New-York tribune., 1900-06-16
HEARING on WATER SUPPLY.
VIEWS OF VARIOUS MEN LAID BEFORE THE
CHARTER COMMISSION

The water question discussed last night at
public hearing given by the Charter Revision Com
mission in Assembly Hail. United Charities Build
ing. George /. Rives. the chairman Of the Com
mission. presided. Tho Merchants Association Of
New-York was represented by J. G. Dean. Arthur
J. Baldwin F ". Hinrichs and Horace f Derning.
Mr.. Rives said that Governor Roosevelt in a
cent letter TO the Charter Revision Commission
urged that careful consideration be given TO tho
water question. The Commission, Mr Rives said.
stood committed municipal ownership OF the
water supply. far practical
J. G. Dean, the first speaker. said in part:
would o. dc sa hat attention to the P fact tt that syg
its water supply than New-Hork,
These remarks were in reference TO the proposed
amendment 10 the charter which prohibits the
demnaton of the water supply OF any private cor
poration supplying the city with
Horace Z. Deming asked that such legislation be
passed that there could be technical obstacle TO
the city acquiring ownership of plants.
Fire Underwriters had not had time 10 consider
the question 5 carefully he wished, and asked
he NJ Rtves ranad thai rten address
would be received and considered and that another
hearing might be accorded Mt Barton said that
supply from whatever sources IT deemed most ex-
Edward Lauterbach was present as the repre-
sentative Of the Ramapo company, and said In
part:
II the Commission is absolutely and rrevocabIy
ownership only. there will be small need for 10
speak, but II the city Is to be left free to either
control its own water supply contract for it, as
il may deem most eXpedient using that method
which is best and cheapest wish to say that the
Ramapo company IS willing to acCede to the
strictions imposed at present under the existing
laws or any other reasonable restrictions which
may be enacted at some future date.
unqualif1edly in favor of the passage OF the
Morgan bil, for l do not ask that the city be
less power than the corporation with which IL
makes the contract but should be absolutely free
condemn any watersheds after a careful and
thorough investigation. In other words. we are
willing that the severest checks should be placed
upon the company TO insure that the contract
should be faithfully and honestly carried out. and
that the city should be perfectly free and
than II get the same service by contract with
any private corporation. ! must say. however.
that II there is much more in the way Of check
that human ingenuity devise other than those
restrictions which already exist, | do not know
what they are, but we are willing that they should
be imposed.
Mr. Hlnrichs interrupted that there
stricton which he thought OF at present, and that
was that the death penalty should be imposed Tor
the possession of any Ramapo stock.
Il think continued Mr.. Lauterbach. that the
checks which exist at present are silly in their
exaggeraton and should be minimzed rather than
Chairman Rives asked what notifications Mr.
Lauterbach would suggest. to which he replied that
he would cheerfully suggest some in writing
There should be assumption at the outset"
he declared. the part of this Commission that
those who wish to contract TO supply water to the
city, that those who TO hold public office are
either robbers unprnciped rascals Only last
December the Ramapo company entered into
tract TO supply water TO Yonkers $173 a million
gallons, and there no fraud"
William c. De Witt, OF the Commission, at this
point said:
wish inform the gentleman that FAR as