New-York tribune., 1901-02-22
THE R.uaPo SITUATION IMPROVING.


II is The plain truth that the situation at
Albany in respect to RaTapO legislation has
NOT been satisfactory 20 the people Of this city
or advantageous 20 the Republican party.
Much time has been occupied with the discus
sion and amendment Of bills in committee. and
with more or less pertinent contributions 10 the
general controversy through the newspapers
and otherwise. But the responsible majority
has been so slow and apparently so uncertain
i'm dealing with a matter Of the hrst in-
portance 10 half the population of the State as
10 afford the Democratic contingent IN the
Legislature an opportunity 10 pose as the true
opponents Of the Ramapo conspiracy. and. in
fact, 10 do something more than pose by MAX
ing the hill repeating the charter outright a
party measure.
Al length. however the Republican Senators
in control Of the judiciary Committee have re-
ported a hill which We hope it is safe 20 regard
as the first step in course Of action exactly
adapted 10 the occasion. This bill. so lar as
all future operations are concerned. puts the
Ramapo company i'm the position and confirms
II i'm the powers which il would now hold and
possess if IL had been organized under the gen
eral act of 1890 The bill does not propose 20
strip the company Of any rights which 1t has
actually obtained under the outrageous but
presumptiv.ly valid act Of 1895 amending its
/ charter For this reason II is condemned as
useless and treacherous by Controller Coler,
who with the assurance born of excessive ap-
plause In the past and in the pleasing agitation
Of new political hopes. declares that there Is
| no constitutional obstacle i'm the way Of wiping
the Ramapo company out Of existence, and
that he will be satisfied with nothing less But
the courts have not hitherto shared the Con
troller's view OF the obligation Of contracts
aud sober minded citizens who are less anxious
10 fix the general gaze by an heroic posture are
likely 10 conclude that this is as far as a re-
pealing act can justly and prudenty go
II is earnestly 10 be hoped, however. that no
Republican leader is under the deiusion that
nothing more than this needs 10 he done for
the relief Of New-York IL the bill which we
have described as a possible first step toward
the complete accomplishment Of an indispen-
sable object is the only step taken we shall
continue 10 he helpless in the face Of present
and future emergencies. II is imperatively
necessary that this city should he enabled 10
acquire by condemnation. whether from the
Ramapo company or any other holder. such
water rights as it may require The bill intro
duced by Mr.. Morgan and recently passed by
the Assembly is believed 10 be sufficient for
that purpose, and should be promptly adopted
by the Senate. There Is no doubt that the
Democrats. who have been eager TO secure an
advantage Of position and have somewhat pre-
marurely boaSted that they had done sO. have
at least made il clear thar the Republican ma
jority AT Albany cannot afford 10 triie with
This urgent business. When the qualified re-
peal hill reported TO the Senate yesterday the
hill restoring 10 this city the right Of eminent
domain, and the bin 10 amend the Constitution
50 that debts incurred in procuring water
supply for this city need not he included I'm
computing the Limitation Of Indebtedness. have
received the Governors approval. the Republi-
can party will he ready 10 90 before the people
ON the RamapO issue.