New-York tribune., 1905-01-30
THE NEW YORK CITY BILLS
MANY IN LEGISLATURE.
Wdter Measures Lead an Interest
Mach Gas Talk.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. !


IRr TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1sUyEI
Albany. Jan. 29.-At the end of the first legis-
Iative month It is possible to review the various
measures actually under consideration that i'm
mediately concern New-York City. and the brief
est consideration OF such reveals the fact
that some of them are Of widespread Importance
and scope. and the equally significant fact that
these New-York City measures constitute in
Der and Importance alike the most serious prob
lens as yet before this years session. For general
purposes il Is possible 10 summarize these measures
under the three heads Of water supply, gas and
rapid transit although this by TO means exhausts
the list. which includes many important bills
drawn by the city administration well as by
individuals But of the three divisions. water sup
ply. both in the number OF striking bills and in the
far-reaching effect of of them. claims the
first interest.
The quarrel between the city and the rural COM
munity over the question of water was accentuated
last year. It has been renewed this year and this
circumstance makes OF utmost interest the broad
provisions of the latest measure on this subject
the Agnew bill, introduced by New-York City
Assemblyman last week. This bill. briefly sum-
married., provides for the immediate appointment
by the Governor of commission consisting OF
nVe members. three of them residents OF NeW-A Ork
City. This commission is directed to organize at
once and then proceed by the use OF reports al
ready existing and of any other facts it may col
lect, TO devise ways and means for utilizing, con-
serving and distributing the natural water supplies
munites of the State may be able to draw there
from" On before February l. 1906. this board
is directed report fully to the legislature, max
ing recommendations ''fOr the formation CT a
permanent water supply commission, together with
a comprehensive scheme for the general conserva-
uon, development, distribution and supply OF the
waters OF the State and in particular to such
communities as are now in need OF greatly eX-
tended facilities. The local distribution OF such
waters within the limits Of a village, town or city
is not to be considered by this commission. as it
is intended to leave such distribution to the au-
thorities of the several communities to be bene-
fted."
OF itself this Agnew bill is a striking measure
but get it's full significance and Importance it is
necessary to glance at the Governors message,
where there occurs the following sentence:
The legislature Of 1904 enacted law creating
water storage commission which has for its object
purposes. A State commission having also for its
object the supply of water to cities, might be of
great service
1t is instantly obvious that the Agnew bill meets
this suggestion. although the bill not
framed after conference with the Governor, nor
does it in any have his present Endorsement
But the Governor has at various times indicated in
his talk that State commission seemed to him a
possible solution. since the matter of a New-York
City water supply also question Of industrial
existence TO Dutchess and Westminster counties.
In the face. therefore. of the Apgar bills, shut
ting New-York out of Westchester and Putnam
out Of Dutchess County, and the general disagree
AgneW
ure has attracted general attention
There is also the City bill. providing for the ap-
three. members clothed with powers to take land
anywhere in the state. after survey and appraisal
also TO sell water power and generate electricity
and sell this Moreover. this BILL is said repeaIs
how great 6PPoson would E b efed bS H
ure For these reasons many legislative observers
proposition likely to pass the present legislature
ana P0sSlQy the most important city measure, al
that has yet been introduced.
GAS BILLS IN PROPULSION
The war of the gas bills is perhaps the most
amusing single phase of the present duh session.
OF gas bills there is no end; there are bills to fix
the price of gas at 81 a thousand cubic feet and
at 20 cents for the quantity. to make gas
cheaper IN Queens and even less expensive in
sings to authorize municipal gas plant and to
tant measures, one backed by the Municipal Own
citation. are before the legislature in the shape OF
concurrent resolutions. There has been hearing
week The legislative leaders have so far mani
Mayor Mcclellan and leave it there The PROPOSE
ton for an investigation has met a rather chilly
legislature to plead its privilege Of non-interfereuce
IN this matter on the ground. so frequently the
violation Of the sacred doctrine of home rule.
small unless asked for by the Mcclellan govern govern
ment.
The subject of rapid transit has been a fruitful
source of bls-old familiar bills like the Elsberg
The EnrDa,, biIi .SroE"aI u iiaIt ~ uoz5h Iltnes
Commission providing for pipe galleries; one OF
three recommends tons of the ElSberg bill which,
except for prohibiting subway advertising in new
subways is identical with the measure of last year
In addition, Assemblymen Fuller and Francisco /
have INTRODUCED bills creating local railroad
stance give tbe coInn,issiS1eTs in Sb %STiu "a SUD
appointed by the Mayor, practically the same turis
dicton over city railroads in New-YOrk City as the
State board has over those in the State. Then
ASSemblyman Young has put in bill which would /
terminate the service of the present Rapid Transit
Commission and provide for the appointment of a
new board by the Mayor and fixing the term of
office eight years This bill is advoca ted by GER
tain labor interests.
Among the scores of other city measures there
are several that worthy of passing notice and |
prominent among these is the Yale bill the Rem
vived last sessions occurrences better than its
author This bill is, generally speaking. an onni-
bus pension measure for city employees and II
passed the Assembly last year. IL fixes the right
OF city servants. after twenty-five years of labor
retire regulates the payments to the fund creates
q commission TO administer it and is important (
There is, also. measure for a new County Court
house, bill to increase the City Court judges
from seven to twelve, and still third bill in sight
though not vet introduced, TO provide for retired
Supreme Court judges by constituting them a pre-
ferred list from which referees are to be chosen.
Another measure provides financial relief the
by the long delay incident to the subway con-
structiOn along 42d-St. and suffered severe losses
OF trade a result. Finally. Senator Keenan, has
a telephone bill lowering the charges in the five
Doroughs.
These are. in brief the measures affecting New
York City With the exception of the Jerome bill. /
which is now faCetiously regarded as liable to COM
nttment common drunk the excise situation !
Is undisturbed by threatened legislation. although
the Anti-Saloon League has had introduced bill
providing for the adoption OF the Ohio plan. But
New-York City which with any justice be
called grab bill" although this is not indica-