New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-19
REFORM MEASURES AT ALBANY.
GOVERNOR NOT HEARTILY SUPPORTED IN
RAMAPo-CANAL AND OTHER MATTERS

GOVERNOR NOT HEARTILY SUPPORTED Nv
RAMAPo-CANAL AND OTHER MATTERS.
Albany Feb 1S (SpeciaD.-Senator Plat and
Benjamin b. Odell jr.. chairman of the Repuo-
lican State Committee, appear to be remarkably
indifferent to Governor Roosevelt's plans TO
gain some credit for his administration by per-
suading the Legislature to pass some reform
legislation. If they Importing him for re-
nomination they do not, to all appearances, care
to support him for re-elec ion by aiding him
to pass such legislation.
Governor Roosevelt seems to be about the
only Republican of prominence in Albany who
desires the passage of some bill which will pre-
vent the city of New-York from entering into a
contract with the Ramapo Water Company or
any other private water company to supply
New-York with water, and to supply 1t at large
cost.
Senator Plat is credited. and no doubt justly
with having named nearly all the members or
the Assembly Committee Cities, acting
through Speaker Nixon. He even put at the
head of that committee Otto Kelsey, resident
of the little village of Genesee, in Livingston
County.
NO PLATT INFLUENCE FOR THE BILLS.
Neither Senator Plat Speaker Nixon ap-
pears to have used the slightest influence with
the Committee on Cities to persuade its mem
rest repeating the charter of the Ramapo Water
Company or that of Assemblyman Falows re-
quring the assent OF the Board of Estimate and
Apportionment and of two-thirds of the mem
bers of the Municipal Assembly to the making
of a contract with private water company, or
that of Assemblyman Morgan empowering the
city of New-York to take water by right Of
eminent domain and sweeping away other
obstacles erected by private water companies to
prevent New-York acquiring the water Ii needs.
All these bills are still in the hands of the AS
sembly Committee on Cities suffering strangu-
lation, 1t would appear.
1t is known that various eminent Republicans
of the Plat organization were g eatly annoyed
that Governor Roosevelt, in his annual mes
sage recommended legislation which would tie
up New-York to the policy of controlling its
own waterworks and not buying the water
of private concerns.
THE TAMMANY POLICY.
The Tammany Hall members of the Legis-
lature seem eager as the representatives of
members of the Republican organization re-
ferred to to pr4vent the passage of any act
which will unloosen the grip of private water
companies the threats of the taxpayers Of
New York, and it is plain their chiefs in New
York debating their action Controller
Coler, when here last week. was obviously dis
couraged at the outlook for legislation which
would strengthen his power OF resisting the
making of a contract with the Ramapo Com
Commissioner Mccartney is dead, who sus-
tanned his policy, and he has been succeeded by
Percy" Nage, who is suspected of favoring
the making of contract with the Ramapo com
pany.
Mr.. Limburger, the counsel of the Ramapo
Water Company when here last week, stated
that this company is not taking any proceed
ings at present to acquire water rights in Rock
land County. Mr.. Lmburger must have been
msinformed, for Assemblyman Demarest, of
against a Rockland County lake by the Ramapo
Water Company only last week. The Ramapo
Water Company is thus very much alive, and
it appears to have a great abundance of friends
in the Legislature
GOVERNORS Ch,TAt, POLICY.
Governor Roosevelt also has a policy of i'm
proving the States canals In his message re
garding the reports of the Canal Advisory Com
mission and of the State Commerce Commission
people of proposition to expend ST., 100000 on
the Improvement of the canals OF the State Mr..
Odell when here last week. did not initiate any
measures in support of the Governors policy in
this respect, and IL is understood he doesn't be-
leve a canal Improvement bill ought TO be
passed this year-that it might loss OF
votes TO a Republican candidate for President
and Republican candidate for Governor. Gov
ernor Roosevelt is more daring and does not
think such a policy politically dangerous.
Senator Bracket has just introduced bill,
drawn up by Professor jerks, of Cornell Uni
versity requiring the publication Of the accounts
Of corporations at frequent intervals and with
particularly. Governor Roosevelt is said to
favor this bill, but the Republican organiza-
tion," ii is reported, does not wish - passed.
Various corporations which can it is thought
make campaign contributions do not desire to
make their financial accounts public. It is
doubtful, therefore, If the act will be passed.
Some minor reform act. like that repeating the
Horton Sparring law, may be passed, but none
others seemingly.