Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-05-16
VETOED FALLS GRAB
Niagara, Lockport and Onta- rio ower Company Out.
GOVERNOR ODELL GIVES REASONS WHY
Beauty of Niagara Cascade I'm Dan- Ger-Summarized History of Corr porntion Since 1SD4 Showed
 Benefits ProblematicnI.

Benefits PrOblematicnl.
 ALBANY, N. Y., May Ex-Governor Odell last night gave out his memoran- dunn explaining his disapproval of the bill of Assemblyman Thompson ex- tending the time for beginning work by and also enlarging the scope and powers of the Niagara, Loclport and Ontario Power company. The veto was fully expected.
 Tn his memorandum the governor says that, while the bill is desired by the immediate locality concerned, he is convinced that throughout the state it is almost universally disapproved. He summarizes the history of the corpora tion since 1894, when the company was chartered by special act s'to fur nish pure and wholesome water for do- mestic purposes to the city of Lock- port as well as to generate and sell electricity in the counties of Niagara, Orleans and Erie,'' and remarks that the time in which work was to have begun has about elapsed without ad- vantage having been taken of the valu- able rights conferred by the original act" It Is now proposed, he points out, to eliminate the water supply feature and extend to all the counties of the state the right to sell electric and hy draulic power, with very broad powers of condemnation and few restrictions or safeguards and without in any way exacting compensation. There is noth- ing, he says, to prevent the sale of this charter to competing company, and therefore competition is not assured. ''The benefits are problematical."
 Governor Odell calls attention then to the widespread solicitude expressed fin protests from all over the Union as to peril to the beauty of Niagara falls. On the question of threatened danger to the falls, he says, there is wide diff ference of opinion. "If the result, how ever, would be less harmful says the governor, ''than those who seek for the preservation of the falls believe, it cer- tainly would lead or rather be an ex- cuse for other companies that would in the end produce the results which are feared However much we may discount and deprecate the interfer ence of the sentimental with the pracA tical in life, we cannot get away from the fact that this sentiment is not one of retrogression, but of constant pro- gression in civilized life. There is due to it, therefore, the same consideration which should be given to all practical affairs of life This seems to me to be a second and fully as important req son for objection to approval of this measure.
 "The legislature should protect the falls rather than increase the menace to which have referred by restricting those corporations which are already in possession by compelling the re- moval of obstructions and unsightly structures which mar the beauty of Niagara"
 Governor Odell has signed the Smith bill prohibiting New York city from taking water from Wappinger and F1shkill creeks in Duchess county.
 In a statement which the governor has issued giving his reasons he says he is willing to call an extra session of the legislature to meet the water situation for New York city. The gov ernor first recites the provisions under which New York city is authorized to condemn land and water rights in the various counties of the state.
 He shows that the effect in Dutchess county of such proceedings would be to destroy manufacturing establish msnts in Wappinger Falls and Fish kill, which support directly and indi- rectly population of about 14,O00 in- habitantS.