New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-24
THE WEBSTER BILL SIGNED.
GOV. FLOWER IGNORES THE ACADEMY OF
MEDICINES PROTEST.
WHY TAMMANY HALL OPPOSED THE AMEND

Commissioner of Public Works Of New-York City to
expehd 100000 yearly for three years In protecting
the croton water from contamination. Tho Governor
nled with the bill the following memorandum:
"There Is practically no objection to the enact
ment Of this bill. but n statement has been neu
with me by committee representing the New-iorA
Academy OF Medicine, which criticiscs the measure
In respect TO It's alleged failure to provide for The
Immediate sanitary protection OF the water supply
.of TIE city. II is argued by this committee, with
copsderable force, that the proposed process OF Sc
Ebrthg protection by condemnation Of lands In the
CrQton Watershed, while good so lar as II goes Is TOO
slow method TO prevent danger Of cholera H.
lection during the coming summer, ana
Il Is urged that either commission or the Commits
soner Of Public Works should be invested with broad
enough powers TO permit the summary removal or
statement Of whatever causes OF infection may exist.
The city authorities the other hand. contend that
such powers already conferred on the Commits
sioner OF Public Works by existing provisions OF the
Consolidation act, and are properly supplemented by
this pending measure. 1t will be conceded by all
citizens that the amplest measure OF RELIEF should
be provided TO guard the water supply OF New-lork
from pollution. in the event OF the outbreak OF
cholera In the vicinity of NcwYork the greatest dan
ger Of spread OF the disease will be In the conamina
ton Of the water, for cholera germs find favorable
opportunity for development In that medium No san
tary precautions within the city could stop the epidemic
II the water supply became infected with the germs
of this disease. II there is any doubt, therefore, as
TO the suiciency Of powers vested by this act or by
existing laws In the local authorities for the sanitary
protection Of the water shed the Legislature should
not hesitate TO that doubt by the enactment
of a supplementary measure suitably comprehensive
IN its terms No important difference Ct legal opinion
should be allowed exist in the presence of 50 great
possible danger. Ii is better always TO egslate on
the side of safety, and the preservation OF the
public health is too serious matter to risk By allow
ing any ambiguity to remain In the law
The "city authorities of New-York, under which
name are hidden the words " Tammany Hail." re-
sisted any amendment by the Academy Of Medicine
Of NewYork of the bill. Tammany Han
does not wish to have part OF the 100000 ex-
pended In salaries of sanitary engineers. as the phv
siclans propose In view of the threatened epidemic
of cholera next summer, but desires TO have the
money used In buying land What Tamnnny Hall
magDate has bought land in the Croton Valley and
desires to sell it at big price TO the city
As has been stated in The Tribune. tie Academy
Of Medicine has filed with Governor Flower strong
protest against the Watershed bill in its present
form, and has suggested reasonable amendments TO 1t
In order to sanitary skill In guarding tie Gro
ton against pollution. To-day Charles Blandy. As
sistant Corporation Counsel. filed with Governor
Flower reply TO this protest Of the Academy Of
Medicine Mr.. Blandy, speaking for Mayor Giroy,
insists that the bill shall be signed without amend
ment. His paper is given in great part below:
My attention has been called the fact that the
u
protest against your approval OF the bill introduced in
the Assembly by Mr. Webster, being act 20 provide
for tho sanitary protection Of the sources CT the water
supply Of the city Of NewYork, and that in addition
thereto. they have supplemented their memorial by
telegram from Charles stewart DAWSON of counsel for
the committee and that for the suggested In their
memorial they ask you either 10 withhold your approval
Of this BILL in tie event of approving it, to
recommend future egiitol in the respect suggested in
their memorial.
As your recommending future legislation on this
subject have objection because. II it should
be found that the bill in question does not fully ac-
complain the purposed design the local authorities Of New
York would unite in further bill for that purpose.
hope however. that the bill before you will receive
approval, in order that the object dcsiied may be
accomplished the extent that the bill will 0liord
relief. When bill first introduced in the Legis-
ature invitations extended 10 all parties Interested
appear before Cities Committee of the Assembly
and make known their views, and especially any OPP
position they had TO offer 10 the measure The matter
was thoroughly advertised in all the city and other
newspapers, and laid over 20 AFFORD opportunity TO
TIE parties interested appear and present their Views
full hearing had, several counsel appearing rep
resentins these be affected by the bil namely,
the propetyowners tho counties referred 10 In the
bill and after the matter had been discussed for several
hours, 1t apparent that the differences between the
local authoritie, and the properyowners were slight
that they could all be adjusted in conference Several
conferences had, and amendments unanimously
assSed that the bill in present shape represents
voice OF oil those interested in the
The bill reported by the Cities Committee without
objection, and passed the House without think,
single dissenting vote.
iUp that gentlemen filing this protest had not
ude their appearance but when the matter reached the
Cities Committee OF the Senate they made known Their
desire TO be heard. hearing was had and the MATER
~ds thoroughly discussed In the arguments before both
committees. 1t conceded by all that the necessity
Ter legislation OF some character to protect the watershed
against possible contamination imminent. Mt
single voice raised against the necessity for lcgsaon
the only question at time being whether the rights OF
the property sufficiently guarded and that
the property taken Is thsm should be paid for in a
way Satisfactory their rights. These differences were
readily adjusted in the Assembly. bu when the mater
reached the scroc the body Of medical gentlemen
feried memorial appeared, and while they dis
claimed any intention disagree with the main purpose
Of the b-nded they conceded the necessity for lcGisla
ton TO protect watershedhcy claimed that the Com
missioner Public Works was not sufficiently competent
to carry provisions Of the bill and he fore they
proposed the alton Of cumbersome commission, COM
posed first Of Commissioner OF Public Works second
the President Of the Health Board OF New.iork; third
. gentleman be appointed by the Mayor upon the
recommendation Of the Chamber OF Commerce OF New
York; and lastly, engineer to be likewise appointed
by Mayor uron the recommcndatln OF the medical
society IN question. Each member q this commission
was to receive "A salary Of $1,000 per annm' IL was
the argument of gentlemen that such commits
sion absolutely because the character OF TN
be dealt with directly associated
with sanitary that the Commissioner Of Public
Works not competent pers>n 10 deal with tosc
matters They also argued bill not sufficiently
comprehensive IN its character afford full protection
meaning by that power should be given 10 the
Commissioner OF Public Works. and they suggest that
systm CT sewerage should be resortcd to In the rural
districts contiguous the watershed and the tributaries
ladtpg into it, drainage and other impure matter
should find its way into the watershed but should
be diverted as sewerage diverted in lar.e cities. These
were the only suggestions made ny that body upon the
argument before the Senate Committee.
The argument made by Professor Thomson on that oc
csson was answered part by the suggestion that in
W1s Il
operated by the Water Commissioners and the Common
Council OF City Of New-iork; that In 1919 the
Coton AQucduct Department was created consisting OF
three commis ana engineer; that in 1870 the
Croion Aaneiuct tmct became mer2ed in The De-