New-York tribune., 1901-09-22
CIRCUIT, Foe RAMAPO, PLEASES
ANTI 7AMAANY FORCES GRATzFIED AT HIS NoMLNA 71oN
FOR CONTROLLER.
CIRCUITS WAR ON RAMAPO,
CONSISTENT AND VIGOROUS oPPOSI-
TION TO THE WATER JOB SHOWN
BY HIS RECORD

BY HIS RECORD.
There was abundant evidence yesterday that
the selection of Edward NJ. Grout as the fusion
candidate for Controller was received with the
keenest satisfaction by the -Tammany forces
1t was plain that MIR. Grout was in high favor
with the men who have been organizing the
movement to take the city government out of
the reach of the Tigers claws. They all declare
that he had shown real independence of party
machine influences in his action president
of Brooklyn Borough. and particularly in his op-
position TO the attempted Ramapo steal.
MIR. Grout. member of the Board of Public
improvements the first man to call atten-
ton to the danger of the Ramapo Water Com
pany's proposed contract with the city. On
April 16. 1899. before the public had become
aware of the plot to force $200,OOO,OOO contract
on the city. Mr.. Grout warned the members OF
the Board of Public improvements that he was
opposed to letting private water company get;
contract with the city. At the meeting Of the
board on that day he introduced the following
resolution:
ply is hereby directed fully investigate and to
FirstNWhat alleged defects. as claimed by sasa
spp nd what 1s IN the c Sss
be adopted to remove such defects In the city sys-
company.
sssondA Sasa5I pr Proper per plan FOR suDerssa,ns s.s
now in the city Of New-York either by purchase
With the cty tRen By
the city mains into the territory supplied BY
such private water companies.
TOOK ADVANTAGE OF HIS ABSENCE
The Tammany members Of the Board of Pub
lie improvements understood Mr.. Grout's OPP
position to the Ramapo scheme and it
when he was abroad, on August 16, 1899, that
they tried TO force through the resolution for a
contract between the Ramapo Water Company,
and the city. The opposition of Controller Coler.
backed by President Bowley. of Queens; Pres-
dent Cromwell. of Richmond, Bridge Commits,
sioner Shea and Captain Gibson. who was Act
ing Commissioner of Street Cleaning during the
illness of the late Commissioner Mccartney.
prevented the passage of the resolution. and
kept Tammany's plans for gigantic steal at
standstill for time.
Mr.. Grout returned from Europe on Septem-
ber B. and Immediately announced his deter
minatior to prevent the Ramapo steal. He
pressed hearty approval of the stand taken by
the Controller and five other members Of the
Board of Public Improvements against the
Ramapo resolution. and said: ''Malign. corrupt
or evil political influences must have been at,
work. or otherwise the board would not have
decided to take the action it did"
! Mr.. Grout said he was mo believer in the
Ramapo deaI.'' that he would stand beside
Controller Coler and Commissioner Shea. and
MAKE an inquiry INTO tne action OF tne bodIu ei
Public improvements and that the board. be-
ing partly composed of appointed members
may in a measure be controlled by party lead.
political influence
Mr.. Grout was asked if he thought the Demo-
cratic organization of Brooklyn opposed to
Tammany Hall account of the Ramapo
scheme, and he replied:
"Oh. no. So far as I have heard. there is
question about reprisals friction between
Tammany Hall and WilIoughby Street
President Grout attacked the Ramapo water
scheme by a report which he presented to the
Board of Public improvements on October 25.
1899 Six months previously he had requested
Commissioner Dalton to make an examination
of the private water companies which furnished
water TO the city. with a view to their condenl-
nation and acquisition by the city itself Mr..
Dalton in October said in evasive report that
he did not have enough money to pay ensi-
neerng force to make the investigation de-
manded.
INQUIRY ON HIS OWN ACCOUNT.
Then Mr. Grout made an investigation on his
own account. and presented the facts gathered
by him the board. He showed that there
were nine water companies serving the city. of
which five were operating under contracts which
had ccme to end. These were the companies
which entered into contracts with the localities
in which they situated. and these con-
tracts by a decision of the Court of Appeals.
interpreted by the Corporation Counsel. had been
made null and void These companies. Mr.. Grout
said were tolerated by the municipality, and IL
was doubtful Il the money paid for the water
supplied was legally paid out. The charter. Mr.
Grout pointed out. provided for the taking of all
companies having valid contracts with the city
the payment of fair compensation. but in
of the companies not having valid contracts
it was clear that in condemnation proceedings
no claim &C uld be made by the companies that
their franchises had been enhanced by reason of
any obligation on the part of the city 10 take
their waters. He continued:
The only questions involved those of the adj
visibility of the city controlling It's own water sup
existing private companies
Mr. Grout pointed out that the city was not
financially embarrassed. and was. therefore, in
a condition to acquire all the water companies
doing business in the city. He attacked the re-
port Of Commissioner Dalton which said that
he could not undertake the work of frvestiga-
ticn with the engineering force at his disposal
Mr.. Grcut went on:
With the same engineering force and without ask
ing any additional funds. he. with the president
short period last summer dssD. visited and exam
ined tie Montgomery watershed and the section Of
of the Esopus, the upper water of Scholars
Creek and the headwaters of the branch of the
Public improvements a report ON the size ad-
yan,asS ana eagae PSnoo oI ne Nine ens Tesrv9s
olopon Lake Hill. Coal Brook and Olive. and re-
nishing ultimately daily water supply of 800 ooS-
0oo gallons. and that If the city of New-York would
SEQ 600 Ooo That he regarded this examination as
very thorough even though it was made by bis
fact that information secured that exam