New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-04
THE WATER QUESTION.


IN nlay 10 the galleries for political effect III the
coming campaign than TO increase the wafer
SUNNY of New-York City. In his comments OH
the proposal of the Governor TO cali an extra
session OF the legislature, If the city desired H.
10 allow the impOunding or the waters Oh
Dutchess County, he entirely misrepresentS me
Governors attitude. If he does THIS knoWlhs9
he INDUCES in n piece of pettltogglng un"oi u!
Of his station If he does it ignorantly, he lacks
that urinary acquaintance with the great prob
lens of his office which the people have rlght
IN exnect Of him He talks as if he thought the
only purpose Of a special session would De 10
undo the work Of the last session, points out
-bat the city offered, before the Smith bill was
signed 10 construct the desired reservoirs TO
conserve the water power of Duchess county
saws that now the Governor offers TO have the
legislature repeal that act on an agreement 10
do this very thing. and then INDUCES IN the
sheer:
Very strange. wasn't It, that the courts could
NOT he depanded upon TO protect the rights or
the people up there in condemnation pIoceeu-
ings? Usually the rights Of the owners OF prop
crty taken for public purposes are very wen
protected.
Perbops the Mavor thinks that Is clever. but
II is not. 1t is simply a miSstatement OF the
situation. There is no question at issue OF the
ability of the courts protect the rights OF the
people in condemnation proceedings. Inc peo
pie who own anything TO be condemned WouIu
no doubt be protected. The question at issue Is
the protection Of those whose rights would not
and could not be condemned, but might never
theless he effectually destroyed. Neither does
the Mayor put the case fairly when he pleads
the citys offer 10 conserve the water power II
the city made that offer in good faith, II can
have no objection 10 an extra session ana a
grant OF Duchess County water subject 10 the
building of catch basins. What the Governor
suggests is Just what il offered, only the Gov
ernor as becomes the guardian Of the interests
of a II the people insists that the offer be made
binding. The statement Of the Corporation
Counsel that the city, If allowed the freedom of
Duchess County would build these basins ear
red no guarantees The city might have taken
the water and left the people of Duchess Coun-
" 10 whistle for their water power. The Gov
ernor put the case fairly when he said that the
Smith bill gave them immunity pending further
legislation 10 secure not as 4 matter of favor,
but as an absolute right, concessions which are
promised, but for which there is no present
guarantee" Without that guarantee there
would be nothing 10 prevent the city AT any
time even If the present officials started out
honestly 10 conserve the water power. from
running the Dutchess County villages. The
citys offer should be put In enforceable terms,
and, il the officials are acting in good faith,
they will hasten 10 ask for the extra session,
not 10 repeal the Smith act as our neighbor,
The New-York Times" demands, but To allow
the city 10 the Duchess County water
the express condition Of conserving the water
power. Like the Mayor, The Times" misses
the point Of the whole question when ii says:
The Smith bill was not an honest measure
suggested by any consideration of the public in
terest The reasons given 10y the Governor for
approving il We're sophistical and insincere. He
might have known. had he cared to advise him
self the subject. even listened to the facts
and arguments presented at the public hearings
in his Office that nothing in the plan proposed
by the Low commission put in jeopardy the
mill privileges OF the Wappinger and Fishkill
Creek valleys. II il had done so. the city Of
New-York was responsible for any injury in
hicted, and would probably have compensated
the mill owners two or three times over.
Possibly. the city would have paid two or
three times what it ought to pay to the owners
of land or water taken; but it would, or could,
pay nothing 10 hundreds of villagers whose live
lihOOd might be taken from them and their
homes made worthless by the destruction Of the
industry on which they depended The mill
owner might take his damages, close his mill
and leave them 10 starve. They are parties in
interest whose rights the Governor is bound to
protect by effectual guarantees That the water
power will be preserved, instead OF trusting 10
the uncertain mercy of an offhand assurance mt
a public hearing or the revOcabe promise of
t-N@-"'-
cialy gifted al reading the secrets of the hui
man heart, and be warranted in saying that the
Governor was inSincere. If he was the way
10 prove ii is 10 take him N his word and ask
him TO give New-York the water It needs on the
terms which he has proposed and which the city
has expressed willingness TO meet. If he is
insincere. his bad faith will be shown. If he is
sincere. his good faith will be demonstrated nv
an increase Of the water supply coincident with
the security Of the people of Duchess The
Governors plan will give New-YOrll all it pro-
fesses to want and all ii ought 10 have. VIII
the city rise 10 the opportunity, or do the Gus
tOdians Of its welfare care more for q grievance
than for water?