Evening journal., 1903-11-02
TELEPHONES :
MONDAY, NovEMBER ?, 1908.
yeRY STRANGE PROCEEDINGS.

When public officials resolve to keep
their acts secret. and refuse TO give in
formation to the newspapers. they put
themselves in position to be scored
They invite criticism. and must not
souirm il that criticism gets rather
personal. TO hold secret sessions. al
loving the reporters TO cool their heels
outside. is TO say in effect 'the public
be id" as a Tammany statesman
once remarked. This has been the at
titude Of our commissions in many in
stances when important matters are at
stake. and with the Water commis-
sion has become a habit.
The knowledge that the Sand Fhtra-
tion Company had been given a con-
tract to build a new reservoir and filter
plant came as great surprise. All the
discussions and negotiations had been
in secret. and now It seems that de-
cision has been feaehed to pay this
company under a contract that is be-
neved to be void. $4,000. and this too,
is done In secret 1t is astounding, and
II we do not mince words in discussing
It. It is because the circumstances do
not permit.
In this whole affair secrecy and de-
ception have gone hand Ia hand. First
the plant was to cost about 100000,
but this has Increased until II is esti-
mated at 81 100000. Either the COM
missioners hadn't the slightest idea
what It would cost In the beginning, OF
they were deliberately deceiving the
people. ,rhen we we're told that tbs
sand Filtration Company was going t'
give the city all sorts OF guarantees
but these were never reduced TO any
thing tangible The commission agreed
70 pay ten per cent. OF the contrac
price for the use Of alleged valuabl
patents. sum which viii probabl
equal 100000. and after this they too
junketing trips at the expense OF IN
city TO get Information on fiters Ger
tainly they We're not looking for otns
patentsg
When three OF our citizens went ms
court and asked the Chancellor 20 PR
tect tho city by restrainng the oftlcia
from paying out any money under q
contract. common decency should ha'
impelled the commission to await h
decision. But instead, at a secret NEE
ine. they decide to pay the compan
which In its impatienoe sued the cit
s65.Oo0l We do not think the peop
will be patient under the matter, and
they reach improper conclusions tbs
will not be responsible TammoT
Hall was never more insolent. and, a.
cording TO the Sunday Star. the CT
Solicitor. TO put Il mildly. Is n
averse to this payment on a contra
that he once declared to be void. v
are told that he intimated that 4
citizens who asked the Chancellor
interpose might be sued for damag
by the Sand Filtration Company.
other words. whom taxpayers ask I
court for decision by which tn
propose 10 aplutf lilcH hlt NunJNNN
the laws penaltiesl Does the city s
llcitor state this as his profession
opinion2 There has been disposit
TO shield and protect the snnd Fit
ton Company that Is extraordina
and 1t is our deliberate opinion thai
the commission proposes to pay I
money ere the C'hancellor's decision
handed down an effort should be mi
10 compel them to shoulder It indiv
ually. Failing in this. the city sho
seek other redress. We want q q
water supply and doubtless the ST
filtration system is the best but
don't want 1t through such meth
as we have been witnessing.