Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-19
SENSATION IN NEW YORK.
Rnmapo Water scheme-AiIeEeo
PIntf-Croker Deal.
CNew York Times.)

Board Of Public improvements a contract
binding the city 10 buy 100000 worth OF
water year from the Ramapo Water
Company was a topic of general discus
sion among city officials yesterday While
most OF them viewed the effort with com
placency, all of them agreed that its pro-
gress was retarded. and that II cannot De
pushed through at all without creating
scandal that will engulf the entire van
Wyck administration.
A well-backed rumor that deal nad
been made between Republican leaders
and Richard Croker was also current.
This deal. according 10 a man who IS
known TO be in the confidence OF the NOV
ing spirits in the company. contemplated
the calling off Of the Mazet committee
from its investigation into city affairs in
return for the passage by the Board of
Public improvements of the contract.
The man from whom this information
emanated is one whose dealings with Re-
publican leaders and corporations seeking
legislation are of the most confidential
character This man said yesterday that
II was known I'm Albany, where the Rama
20 Water Company has been a frequent
applicant for favors. that the influence of
Senator Thomas c. Platt was freely ex-
erted in its behalf. Latterly, however,
Edward Lauterbach had appeared as its
counsel instead of Tracy. Boardman &
Platt the senior member Of which firm
was at one time the president of the COM
pany.
According to the informant of the
Times, Senator Plat, Vice-President Gar
ret a. Hobart, and Mr.. Iauterbach are
among the real hackers of the concern,
whether or not they hold stock in the
corporation. The directors Of the COM
pany elected at its last annual meeting.
which was held here in February last. are
Silas b. butcher, William J. jerks,
Charles II. Truax, Guilaume Rensen,
William II. b. Pratt, Stephen Kelly. and
Hiram ii. Lamport Mr.. Truax Is Jus
tice Of the Supreme Court and a member
Of the Democratic Club. Mr.. butcher is
president of the Hamilton Trust Com
pany. of Brooklyn, and Mr.. Kelly is presi-
dent of the Fifth National Bank, Of this
city.
CROKER HAS THE VOTES.
As to the stoppage Of the Mazet Com
mittee's investigation in return for the
granting of the S2OO0OOOOO contract to the
water company, the same man said that
there was abundant evidence that Mr..
Croker could force the contract through
If IL were made worth his while. He
pointed out that the best the opponents
OF the scheme could hope for would be
the vote of President Grout Of the
Borough of Brooklyn, who is in Europe
In addition to the six they had on We'd
nesday whereas. those who favor the
contract could gain two votes by inducing
the Mayor and the Corporation Counsel
10 vote with them.
A third additional vote for the contract
could Toe secured N -
Commissioner Mccartney We're present TO
take part in the affair. instead Of his
deputy, Captain +. NJ. Gibson, who IS a
hold-on from the reform administration.
This the Times's informant said. was
proof that Croker was able TO carry out
his part of the deal On the other hand
no one has yet had the temerity 10 dis
pute the influence of Senator Platt over
the Mazet Committee. whose sudden adj
journment last week, when its attorney
was ready for a protracted session. in
dicated that orders" had gone forth
from some quarter for a discontinuance.
temporary, perhaps. but permanent, If
need be, Of the inquiry. The Timess
informant further stated that the scheme
OF forcing the city into purchasing water
from the Ramapo Company was free
ly talked Of during the last session Of
the Legislature. and he limited that the
ganized more for the purpose of making
the compact possible than for any other
purpose
SECRECY OF THE MOVEMENT.
One of the worst features OF the at
tempt to place the city in the character
Of buyer Of its water supply from a pri-
vate corporation was the secrecy in which
the entire matter was enveloped. The
men who led the opposition 10 the
scheme-COmptroller Coler, Bridge Com
missioner Shea, and Commissioner Kear-
ny. Of the Department of Public Build
ings, Lighting, and Supplies-yesterday
charged Water-COmmissioner Dalton and
President Holahan of acting I'm bad faith
in not giving them notice that their ac-
ton was in contemplation. None Of these
men had heard Of the matter until IL was
Unexpectedly sprung. Mr.. Dalton declined
yesterday To discuss the subject, and Mr..
Holahan explained it only by saying that
he had requested the members of the
board TO be present at Wednesdays meet
ing because something important would
come up"
Comptroller Coler said that he would
go on with his investigation at once, and
that in addition to his own engineer staff
he would enlist the services of several OF
the best men in the profession. In regard
to the matter. Mr.. Coier further said:
81 do not intend 10 stand for any plan
that binds the city TO the purchase OF
water from a private corporation. This
idea Is repugnant 10 all ideas OF munich
pal government, and l will not counte
nance it under any circumstances.
THAT contract makes no provision for
the purchase by the city Of the plant at
any time after the expiration Of forty
years In forty years. supposing the sup
ply is absolutely necessary, the city OF
New York will be forced to continue buy
ing water at the rate the company de-
mands
DECLARES IT DISHONEST.
"There is nothing to prevent the city
from going ahead and buying this water
shed itself / am sure IL could be done for
far less money than the amount OF this
contract If the money were available.
the work could be carried out within the
time when the company is bound 10 de-
liver the water TO the city. / can see no
reason why II could not be done under
existing circumstances. for with con-
stantly expanding debt limit. the city's
ability TO construct its own additional
water supply cannot be doubted. If the
proposition were made right now we
could go on, without stopping other need
ed improvements. Paving and rapid tran
sit would not have TO walt. for IL would
be impossible TO eXpend more than Sl0-
600 600 a year i'm acquiring the watershed
from which the company proposes TO fur
nish US our supply. At that rate sufficient
progress could De made in a few years
to avert all danger Of a water famine
on Manhattan Island. As for the boz
roughs Of Queens and Brooklyn. l am as
sured that there is an adequate supply,