New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-01-13
Water Supply Commissioner. NOT
Disposed to Retire Calmly,
Puts Up Hot Argument.
SPEAKS HIS MIND AND QUITS
Elk. Police Commissioner w. f.
Baker Talked of for Vacancy
Trouble Over Advertising OF
Water Tunnel Contracts.

noint two men of HIS own selection, ana
thus control the board. The first vacancy
was caused by the resignation of John A.
Rensel the last day Of 1910 in order that
he might assume the duties of state In
gineer.
When Commission Charles y. Chad-
wick the only remaining member OF the
board. was asked II the Mayor had asked
for HIS resignation, he replied NO
Although the Mayor would like TO have the
entire board made up Of his own men, ne
understands that it would be a serious
thing to put three entirely new men INTO
work in which $7O,COoOOO worth of CON
tracts are involved and which has been
under way since 1905.
Commissioner Shaw refused TO discuss
his resignation or the causes Thereon pc
yond saying that Il have done my WORK
conscientiously. but have been Obliged 10
fight continuously. I am tired Of 1t and
am glad 10 get out"
The reason given for skiing Commissioner
Shaw's resignation was that with Com
missioner RenseI. he was responsible for
advertising in The City Record for hlds
for the construction of the deep pressure
tunnel that is 10 carry the Catskill water
under Manhattan Island before the form Of
contract Ndu lttl dPPl'NNN -
poration Counsel It so happened that
Commissioner Chadwick had gone home
early on the day that the advertisements
were sent 10 The City Record and he
knew nothing about he matter until the
next morning.
NAV APPOINT William r. Baker.
The work Of the board is held up until
Tho Nayor makes his appointments, as
some time ago the Mayors office asKed
that the signatures of at least two com
rnissioners should 20 on every voucher
and Commissioner Chadwick does not want
70 take any responsibility in regard to the
contracts.
There IS much talk as 10 the men the
Mayor may put in the vacant commission
erships. but there is nothing definite known
as TO who he has in mind. William r.
Baker. former Police Commissioner. has
been mentioned, also Kingsley Martin the
present Bridg, Commissioner There mas !
also been talk of William MoMurtrie Speer'
who is a lawyer end has had charge OF the
Catskiu land condemnation cases in the
Corporation Counsels Office.
AZ The direction Of the Mayor Commits |
sioner of Accounts Fosdick has had men |
looking into the methods OF the Board OF
Water Supply with the idea, it Is under
stood. of recommending any changes that
may he deemed advisable.
Since he entered Office the Mayor has had
his eve on the Board Of Water Supply. He
did not fancy the independence Of the
Mayor enjoyed by the board under the
special act by which it was created. Al
first he had in mind legislation abolishing
the board and placing Its work in the
hands Of the Commissioner of Water Sup |
ply he became convinced that the work
was too vast to be turned over TO an al
ready overloaded department. II is be-
ueved. however that he will recommend
LEGISLATION giving him the same power OF
removing the members Of the Board OF
Water supply as he holds over the other
commissioners.
Shaw Confronts the Mayor.
Mr. Shaw received not the slightest init
nation that the Mayor wanted 10 get him
out until Friday. At that time the Mayor
sent word TO him through a third person
that he he'd been given to understand that
Mr. Shaw would hand in his resignation
at the same time that Mr.. Bensel resigned.
The Mayor wanted 70 know why the resg-
nation had not been received. and asked
alr Shaw to see him at 10 o'clock on Mon
Gay morning.
At first the Mayor was inclined 10 be
harsh. but Mr. Shaw, it is understood. went
right back az him, and they had it hot and
heavy for while Mr.. Shaw declared that
nobody had any authority to say that he
would resign. and demanded 10 know where
the Mayor got such an idea. The Mayor
replied II had come from Mr. Bensel.
Mr.. Shaw then defended the action he
had taken in regard TO advertising for con-
tracts. and in reply 10 limitations that
there was some good reason why the Cor
poratjon Counsel had withheld his approval
said that the contract forms were the same
as had been used for some time. and had
received the approval Of not only the for
Yner Corporation Counsel but also the pres
ent one
The circumstances in regard 70 the ad-
vertisement had been previously explained
10 the Mayor by Mr.. Bensel who, vhen he
spoke OF resigning after his election as
State Engineer. was asked 10 remain in
Office until December 81 in order that he
might close up all matters ne had in hand
He considered that the getting under way
Of the deep pressure tunnel, work on
which must start soon II Il is 10 be COM
pleted IN time for use when the other work
IS completed, was one Of the things that
ought % be attended 10 before he left
oNfcc
5ensel Thought Contracts Approved.
Mi Bensel had taken the forms Of con-
tract for this work TO the Corporation
Counsel for approval On Wednesday
afternoon December T. telephone mes
sage was received from the Corporation
Counsels Office saying that the contract
forms would be ready at O'Clock This
was the same sort Of message that always
had come when the contracts had been APP
proved
messenger was sent and haste was
made 70 prepare the advertisements for
publication in The City Record" OF the
next day The messenger was detained at
the Corporation Counsels office, and Mr..
BenseI and Mr. Shaw left their Office be-
fore his return. and IL was not until Thurs
day that they learned that the contracts
had not been approved as they supposed.
While takibg the precauuon not 10 give
out any Of the contract forms until they
might have been approved. the advertise
rnent was allowed 20 run pending the adj
tustment of the contract forms with the
CORPORATION Counsel Mr.. Bensel was I'M
able 10 sec him. and finally, the next Mon
day. was called away by the sickness Of his
n other. The next day Commissioner
Chadwick and Mr. Shaw stopped the ad-
refreshments in The city Record"