New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-22
WORKING FOR PURE WATER.

THE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE COMMITTEE CLOSE
LY WATCHING THE WEBSTER BILL.
Dr.. J. West Roosevelt, representing the New'York
Academy Of Medicine Committee on the Sanitary Con-
diton Of the Croton Watershed. went 10 Albany yes
teruay to present o memorial to Governor Flower
respecting desired amendments TO the Webster bill
relating to the sanitary protection Of NewYorks water
supply, awaiting Executive action.
DR.. Roosevelt was accompanied by Charles stewart
Dawson. counsel to the committee. They returned
to the city evening Dr. Roosevelt said the Gov
ernor manifested much interest In the matter and
disposition to thoroughly consider the provisions Of the
bill In all their bearings Significant changes were
made In the during the progress OF its passage
through tho two houses. The memolalists presented
the draft of new BILL which they seek to have enacted
should the Webster bill be disnpproved BY the Governor
and fail OF passage his veto. This embodies the
amendments proposed by the committee when the bill
was under consideration by the Senate Committee and
which was rejected In gross. 1t is the belief CT the
Academy committee that had opportunity been afforded
for their consideration the floor some OF the most
essential provisions would have been adopted ana that
they failed because OF the proposal to substitute
commission for the Commissioner Of Public Works for
the execution Of the law. Tie memorial calls aten-
ton to the lack OF mandatory provisions In the act
comforting specific authority the Commissioner OF
Public Works which the committee deem necessary
for meeting possible emergencies during the next few
months, and point TO the memorial adopted by tho
Aaueduct Commissioners. In which they say that In
our opinion even greater powers could be usefully
conferred
The memorial shows that while the Academy
Committee prefer that separate commission should
be provided for and Igcd with power to act rather
than that such vast power should be rcposed In the
Commissioner of Public Works. they are willing TO
yield that point provided the LII snail be so amended
as to confer power upon that officer to act immediately
and 20 oomprehensivcly to enable him ~ promptly
remove sl nuances and secure and guard the purity
Of the water supply.
Dr. Roosevelt said last evening: Z" IT Is not qucs-
ton of politics II is question Of life and DEATH
II the LEGISLATURE Is not willing that this power shall
be reposed In commission selected by reason OF their
special qualification for the work, and to he head
responsible for results then we are willing to give
the power to the Commissioner Of Public Works, ana
the people can hold him responsible. But In the
presence Of threatening dangers there must be imme
liats and thorough action
The committee say in concluding their memorial
measures OF the nature suggested and SPECIFIC powers
Ct the nature and TO the extent proposed TO be con-
ferred are essential the protection Of the people,
end these powers best intrust~d 10 board
OF sanitary engineers ard experts rather than to any
other, and II could only be the pressure VI grave
and proximate dangers which could excuse our &C
guesclng In the proposition OF their exercise Dy all
Individual ofbciaL'