New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-20

responsibility what YOU say he says. You are at
least two removes from anywhere in particular,
and have been chattc"ing SANDER At second or
third hand Pardon us, Edward but YOU do seem
to be from start TO finish the most unaccountablc
blunder Of the period
THE GOTERNORS MESSAGE UNHEEDED.
From the way in which his suggestions are
disrcgardcd Governor Morton must he inclined to
wonder if he has much influence with this Legs
lature Regardless of the consideration due him.
certain Senators and ASScmblymen of his own
party are putting in his hands bills which violate
every principle laid down 10y the Governor in his
annual message. 1t is not To be supposed that
they hold 50 low an opinion of his character and
intelligence as to expect from him the self sliii-
cation which approving their jobs would involve.
They certainly can be under no such mSapprc-
hcnsion as TO think him the mere registrar of
DEGREES devised for the furtherancc of selfish po-
litical or financial purposes. Their course is APP
parently due TO utter forgctfulncSs Of the cour-
tesy they owe the Executive and reckless haste
TO do all that is in their power for the gratiiica-
ton Of their own appctites careless of the ultl-
mate fate of their grabs and unmndful of the
annoyance Il must cause the Governor to be com
PEELED TO stand up the defender Of the people
against vicious legislation carried through by
members of his own party.
One of the measures just sent 10 the Governor
which most directly antagonizes the spirit of his
recommendations is tho act committing the state
10 the expenditure Of S3.OO0,00O for the consruc-
ton OF storage dam in tho Genesee River for
the improvement Of the water power of Roch-
ester Mr. Morton in his message dwclt particu
larly on the need of public economy. He said
II especially desire to call attention 10 the great
"and growing demand for the most rigid econ
"omy in the management of the different depart
"ments Of our State government" and the
remedy, and the only remedy 10 relieve the
people and the industries Of this State from the
"burdcns now felt 50 severely is 10y the practice
"of reasonable and just economy in all state *
"pcnditurcs" 1t is in the face Of these declara
tons that the Legislature. under the pretcncc ~
improving the canals, has made us initial appro-
priation f,g the benefit Of the Rochester mill
owners That its sole object is canal improve
mcnt even the jobbcrs themselves have not the
oflrontorv 10 assert They call ii an act proyid-
ing for the construction II dam on the GcncScc
River for the purposes of the Erie Canal ana Tor
restoring 10 the owners II water power on the
Gencsce River water diverted by the state for
canal purposes. The trainers Of the bill assure
the public that II really spends no money for Tho
millowncrs. but only allows them 20 build for
themselves on the state foundations after th'
canal purposes are accomplished But In fact II
adds 81 100000 70 the proper cost 81 the work
solely for the benefit Of the water power grab
bers.
The construction - a dam - feet high is au-
thorized but the base IS 10 bc 50 large that ia"
dam may be carried M without strengthening
the walls to the height of $50 feet The - icci
additional provided for Is 10 give water storage
for the millowncrs. Tho suggestion Il thrown
out that the Rochester men will pay for The *
tension out Of their own pockets when the State
has built the lower part If the dam for The canal
and perhaps they viii " they cannot persuade
some future Legislature 10 assume the expense,
misled 10y the title Of the present bill into be
Neving that the State really owes The propTietors
OF water rights something for water hithcrt"
used In the canal. As a matter Of fact, the NH
ers for years have been, whenever possible, uslnS
the water which belonged 10 the canal feeder
AT Rochester. The Erie Canal has conferred
enormous benefits on the manufacturers of Koch
ester and il is rather late I'm the day for them
TO plead that the water used 10 enrich them 10y
n canal built before most Of them had water
rights or personal existence Is stolen and divert
ed from their mill wheels. The promoters Of the
scheme say that the Gcncscc is 80 low for great
mart OF the season that there is no water for The
canal Yet they talk Of an enormous storage
reservoir to 'rcstorc" 10 mill owncrs water which
they allcgc the State has been unable 10 obtain.
II may be an open question whether or not the
State might with advantage have more water
available at Rochester. If the millowncrs want
to build a dam for their own uses nobody can oh
iect. But It is entirely indcfenSiblr 10 saddle the
State with the expenditure for the latter purpose
The possibility that Rochester men may build
the addition does not obyiate the objection The
base Of the dam must be- much thicker 10 carry
the added height than is required for the needs
OF the canal. even if the most advanced claims
i'm that behalf are conceded 10 be legitimate.
This larger base will add Sl,0OO,0OO 10 the cost
Of the work solely for private advantage The
whole State Is 10 be taxed 50 much for the mill
owners That Is a job which no talk about canal
TO cover up Governor Morton probably did not
foresec the provisions Of this bill when he wrote
his message, but if he had, he could not have
given warning against them more plainly than
when discussing improvements Of the canals he
urged that action for their bcttcrmcDt be taken
"unmixcd with political or other subordinate
purposes AMI policies"
U1NDS OEE Niagara RESERTdTION