New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-14
THE NI.c4R4 RESERVATION IN DANGLh.

Il
The Niagara Falls Reservation Is In danger,
Senator Ellsworth's bill to transfer Tue .o"
~ tho Reservation Commission. OF which An
drew H. Green is the president, 10 ''c =,
Came and Forest Commission. means eV'i' """
nothing except evil to this precious pos'c',y-
II has two objects-bOth OF them ihueio"'
one is TO give little more patronage " '
Plat State machine; the other 10 Hnee' III.
wishes and to make easier the accohip.''"
Of the plans Of selfish and unscrhpulo"s l'i'o'
70 secure special privileges WITHIN 'he ne''''"'
ton boundaries ..
If the political purposes OF the Oil "'0 nv 90
vicious and harmful 10 the STATE Interests 40
the other objects, the? are even morc 'on'' mp
ible Whatever may have been true Vi o".'
State commissions, this one has Always h''"''"
been kept entirely out OF politics. lhree Vi '"e
five Commissioners have been ana are Dci''
crafts hut of the twelve employees or the Ooii'
missloners seven are Republicans. In lac', un
I'll this bill was introduced, questions VI poi''NS
have never arisen in connection WIN the htS''-
walton. But it Is easy 10 see that 'hls VIII "'
longer be the case II Mr.. ELLSWORTH Dill pe-
comes a law 1t provides that the present oin
GERS and employees Of the Commission sl''h
continue in office or in such employment u'''-
"jng the Measure Of the Board or flsh'ri'S
"Gome and Forest" That language discioses
MAINLY enough. the purpose of the flatt man
ayers to appropriate even this small OIL Vi
notronaye whatever the result TO the STATES
interests.
Rut there is another much more serious aspect
70 the matter than the mere question OF po"'cs
From the first creation Of the Reservation the
members of the Commission have found II neceS'
sary 10 be constantly on their guard against
the attempts of railway companies water-power
companies and other corporations and individ-
nails TO encroach upon the Reservation sro"hus
and secure foothod for money making schemeS'
Similar influences had nearly ruined the sur-
roundings Of the falls when the State TOOK pos
session. 1t was chiefly to redeem these pahhs
and parks from such spolatlon that the people
consented to and approved OF the payment Oh
large sums of money In the creation OF the Aesei-
yation But the same financial interests nave
continued unceasing efforts. sometimes pe'ore
tho LEGISLATURE. oftcner before the Board OF
Commissioners to get back again their oldtiine
privileges or TO secure other new ones.
EXCEPT for the stern and hinillke resistance
of President Green and his associates ana inc
vigilance of Superintendent Welch, these efforts
would have been successful. Finally despairihe
of securing what they want from the 'onlniis
soners. the invading interests now seek 10 CD
tain II by coalition with the Ilitt STATE ma
chine: and the Influences that Will be uscd I"
secure the passage Of the bill will be powerinl
and be exerted with subilcty and skill. ~ no
protest Is made there Is great danger mat the
hill will be enacted into law. II Is possible that
the members Of the Commission to whom the
Reservation would be turned over would prove
themselves as unyieding In tho protection OF
the peoples rights as the present CommisSioh'
hut II is evident that the promoters or the OIL
do not think so In any case unless some strong
reason not yet given is presented In favor OF the
measure the only safe course Is 10 leave mat
ters as they are and To defeat the bill.
The only excuse that has been heard for the
introduction OF the measure dlscloscs its weak
ness Senator Ellsworth Is reported 10 nave
said that II IL on the ground Of economy, because
II will reduce the number Of State commissions
nv one The record OF the Legislature In the
matter OF the Raines bill shows how dlsingcnu-
Gus is this explanation, while the records OF The
present Commission prove that II has no foun-
dation In fact None OF the members receive
a salary. and all OF It's work has been done upon
the most economical basis Indeed, 1t Is said
that all the expenses OF the Commissioners for
the year 1893, including railway fares, did not
exceed $50. The plea OF economy cannot there
fore be regarded seriously. But even If the CON
tinuance Of the present Commission did Involve
some additional expenditures, they would much
better be incurred than that this magnificent
possession should become the football OF poll
tics or that any opportunity should be afforded
for encroachment by individuals or corporations
upon these domains. Several times has public
opinion, quickly and sharply expressed prevent
ed the success of other measures intended 10
| afford such foothold in the Reservation. 1t
should make itself felt with equal dccisiveness
to render impossible the success OF the present
schemes.