New-York tribune., 1901-03-15
THE DEFEAT OF RAHAPO.

After long succession of legislative man6u-
vres which may have been ineligible 10 those
who took part in them. one of the two identlcai
bills repeating the act of 1895 which gave the
Ramapo company special and excessive pow
ers was unanimously passed by the Senate
yesterday. II had already been passed by the
Assembly. and, not being subject TO local
veto. was forthwith ready for the Governor
signature. Thus apparently ends in complete
victory for public rights one of the hardest
contests waged in recent years. We say ap-
narentlv ends because the constitutionality of
the repeal bill has been questioned by various
nersons. including some of the lawmakers who
voted for ii. and 1t is conceivable. if not prob
able. that the company will rvOke a judicial
determine ton Of its validity. But that point
has been carefully considered, and it must be
assumed that competent legal advice has been
taken so that there is no immediate reason 10
fear that the conspiracy will be able TO regain
in court what it has lost in the legislature.
The unanimous vote for the repeal bill is
probably due to the attempt of the minority at
Albany 10 make political capital out of the AZ
fair. In the hope that The majority would not
succeed in settling their differences, and with
characteristic eagerness to put their Republl-
can brethren lin a hole the Democrats made
the Dill q party measure TWO oT tuIee Ncehs
ago. and for brief time derived no slight salts
faction from that pretence of superior virtue.
1t is possible that their action may have had
beneficial effect in convincing Republican lead
ers that they could afford even to incur
suspicion of trifiing with interests of such mag
nitude If so. it is proper to be grateful for
the performance, but there is no need to praise
the performers. Mr.. Nixon was quite right
old .ba rla SIati of
1898 would not have put this city almost the
mercy of the Ramapo company if Tammany
administration had not formed a plot to take
advantage of it, We have no desire to acquit
Republicans of any fault with which they are
Justly chargeable in connection with the water
! supply of New-York, but for Democrats who
! take orders from Tammaly Hall TO pose as the
original foes of Ramapo is a little too much.
We observe that Senator Brown took occa-
sion yesterday to represent the views of those
who are not satisfied for one reason another
with the repeal bill. saying he regretted that
the legislature should have been influenced by
public clamor." and that the bill was "a bad
bill, inequitable and unjust and with no
proper regard for vested rights Now. that
is opinion which. If honestly held may suit
ably be expressed, and the general respect with
which the Senator is regarded would have been
enhanced if. having declared himself. he had
concluded his denunciatiOn of the repeal bill by
refusing TO vote for it. instead of announcing
that in spite of his judgment and conscience it
would receive his support. Nor is public
clamor" appropriate phrase by which TO
characterize the united and resolute efforts Of
this community TO escape the intolerable situa-
tion in which ii would have been placed if the
Ramapo plot had succeeded. 1t may not even
yet be certain that the danger has been COM
pletely overcome. but for the first time in sew
eral years there is substantial reason for CON
idence that the city will not he held up and
plundered the plea of necessity.