New-York tribune., 1900-08-04
POLITICS AND RAMAPO.

Chairman Odell displays somewhat unneces-
sary irritation over Controller Coler's determi-
nation to keep the Ramapo question before the
people of this city and if possible secure Legs
lature pledged to the protection OF newborn
from the men who are trying to force II into n
wasteful contract with a private company. 1t
NAV be that he feels some just resentment
arising from II suspicion that Mr.. Coer's re
marks had an indirect personal reference TO
him. But with confidence in his own recutude
in all that pertains to Ramapo he need not let
the possibility of such references trouble him.
he may also think-as. indeed, he intimates-
that the Republican organization is perfectly
competent 10 take it's own position on public
questions without dctatlon from Mr. Coler, and
also that Mr. Coler is not person to be taken
seriously as leader of reform movements.
That is not. however. the real point at issue
Mr. COler may not have been pure enough gold
TO have received the stamp of sanctfhcaton
from the Legislature which he asked last win
ter 10 safeguard New-York from the RamapO
danger though as a matter of fact it did fix on
him as the sole guardian of public interests as
against Ramapo interests while refusing to
give the city equal power with the private COM
pany 10 condemn water rights or to modify the
Ramapo charter by repeating the extraordinary
privileges granted in the law which General
Tracy WIS ueCelNCu llIlO dShiLS OONCA LOl -AO4
ton TO sgn-privileges so improper that Gen
eral Tracy says he would not have sought them
bad he known their nature. But Mr. Coler's
motives and the Legislatures motives are not
specially important. NewYorkers are inter
eSted i'll securing deliverance from this con-
spiracy. which never more alive than to-
day, as even the conspirators themselves admit.
What New-York wants is protection without
regard to politics. The people know that Ram
apo has no politics and is as ready to use
Democratic city official Republican lawyer
TO further its schemes, and equally they have no
politics when it comes to saving their pockets
from spoliation and their present ample water
works from deliberate mismanagement and
wrecking. They want at least equal liberty
with this private corporation in the condemna-
tiOn of additional water supply. That would
put the city in position TO make a fair business
contract if it desired to do so. Now, if unfaith-
full officials by surreptitously turning the pres
ent supply into the sewers as there is reason
able suspicion that they do. can create a water
famine and apparent necessity for new sup
plies, the RamapO company can practically die
tate its own terms. Without doing a stroke of
work or buying a foot Of land a gallon of
water, by the mere filing of maps and perhaps
paying a few hundred dollars for options this
company in virtue of the extraordinary privi-
leges granted to it at Albany practically blan-
kets all available sources of additional supply,
and when the thirsty NewYorker goes into
rural district to buy water privileges it can in
tervene with the highwayman's menace, Your
money your life!"
Naturally New-Y Workers. rebel and look to their
lawmakers to promise them relief. Whatever
may be Mr.. Coler's personal relations with
party leaders which may make his alarms un-
pleasant and his suggestions impertinent it
cannot be said that the agitation of the Ramapo
question is improper that the parties should
not be asked TO nominate candidates for office
who, however they may differ on political ques-
tions, will be united for the protection of the
taxpayers of the city, and not united for the
service of the Ramapo company