but say to you frank;
| be up against hard proposition lhere Is q
sentiment all the country in favor OF nun 70
! help II along (Applause)
VIEWS OF DIR. BIGGS.
! DR. Biggs, who wants State school for puohc
health officers under the direction OF the Legs
| ,ature and New-York University. said In part:
The quantity and purity Of the water supply Is
nerho ps the factor OF greatest Importance IN defer
| aiming the healthfulness OF the community Inc
| introduction OF an abundant supply or pure water t
me a community will often alone decrease the
death rate number Of points There is no way OF
| .ptirelv controlling the water supply OF any JUS
| trtct Except through the ownership absolutely OF
the sources OF supply, and then the interest OF the
| INA infants will not be sacrificed because OF the
| financial interests of the purveyors OF the city
! supply ,,- ,,,
| President Moore Of the Board OF FIRE Ohder-
writers said that he had been lighting the Ramapo
| W. Connanv for twenty years and he rdi-
cued some Of the claims OF the company ~. ne as,
ered that the Creator intended that air. hgnt neat
Id eunsbine and water should be free to all men,
and he protested against any private company max
| ing money on the delivery oil wafer u '"' '0H'
| sumner.
mr.