New-York tribune., 1900-03-21
CONFERENCE ON RAMAPO.
IMPORTANT MEETING AT ALBANY To-
DAY
MORE STRINGENT LEGISLATION DEMANDED
THE GOVERNORS ATTITUDE
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rg1BUSE.l

MORE STRINGENT LEGISLATION DEMANDED
THE GOVERNORS ATTITUDE.
GBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1BUNE.l
Albany, March 20-It is reported tonight
that a conference of an important character
will be held in the executive chamber to-mor-
row morning between Governor Roosevelt. Ben
jamin B. Odell, tr.. Senator Ellsworth, Speaker
Nixon and leading members Of the Merchants
Association Of New-York, in relation TO legis-
lation against the Ramapo Water Company
Governor Roosevelt feels. now that the Legis-
lature has passed on to Mayor Van Wyck the
bill OF Assemblyman Fallows. empowering
Controller Coler to veto any contract with the
Ramapo Water Company, that he can with
prudence push the bill of Assemblyman
Morgan. giving authority to New-York City to
condemn land in order to secure water rights.
In conversation with members OF the Mer-
chants Association this afternoon the Governor
suggested that the bill of Mr.. Morgan be
amended so as to define the watershed from
which the city of New-Yorx desires to obtain
water. It should be stated that this idea had
been advanced earlier in the day by Senator
Stranahan, the chairman OF the Committee on
Cities.
Some persons would say it had some relation
to the cry raised by the supporters Of the Ram
apo Water Company that New-Yorl1 desired
the State for the use of the city of New-York.
The cry was not a sincere Every one un-
derstands that 20 per cent of the State is out
side of the watershed OF the Hudson River Val
lev the only watershed that be used by the
city OF New-York when it seeks more water
Members Of the Legislature living outside of the
Hudson River Valley therefore insincere
when they say that they fear New-York City
would take water needed by their constituents II
given the same power of condemning water
rights that is possessed by the Ramapo Water
Company.
WATERSHEDS DESIRED.
The representatives of the Merchants Associ-
alton told Governor Roosevelt. when he sug-
gested that they state the watershed desired
by New-Yorlz City in order 10 supply itself
that If they did the Ramapo Water Company
would obtain options all the land in the
locality named and compel New-York City to
pay So OOOO0 or S6.O00000 more than the land
is worth On the other hand, they added, if
four or five different watersheds were put at
the command of the authorities OF New York
private water company could manage to
gain possession practically Of all the great tract
It was stated late tonight that the Mer-
/ chants Association might consent to a slight
modification Of Assemblyman Morgan's bill.
but only to the extent Of naming four five
watersheds in which the city shall be authorized
to condemn land from which to procure water.
Thus the Suffolk County members of the Legis-
lature would be appeased as we'll as those
patriots from Chautauqua and Erie counties
who fear a diversion of the water of Lake Erie
to NewYOrS TzeFls,sF.79r those stil more ardent
patriots Of st. Lawrence County who appre-
hend that the St. Lawrence River will be turned
across the Adirondack Mountains toward New
| York City unless the Ramapo Water Company
! is permitted to make a contract with New Y ork
/ City.
/ If any amendment to the Morgan act is made
/ il is presumed that agreement will be reached
/ upon it tomorrow, for Governor Roosevelt the
members of the Legislature and the members of
/ the Merchants Association are aware that the
Legislature is about to adjourn. and in order to
/ dodge veto from Mayor Van Wyck of a
deadly nature such an act must be passed this
week
Mr.. Oden said tonight that the Legislature
might adjourn March 81. and at least would
not be in existence beyond April I.
MR.. ODELL's DIPLOMACY.
Mr.. OdelI also stated tonight that he favors
earnestly the denomination of Governor Roose-
/ velt, and is not himself a candidate for Gov
ernor. 1t is 10 be hoped. Of course that this
statement by Mr. CGeH. who is not an ingenious
politician by any means, has not the slightest
relation to the proposed Ramapo Water Com
pany legislation; that Mr. OdeIl does not wish in
! this way, for instance. to intimate to the Gov
/ ernor that he should not too vehemently press
/ the bill of ASsemblyman Morgan against the
/ RamapO Water Company, seeing that so many
! powerful persons are interested in the fortunes
! of that company.
Whatever MI Odelrs diplomacy in the Ram
/ apo Water Company matter may be, it is clear
/ that Governor Roosevelt is content with the
/ passage of Assemblyman Fallows's bill against
/ the RamapO Water Company but is getting to
believe that the Morgan bill, perhaps in a shorn
| form should also be passed. Possibly the Gov
ernor sees political peril to the Republican party
/ If the Republicans OF the Legislature adjourn
! without doing anything more against the Ram
apo Water Company than they have already
/ done.
II is worth while mentioning that no bill has
yet been passed cutting off any of the great priv
| ileges which the Ramapo Water Company en-
joys by virtue of the bill introduced and pressed
/ in it's interest in 1920 by Speaker Nixon. Mr..
I NiXons act stands unrepealed and unamended.
/ The Ramapo Water Company. even if the Fal-
lows act and the Morgan act both passed,
| Will still have a highly valuable charter.