The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-04
WATER SUPPLY BILLS PASSED.
THAT KNOWN As THE MAYORS
ELL rs ONE OF THEN.

the Other Provides fer the Appointment
by the Governor Of = state water
supply Commission. Upon which Il
Conferred Almost AutOcFAtio Powers.
ALBANY, May S-Ths passage by the
Senate to-day and Subsequent concurrence
by the Assembly In the Senate amend
ments 70 the Tomptins bin and the AgnsW
bill complete the series Of water supply
bills agreed upon after many conferences
held by the representatives OF the city Of
New York and Of Westchester Putnam
and Ulster counties and the various In :
terests affected by such legislation.
The AgneW bill provides for the appoint
rnent by the Governor, within fifteen days
after the approval Of the BILL Of Ave citizens
Of the State to constitute the State Water
Supply Commission Under this bill no
municipal corporation or other civil dtvi-
sion Of the State shall henceforth have power
to acquire, talus or condemn lands for water
purposes until 1t has first submitted the
mans and pIo6las TO the State Water Com
mission and such maps and pTohles hayo
been approved by the commission
Il h provided that within ninSty lays
after an application shall haVO besn LaAds
TO the commission for power TO condemn
property for water supply purposes the
commission shan pass upon such applicA-
ton and The action Of the commission shah
DO subject TO review by ceTtioraEi proceed
ings-
he Tompldns bill. known Is Mayor
MoClellan's bin, provides for the appoint
ment Of thNeo CoInhssi oners By the Mayor
Of New York city, to constitute the local
Water Board Of the city Of New York, who
shall have power TO investigate and report
10 the Board d Estimate and Apportion-
ment upon the available sources Of water
supply. Upon tho approval Of said report
and OF the maps and plans submitted there
with, OF any parts thereof, the city Of New
York, through its Corporation Counsel may
apply to the Supreme Court for the appoint
mant Of commissioners Of estimate and
appraisal, who shan have power 70 CON
denim such sources Of water supply when tho
plans therefor have been approved ty the
State Water Board, and not otherwise
The salary q the Commissioners Is TO be
$4,000 per year each. payable by the city
81 New York, and they can appoint q score
tRTy and other subordlnAtes.
By a provision OF the bill the city Of New
York is limited 70 the AsbolLam reservoir,
10 the county Of Ulster. Provision u also
made that IN any county from which
additional sources Of water supply arc
taken under the provisions Of this bill
lno NbIlOuo tONLnt Villages aAhQ NlIol huhll
Do permitted to tap the mains Established
by the city Of New York and take therefrom
water for local purposes at q price not to
eIoeed the price charged to the citizens
OF New York and in an amount not to eX-
coed the per oapita amount used by the
city Of New York
The bill also contains provisions for the
paying Of indirect as well as direct damages
to those whose property h affected by the
taking Of water sources. Provision "a
also made for the taxing Of the pTopert y
which Is acquired by the city locally for
county purposes.
In the original bill commissioners were
subject TO removal by the Mayor. At the
request Of the Merohants' Association Of
New York, an amen dment was accepted by
the Mayor and finally Incorporated in the
bill, providin & that the commissioners should
only be removable for cause and after a
trial upon charges.
At Gov. Higgins's request, there was also
an additional amendment, providing that
no land should be acquired by the oity q
New York under this act until the plans
therefor had been approved by the State
Board Of Water Supply.
It Is UNDERWOOD that the bills will be
approved at an early date and that plans
VII be submitted speedily to the State
board by the city Of New York looking 10
the immediate acquiring Of additional
sources Of water supply by the city.