New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-16
CALLS CHARGES TRUMPED.
Merchants Association Criticised al Aque-
duct Meeting.


The e-z--e committee OF the Aaueduct Com1is-
fr- ret yesterday and resumed hearing on the
ga--es cf r1o Merchants Association against John
q Mcdonald. ths contractor Of the jerome Park
-ssr--o- and Ar. HiL the former chief engineer
Inc charges generally speaking. are that The work
-o date on the new reservoir IS in q faulty condi-
-ior t-f the reservoir Is Ieaky: that its core walls
ana founGatlons are bad. and THAI the reservoir
as e now stands is likely 70 so TO pieces when
rrt -e actual use AS a result Of this the asso-
cation Eas entered protest against the payment
10 Mr AIcDoaald OF the S2oo0oo withheld b. the
u-.
Az RECENT meeting Of he commission Al ad-
jou-r-err vas taken 10 set opinion from the
Co-pora-r1 Counsel as 20 the power OF the COM
mission 30 conduct inquiry IL s judicial manner
By subpoena. and by bringing witnesses and ex-
aiming them UuGer oath X was cOntended that
az hearing without such power would De fa-cicai.
Az Yesterday meeting AR. Curtis. the chairman,
said the c-.1ioa had not yet been received.
NJ. Mcdonald was present accompanied by his
course William = Carr OF the h-m q Carr &
circuit mr.. Carr was anxious have the case
c.yrose6 81 without delay and asked that the com
mission urge -he Corporation Counsel 20 give a
speedy opinion. 30 tha- Mr.. Mcdonald could meet
the charges and. u DE can Cisproye tten. get
ais ssAsM
SIMILAR opinion which had been requested by
The committee from j. FIampdea DoUgherty. coun-
sci 1or Tie Me-c1a-s Association relative 70 the
powers O. tle committee OF The. ACuedUct Com
m.ssen 20 Subpoena and swear witnesses, was sub
nl1ted. Tie opinion held that Section :. Chapter
40. a. the Laws OF So which had been thought
give tre power to subpoena and swear witnesses,
Sd net dc iu cases Ike the present Il sug-
sestec that Lle inquiry might be made by the
Nl-l--5elc-7r- ~ Accounts Dlt Tor the QUESTION ol
whether a construction Cf the charter which would
make -Le Aguecu-L CCunlissi 0uers. whose acts
were 7o- .7H---e -re adoption OF the Revised Char
ter aTnenale 70 The scrutiny OF the Commissioners
az Accounts subject TO scrutiny by those COrnTnls
sl0uers. would ult affect the statutes under which
The Aruralrr Commission existed On this Ques-
Ton III. D1ucher-E SAID he would be glad 70 learn
ne opinion cf the Corporation Counsel.
The Q5- E4Cu further held Lla- the powers 81 the
AdF1- "a magistrate would not give him the
toNer - conduct AZ -uTestlE4tllI. but suggested
-A-- me V---lr charges tolll De inquired lllo n
e nearing held CE lla Mayor 70 determine whether
D. should remove any or the members OF the
AllgoGrt Comm ssic-. Ll support Of this theory
contrary io ono given The Mayor by the corpora
-cr Counsel and holding thar the Mayor DID pos
49, tEe power -o remove members OF the conrnls-
Ez-T-5ze John Je-oIouan. WAC is counsel for
~ -.r-c-. f-e Former assistant engineer. mo IS
L.----e IH tt- charges made hE the AerchaDls
A,s'C-auJll asked that the ass Jciatiy1 serve on
e .-.t a. COPY c- The charges against M L lTicil
I. fr-. FORM. l-~. carr made general Cenial
"a ~ charges hy --e Merchants Association,
4-- Pc Eefe--ec 90 as an lrresporslDle Dod1.
-lt a.r.- .-zr the charges We're practlcal-E
l.--4le1 -r arc made OF Wno-e Cloth' Referring
ID tle charges AZ. said
a0 inclined ID think that some % the mem
-r rI me l-r-Ts -tfs' Association are IN the re
iall business 0~ petty gossip and SANDER, as wei
a. IT, me wholesale business OF GrvE0OCS. The
Nominations and i-nuendoes Of Mr. DOUgherty are
= gor1s- ~ himself ana Of the Merchants Asso-
The hearing WAS finally adjourned until next
-llrz-lv afternoon. when Nj. Curtis said ne
probably wol-8 have the opinion OF Nj Rires-