New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-29
CONCESSION FROM ULSTER
FINAL V4TER MEETING.
nIe Go0erYror Believes the Situation
I Has Generally Cleared.
tpr rErroRAPH TO THE TnIBUNE.l

Albany March 2S-The final conference on
she various propositions now before the legis-
sature dealing with the New-York City water
eituation including both the State commission
band the city bills. held before Governor
higgins to-day, and Ulster County made ITS
hnal stand against the alleged invasion Inc
exact situation revealed at the hearing seemed
10 be an agreement between all the counties at
sected by the Mayors bill and the old. familiar
rcruplaint of Ulster that It wanted to be left
alone. A little concession Judge A. i. Clear
xrster representing Ulster did make. namely,
that the propositions advanced by ex-senator
Guy on behalf of the city. that New-York would
a,,,l6 oniv the Ashokan dam and would agree TO
pay indirect damages. was graciously oierea
and not ungraciously received. But with TINS
preface he reverted to the old familiar declara-
zion that Ulster County wanted 10 be let alone,
WANTED no concessions. and was disposed to yield
10 no offers.
Governor Higgins HIS part indicated clear
tcouviction that New-Yorqs City ought TO be re-
lieved from the present situation. and incidental
Nv renewed his assertion that he was In favor
lxf a State commission not as an alternative put
as a companion proposition. Ex-senator Guy
s1rged that this State commissions actions might
lie renewable by the Supreme Court and that
r. similar appeal might be taken on any laliufe
son its part TO act within a specified time apart
from this there was little or no new ground COW
cred in the hearing. One thing. however was
made perfectly clear and that was that the
legislature was rapidly firing Of the dog in the
,nanger attitude Of Ulster County and was about
ready 70 mass remedial legislation without re-
gard to this county, which has delayed the situa-
ton for months. conceded nothing. and sun
remains ohdurate.
Judge Clearwater made an earnest oefence Oh
zhe motives animating the Ulster county pa
1riots He insisted that they were "as much' Il
not more, afraid of the shadow Of Ramapo than
of New-York City" and protested to be ready
10 urge the passage Of a bill shutting Ramapo
as well as New-York City out Of Ulster. j. L.
Smith, who has secured protection for his
famous bill of last year, managed to find an
excuse for restating his old argument that New
York City ought to take water from the Hue
con, but subsidized somewhat feebly when ex-
Senator Guy inquired what complaint he had to
make after being taken care Of
The spirit that animates the Ulster County
opposition no slight part Of which is based on
the fact that the Ashokan Dam means some
eleven miles of the roadbed Of the Ulster and
Delaware Railroad. was definitely announced by
g. D. Coykendall, who has spoken for Ulster
from the start He said:
THE position of Ulster County is clear and
definite. There is equivocation; 50 per cent
of our people are agreed that we don't want
our water supply taken If. however. the legis-
lature decides to take it, we hope Mr.. Guys
amendments will be added to the Mayors bill"
The Governor took the matter under advise
.nent, but Il is understood that both the State
Commission bill and the Mayors bill VIII be
reported from the Assembly committee next
week. IL discussing the water situation, Gov
ernor Higgins said tonight:
There viii be a State commission bill passed
] think. have suggested certain changes to
Mr.. Agnew. which, when made. will bring the
bin into conformity with my IDEAS but 1 do
not believe in the amendment suggested by Mr..
Guy, making the commissions findings review
able by single Supreme Court justice. More
over, DO not believe in the fixing OF any time
limit for the action Of the commission Any
commission worthy of the important position
can be depended upon act as speedily as
possible.
las 10 the Mayors BILL do not want to ap-
pear 10 take position on legislation that may
come TO me, but, as understand it. the BILL as
II now stands based on the idea. of State COM
mission, seems 10 be good bill There may be
technical faults in the bill that will, upon ex-
animation convince me ought not to sign the
biz, but as If has been explained to me, think
II is a good bill. The water situation seems TO
me generally to have cleared up, that now
save on a few minor points, there seems to be
an accord between the friends of the State COM
mission bill and those OF the Mayors bill that
viii result in speedy action"