New-York tribune., 1900-03-15
rsr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

lie
Dsnv ana tomorrow VIII be asked by Assembly
-,sn Morgan 70 dismiss the Assembly Committee
~ cities from the consideration of his bill.
.-emed by the Merchants Association. author
,z;nr the authorities of New-York to condemn
,.,6 surrounding water sources in order TO sup
rlx the CITY with water. Mr.. Morgan and the
Merchants Association seek to free New-York
4ro-n the grasp of the Ramapo monster
The bill which has met with the approval Of
,ba Assembly is that one which was fore
shadowed in The Tribune Of to-day. II was in
rroduced by Assemblyman Fallows. and pro-
vfdes that the consent OF Mayor Van wyck and
Controller Coler must be given separately TO the
making Of any contract with the Ramapo Water
Company. Controller Coler viii thus have a
power Of vetong any proposed contract with the
Rarapo Water Company.
Governor Roosevelt sent an emergency mes
sage TO the Assembly early this morning to per
NIT Of immediate action Mr. Fallows's bill.
The Assembly Cities Committee had held
session half an hour before the Assembly con-
vened. and had reported out the bill with one
amendment AS the bill stood when brought
m before the Assembly. therefore, it provided
that the city Of New-York should be protected
against snap contract with a private water
cornpsny not only by the consent of two munich,
pal boards and the veto Of two of its highest
o4aoers but also by the Supreme Court.
Governor Roosevelt stated his attitude TO the
newspaper correspondents this morning before
ne sent IN the emergency message. He spoke
n The three water bills. and the reason he
thought the enactment Of one Of them should
be urged. He said that the Demarest BILL which
repeals the charter Of the Ramapo company
raised such intricate points that it certainly
was opposed by many Legislators. This bill. he
II was not Of such vital Importance as the i'm
mediate protection Of the metropolis. To the
Morgan bill. which permits the city of New
York 70 condemn lands and 10 have the munich
pal ownership Of its water supply. there was
also a genuine opposition the part Of the
country members. This bill, also did not call
FOR an emergency message from him.
No SNAP CONTRACT
The thing 10 he done at once. he continued
was TO secure the city from entering into any
snap contract for a water supply Immediate
action therefore was necessary, he said, 10
safeguard the city until its charter could be
thoroughly revised by the Charter Revision
Commission. At that time the whole question
Of The city's needs Of water and its available
source could be determined.
The Governor thought that the Fallows bill as
Il now stood WAS excellent He was especially
delighted with the amendment that all proceed
ings relating 10 the making or the approval Of
such a contract might ne reviewed by the Ap-
pellate Division cf the Supreme Court in the
First and Second Departments on the appIica-
ton Of any resident taxpayer.
Re said be had confidence in the high char
acte- OF these courts and was glad that such
officials as The Mayor and the Controller were
10 have full veto power.
n the Assembly the first opposition TO the bill
came from Mr. Trainor Of New-York. The
emergency message had been read. and the bill
vas on the order Of final passage. At this point
M. Trainor moved TO amend the bill by offering
substitute the bill Of Assembiyman Morgan.
Mr. Trainor defended this action by saying:
We are now TO decide between two bills. the
Fallows bill and the Morgan bill. The first
limits the powers Of the city of New York TO
contract for water. the second gives il power TO
own It's OWN water system The first permits
oT no contract with private company, unless
an array Of municipal officials give their con-
sent. K looks we'll. II looks as If il were truly
protecting the city. II has been called an anti
Ramapo measure. II is. indeed. the product of
the Mezet investigation. But let me tell you
gentlemen & is n gold brick. pure and simple
i is the very bill that the Ramapo people want.
AoW5 the city wants water. We all know that.
Al VIII concede that. The city must have water.
FOR its population is growing every day Of the
year Now. instead Of meeting this need you
r1n away from II. You prevent the city still
mere from obtaining water. Let me tell you
a water famine viii come upon the city, and in
spite Of al these restrictions the city will be
oe only one way TO ger-to buy il from the
hanapo Wafer Company
what does the Morgan bill do2 II meets this
crying need OF The city fairly and squarely. It
enables the city 20 procure its water supply, TO
own i and 70 increase Il as its needs demand.
A tne present time there are such restrictions
upon the city under its charter that IL is pre-
vented from such action. No town village in
the state Is so hanpered in IT'S powers to obtain
of irG w QrGr E0sgrH fS
1hls great city. whose population constitutes
more than half that Of the whole State. We in
AeV-York want equal rights.
Mr.. Morgan then came forward and said that
ne DID not wish 70 have his bill substituted for
the Fallows bin. He said that the Fallows
Dill was the one recommended by the Governors
message and that no other could be substituted
Tor II He then continued:
Again and again, twice each week for the last
month, ~ nave gone before the Assembly Cities
committee and asked that my bill be reported.
NY request has been as steadfastly refused
-NeFertneless. l would not take advantage Of this
amendment to have my bill put forward. The
@4ioWs 5lH Is step IN the right direction. and
: want II 10 pass. Afterward We can consider
other measures
The country members need not fear this bill
o. mine. They are not to be robbed Of their
Ilghls We are not going TO take their sources
~ Si,,eF "ateF supply. There is an amendment TO my
o-A "hlch provides that the city cannot enter
mo condemnation proceedings for the acquisi-
ttoh q water rights that IA actual use at
tne IlIne OF the initiation Of such proceedings.
Neither can any water rights be acquired which
n the opinion Of the Court on such proceedings
may reasonably become necessary for the sup
LS q any other city. The people Of New
aork 90 not intend 10 rob anybody They mere
y want equal rights with the other cities and
The villages OF the State.
Mr. FALLOws HEARD.
Mr. FaIows defended his bill on the ground
mat Il was no more than consistent with the
economy Of the city's government He said:
The purchase Of a bottle Of ink necessitates