New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-04
vETOES FALLOWS BILL.
MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION wITHDRAWS
MORGAN MEASURE AFTER
MAYORS ACTION

Mayor Van Wyck yesterday vetoed the Fal-
lows bill which Yves intended to block a Ram
apo Water Company contract by limiting the
power OF the Commissioner of Water Supply to
make contract and requiring the approval OF
the Board of Estimate and Aprortionment and
the separate written consent of the Mayor ana
Controller TO any water contract with the city.
In his veto memorandum the Mayor wrote;
In action brought in the Supreme Court under
the title of the Press Publishing Company vs. Hola-
han involving the determination Of the Charter ter pro
a contract for supply Of water from a private
tive officers and administrative departments Of the
muncipaty OF the city Of have t,srn nor
IL TO the inhabitants without authority conferred
b the Municipal Assembly i'' '''''' 20 p'
The existing charter Provisions therefore require
majority vote OF the Board OF Public improvements
Assembly by the affirmative Votes Of three
OF all the members elected to each house. The
veto power OF the Mayor and IL he vetoes the
affirmative Of hve-sixths OF all the members
OF each house are necessary to override his veto
the veto has been received, The charter further
not pass both houses at the session it is introduced
but must be printed five days before 1t Is finally
It is explicitly declared in the charter that no
eo3iTact sha be binding Oh the city until the Con
appropriation Of funds sufficient to pay the es-
this G esta be The dgn @ns1 be
Vided in the budget which is prepared by the Board
OF Estimate and ApPortonment by the unanimous
vote Of all its members.
The bill requires that such a contract receive the
affirmative action OF at least a majority of the
Board % Estimate and Apportiorrnent, of which
the Mayor and Controller must form two.
Under the existing charter provisions slcr
contract can become valid binding unless an
appropriation has been made by the Board of Est-
MAZE and Apportionnent, OF which both the Mayor
Board be making an no
ton II either OF these officers any other
member OF the Board refuses to for appro-
tract.
The existing charter. therefore, as interpreted by
the Supreme Court requires action by the Board
OF Public improvements. the Municipal Assembly
and the Board Of Estimate and Apportionmeat.
This bill is open TO the construction that the
action of the majority Of the Board of Estimate ana
Apporuonment which 1t provides for is substitute
,or any action by the Municipal Assembly. If this
inerpretaton is accepted the bill decreases instead
CT adding 10 the present checks upon official action
aside from this consideration the bill is unneces-
sary- The existing charter provisions as inter
prefed by the Supreme Court, provide ample checks
against improyident action and ample oppor-
t'lnty for publicity
The following telegram was sent to s. c.
Mead, assistant secretary of the Merchants As
ISOLATION and secretary of the Executive Com
mittee on Ramapo Legislation at Albany yes
terday:
Mayor has vetoed Faows bill Understanding
was that said bill should be passed over MAYORS
veto. Withdraw Morgan bill in case same wa 9
passed Mayor would veto IL. 1t would necessitate
an extra session Of the Legislature TO pass over
veto. We VIII continue on our work of investga-
ton of water SUPPLY and be ready for next I,eeis-
MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NETWORK
by WILLIAM F. KING, President