New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-02
GOVERNOR AND R4HAPO.

Governor Roosevelt has found time amid his
many duties to visit Newburg and tell its citi-
zens that they must make their might felt In
removing the evils Of which they complain
This is perfectly true, and it is doctrine which
| can be applied to public affairs by an office
holder as well as by private citizen Back in
Albany the Governor will find a situation call
ing for the exercise of the weight OF his power
| to protect this city from an evil which he him
self has pointed out and no doubt he will
strenuously throw himself into the contest as
soon as he realizes what is going on.
In his annual message Governor Roosevelt
called for the repeal of the laws under which
the Ramapo job was so nearly fastened on this
city. Bills are now in the Assembly which,
while leaving private water companies all rights
and privileges they can reasonably claim free
this city from absolute slavery to those com
panies In adding to Its water supply. There Is
no question about the justice and utility OF
these bills No disinterested voice dares to
raise Itself against them. But Senator Platt
for perfectly obvious reasons, through his Mr..
Nixon, his Mr.. Aids and his Mr. KELSEY is
holding them up and trying to leave the door
open for his Mr.. Lauterbach next summer TO
complete the deal last year arranged with the
Tammany city government which Senator Platt
placed In power. There IS perfectly evident
conspiracy on the part Of these persons 10
strange the bills for the relief Of this city from
the danger Of water supply jObbery in which
Mr.. Platts friends interested. The man
who break up that conspiracy Is Theodore
Roosevelt.
The people Of this State have had full conf
dence that one man at least In Albany could he
trusted to keep sharp eye upon all schemers
whatever their appeal, however plausibly they
approached him. They have had full confidence
that corporations, no matter how much they
contributed to Mr.. Platts campaign funds or
how many of Mr.. Platt's friends We're in
them, could gain no undue favors at Albany
while Mr.. Roosevelt was Governor And they
have not doubted that his moral courage was
equal to the most active efforts to protect the
people from these corporations, and that his
action would not be limited TO mere passive re
sstance TO new grabs, The time has now come
In the evolution Of this Ramapo lob for the
Governor to reward this popular confidence and
show ghat ii has not been misplaced 1t is
understood that for nearly two weeks he has
had in contemplation special message TO the
Legislature in the interests of the shackled
taxpayers of this city. He should delay no
longer. Every day that passes increases the
chance that the Ramapo conspirators will sue
coed, and If they do, owing 10 any inactiv-
ity or inattention on the part of the Gov
ernor, he will have to share the responsibility
AS THE New York World" has several times
asked: Does the Governor think 1t would be
safe to permit the Legislature to adjourn
without at least strenuous effort to kill
1.-The Ramapo job?'
1t will not be good politics for him TO let
himself be thought even acquiescent toward Mr.
Patt's use of legislative power for the financial
benefit Of his friends. Moreover 1t will not be
good morals for him to be anything but the
inveterate and outspoken enemy Of such trans
actions. And it is on grounds Of moral duty