New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-27
ASTORIA PLANS BLOCKED.
LAND BOARD TABLES REQUEST FOR
LEASE OF PROPERTY.
TION-sECRETARY OF STATE OP-
D0sEs TLE


Albany. Oct 2s-What amount Of political pull"
has Senator Thomas G.. Platt with Governor Roose-
Welt and the members % the Land Board This IN
teresiing question is being asked A good many
points In Albany whore politicians conEregate to-
night IN view OF Governor Roosevelt having limo
Gently blocked the granting % an application made
10 the Land Board by Tracy Boardman & Platt. in
behalf Of the Astoria Light. Heat and Power Com
pany FOR over fourteen OF State land under
water on the East River front OF Queens County.
Senator Platts son Frank H. Plat as IS well
known. is a member Of the firm OF Tracy Board
man & Plat. and politicians do not doubt there
fore. that the Senator will now personally interest
himself In the granting Of the application and come
10 the rescue % the law firm and its client the
Astoria Light. Heat and Power Company. The
company wishes 20 buy East River lands NJ what
10 some persons SCENE a prop0st erously low price.
The Governor and the members % the Land Board
have Just begun TO consider whether such lands
around Ncw-lork Harbor should not be leased for
short periods at high rates To-day's events also
indicate that the Legislature IS likely 20 have
again before II tho Astoria Light. Heat and Power
bill defeated last winter
OPPOSITION OF MDONOUGH.
Governor Roosevelt wandered into the affairs ~
to-day At the meeting OF the Land Board. I'm conse-
quence Of having heard John T. McDonough, tho
Secretary ~ State crticise the present practice
OF the Land Board inherited from It's predecessors.
Of selling the States lands under water. Mr. NJ"
Donough thought that such lands should be leased
rstead OF sold and leased for only limited periods.
then he revalued and again leased. In this
way he said. the state would derive a much
larger income from this species Of IT'S property.
Mr.. McDonough Is member Il the Land Board
which sells such lands. The other members Of the
Board present William J. Morgan. Con-
troller; John C. Davies. Attorney General; John !.
Jaeckel State Treasurer. Edward A Bond. State
Engineer and : Fred Nixon. Speaker Of the As
semhly Al The meeting ~ the Board on February
q last Mr. McDonouph offered for its consdera-
tlon an amendment 20 the public lands law. which
would give 10 The Land Board power 70 lease
land under water for a period " fifty years At
torney General Davies moved that the Legislature
should be asked to pass the amendment. This
resolution was adopted and Mr. McDonough had
bill drawn Up To carry out his plan. This bill was
introduced by Assemblyman Clark on February y
and was referred 10 the Committee on Public
Lands and Forestry II reported FOR sec
ond reading on March 6 bur did not pass Nj Nc
Donough states that John Whaien. Corporation
Counsel Of New-York. wrote a letter In opposition
10 H. or the ground that The rights Of Network
City were trenched upon In the act With eighty
seven Republican votes IN the Assembly however.
and only sxty-three Democratic votes. IL ought 20
have passed II Il had been pressed by the Re-
publican organ cation Speaker Nixon as a mem
Der OF the Land Board. il is fair 10 say. should
have Interested himself IN the bill
FATE OF CLARKs BILL
The hri Of the Astoria Light Heat and Power
COMPANY. which had been introduced by Assembly
man Mazet. was then before the Assembly That
bill authorized the Astoria Light Heat and power
COMPANY 10 construct TUNE. beneath the East
River and put In gas pipes through which 70 send
gas from the great works 80 intends 20 construct
In Astoria 20 New-York
To corporations are supplied Immediately all bills
introduced IN the LEGISLATURE which threaten their
interests and therefore Il is reasonable 10 suppose
that the men controlling me Astoria Light. Heat
and Power Company had Assembiyman Clarks
bill FOR me leasing q STATE lands under water
stranged In the Assembly
The Secretary o. State. however, was not dis
-ouraeed Every time the proposal was MADE 10
the Land Board thar state lands under water
should be sold he would move az an amendment
that they be leased. In this position he has been
sustained constantly by Attorney General Davies
and frequently by Controller Morgan Lately Mr.
McDonough has mad several talks with Governor
Roosevelt concerning the practice Of thus selling
the state lands and the Governor became inter-
ested IN the subject. The Governors OF the State
n should be- stated early IN this century We're
Themselves members - the Land Board Legisia-
ton took the Governor OUT o. ne Board. but sui
Imposed upon him ne duty of signing and issuing
the letters patent" certifying 70 the action Of the
Commissioners % the Land Board and describing
the property granted hy the STATE. Whether me
Governor has right 20 veto me action OF the
Land Board by refusing 20 sign these letters
patent f. question Wnlch has not been decided
by the courts FOR no such case has come before
them