New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-18
L1MBURGER VISITS THE GOVERNOR.

Albany, Feb 17.-Governor Roosevelt yester-
day granted interview to Herbert r.. Linn
burger, counsel for the Ramapo Water Com
pany. Asked to the outcome Of the discussion
of the matters pertaining to NETWORKS water
supply. Mr.. Limburger said to-day:
The Governor very courteously granted me a
long interview yesterday. both in relation to the
affairs of the Ramapo Water Company and to
the water question generally. The Governor
told me that he had heretofore had oppor-
tunity of becoming acquainted with the views OF
the Ramapo Water Company He showed great
Interest In the entire question. and promised
careful consideration of the matters presented to
him. L urged as strongly as / could that 1t
would be great wrong to the city of New
York-in fact wellnigh crfminal-to enact any
law which would absolutely prevent the city
from buying water from private corporations.
l cited to the Governor several instances in
the past when the city of Brooklyn and other
cities compelled by the scarcity of water
to enter into such contract upon the shortest
notice, and l pointed out to the Governor the
situation that would exist IL such a condition
again confronted the city and the latter had no
authority to secure water from private corpora
tons Such condition has frequently threat
ened the city of Brooklyn and the city Of New
York, and could arise at any time in the future,
through long continued drouth or through
damage or injury to the existing water system or
through the financial inability of the city of
New York to extend its water system so as to
adequately meet the needs of its citizens
The Governor seemed much impressed with
the views which he saw We're not at all incon-
sistent with the policy OF municipal ownership
AS far the Ramapo Water Company was
concerned the Governor asked me many ques-
tons about its history, its character and Its
operations. While the Governor would not eX
press any definite views upon the subject except
that he would examine these matters most care
fully and do what he considered just l believe
that I convinced him that the laws of 1880 did
not grant the Ramapo Water Company any
power that Il did not possess under the general
laws. and told the Governor that at the hear
ing before the Cities Committee of the Assem-
bly, / had challenged any one OF the hundreds
of people present to point out a single line
sentence in the laws of 1895 which granted the
Ramapo Water Company any new powers that
the company did not possess at the time or It's
incorporation, and that no one was able to take
up that challenge
The Governor asked me to explain to him all
the water bills now before the Assembly. He
asked me what l thought about the Morgan bill.
and told him that considered 1t very good
bill but that ] believed 1t was injudicous to
pass any one bill or make any one change IN
the law at the present moment. when the in
not been completed and when a Charter He-
vision Commission about to be appointed
which would certainly consider all of these sec
tions of the charter most carefully.
With regard to the Fallows bill. the Governor.
while not expressing his opinion definitely. gave
me the impression of being adverse to any legis
lation which would tend to increase the powers
OF the Municipal Assembly or TO impose upon II
any duties additional to the ones now resting
upon the Municipal Assembly.
l also explained the three bills Of Mr.. Dena-
rest to the Governor. which are claimed TO have
been introduced solely to protect the poor citl-
of Rockland County from the rapacious
greed of the Ramapo Water Company, while the
proposed contract with the city of New-York ex-
pressly declares that the water is not to be
taken from Rockland County, but from Ulster
and Greene counties.
OF course. 1 shall not venture to predict the
Governors attitude any of these bills should
they before him for his signature. except
that have every confidence that the Governor
will give them full and fair consideration and
act in the way that he considers just. If he
does that, the Ramapo Water Company Will be
entirely satisfied. We have never asked any
thing except an impartial hearing and an oppor-
tunity to state