New-York tribune., 1905-04-19
NIAGARA GRAB REPORTED
snap HEARING HELD.
Nesr-York Civic Representatives
FOoled-Only Hope in Gouernor.
EBT TEiEoRAPH TO THE rRrBUNr.l

Albany, April lS-Precisely as was forecast in
TIE Tribune to-day. the well creased wheels
that are carrying the Niagara power grab"
brought tie measure back 10 the Assembly
after brief and futile hearing. granted. not to
have the bin exposed. but merely TO save As
seTlblynaan Thonlpson's political face. The hear
ing was set down for the absurdly early hour Of
ESQ q. m. the earliest hearing OF the whole ses-
sion. possibly 10 preclude the appearance of any
OF the representatives. OF civic bodies opposing
the measure, lasted less than an hour. and was
concerned, not with the merits Of the bill. but
with the proposition that the city of Lockport
was not getting its share Of the booty contained
81 the measure. This was a proposition which
vas too serious not 10 be considered when the
charge was made and insisted on that the bill
city BILL needing the signature Of the
Mayor of Lockport 10 become law.
The sole voice raised for the falls was that OF
Superintendent Perry of the State Reservation
at Niagara. who demolished the theory that the
100000 horsepower provided by the bill would
not injure the Ilow and was sincere effort to
limit the amount OF water to be taken Howard
whitbeck, Mayor Of Lockport. declared that If
the bin reached him unaraenGed he would veto
. q; the amendment desired. OF course. simply
being 10 give LockDo-t more and not 70 take less
from Niagara He also insisted that the meas
lre was q local bin, and there seemed to be more
OF less agreement on this point County Judge
Charles Hickey also spoke against the bin.
The only unlJind thing said about the bill
cane from J. Frank Smith, the City Attorney
OF Lockport who disturbed the even discussion
over the conflicting interests in the measure by
declaring that the amendment. alleged 10 be
satisfactory 10 Lockpo-t, and made the excuse
sor reporting the measure out, was adopted
"7rhen rascaIty sat al the head OF the table
where II was framed" This disturbed the COM
rnittee until Mr.. Smith explained. and the COM
l7littee accepted the explanation, that the
amendment had not been framed oy the legisla-
tive committee, but by promoters interested In
the bin. Then cordial relations were renewed.
A plea TO delay action was met by prompt
statement by AssernblyIuan Leggett, who has
charge Of the legislative end of The proposition.
"One day Of delay VIII defeat this bin," said he,
passionately; zone more day and il is dead"
With this awful cala.nity ia sight, the COM
rlittee met and in executive session promptly
reported the bill out again, and placed it on
the Assembly calendar, where it can be voted
on tomorrow. This was The extent Of the
farce, less than an hour being consumed in the
whole performance. and now the bill is 10 pass
without more than a passing debate in the
Assembly be hustled over TO the Senate, taken
81 charge by the nor-p participating group Of
legislators that have looked our for all similar
propositions in the present and in previous
SESSIONS. and passed. If Lockport interests can
be satisfied The measure win then be sent 10 the
Mayor Of LockpoTt 10 sign II not, Il may be
sent 70 Governor Higgins. but Of legislative
assistance in defeating Il there IS not the
slightest hope. The votes have been secured
and secured by means that no one has any
doubt about
The snap hearing this morning was kept an
absolute secret. Representatives OF various
New-Tork organizations who came here to-day
TO speak about The bin learned TOO late that the
hearing was over. Members OF the committee
were as dumb as oysters about the action Not
one IN the circle OF Esseulblyuen knew that the
bin had been reported back after a hearing.
and every advantage Of machinery was en-
ployed 10 assist in advancing this bill When
Il became known that it had had its little ex-
posure there was general Indignation, but this
came too late. The hope Of defeating the bin
lies with the executive. not with the legislative,
force. and the irony OF the whole situation lies
in the fact that no one charges or inagines that
votes on this bin win cost more than $500, and
many VIII be much cheaper.