The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-13
TO PROTECT NIAGARA FALLS.
THE STtTF SESiTE TAKES An
IMPORTANT STEI'.

Charters That should lie Repeated.
ALBANY, March u. This Legislature
apparently has walked up to the fact that
it has been laggard in meeting the popular
sentiment that Niagara Falls should be
preserved, Tonight the Senate passed
four bills repeating a. many charters of
companies authorized by the Legislature
To divert water from Niagara River above
the Falls. These. charters have been
granted during the last twenty years,
but have been permitted to lie dormant.
These bills we're introduced by Senator
L'Hommedieu, the legislative friend of the
Niagara. L~ockport and Ontario Power Com
pany, which, it is claimed, lis now con-
trolled by the New York Central Railroad.
Consequently it IL asserted that while these
repeal bills accomplish Il worthy object,
they do not go far enough, but should re-
peal the charter of the company just men
toned, az we'll an the dormant charter Of
the Model City Company, known as the
Niagara County Irrigation and Water Sup
ply Company. II these two charters were
repealed il would leave only two 10 existence
on the New York side, tbs Niagara Falls
Power Company and the Hydraulic Com
pany, which now are in full operation.
One Of these power companies has been
stringing long distance transmission wires
through the western and central counties
of the State, buying rights of way wherever
possible. The company struck a snag in
Genesee county. 1t could not buy a
needed right Of way there and appealed
to the courts, and the Supreme Court de-
cided that the mpan had the right Of
condemnation. This is a very important
decision and gives long distance electrical
transmission companies the rights they
nave been fighting for in the Legislature
for years.
The State commissioner in charge of the
reservation at Niagara Falls submitted n
report to the Legislature tonight, In which
they oppose tuning tie reservation over to
the Federal Government, The commis-
sioners point out that no water on the
New York side IS permitted TO be taken
within the limits of the reservation and
that If the Dominion commissioners IN
charge Of the Queen Victoria and Niagara
Falls parks on the Canadian side Were equally
as diligent much would be accomplished
toward preserving the flow of water over
the Falls.
The reservation commissioners point out
that there art four ways in which the Fails
could be pre- served. One is to repeal the
New York charters of all but the work.
ing power companies now dlNertlng the
waters Of Niagara River and that the
amount Of water these companies be per-
mitted to divert be limited. Similar action
on the part of the Dominion Government
is suggested. II is further pointed out
that the Federal Government may now
exercise its power 10 prevent the taxing
of water from a naVigable stream or from
a stream which forms a boundary line.
As a last resort it IL suggested that the
FALL be protected through a treaty between
the two Governments.
The Senate passed Senator Gardeners
bill equalizing at S. 500 the salaries OF the
court officers and the messenger OF the
Kings County Surrogate's Court, and
Senator Cooper's bill materially %increas.
ing the number of deputy sherifs and
subordinates in the Kings county Sheriffs
office.
Although it was known that the rules
prohibited the introduction Of resolutions
in the Assembly, one of the William Ran
dolph Hearst Assemblymen tonight en-
deavored to get one before the House in
order 10 further the interests of his political
leader, h resolution was at first handed
to Assemblyman Campbell, the leader OF
the Municipal Ownership members here,
but he refused to take il. Then it was
turned over to Assemblyman Harvey,
and he tried to get il before the House,
The resolution provided for a legislative
Investigation Of the white slave traffic
III new YIN Guy dllNl " "DN' 'tth' "'hhN
knowledge Mayor Mcclellan had of the
existence of such traffic, Majority Leader
Mooreland objected TO its Introduction
and the resolution was returned TO MIR.
Harvey.
Last year President Cromwell of Rich
mond borough had about completed a
contract with the Bayonne Water Company
of New Jersey to supply water on Staten
Island. As the contract was about to be
consummated the New Jersey. Legislature
passed a law prohibiting New Jersey waite
companies from taking water, from tiat
State to be furnished outside the State.
Tonight Assemblyman AgrIew intro
duced "A retaliatory measure prohibiting
foreign corporations from taking water
from this State, This bill hits the Morris
sey, which takes water from Greenwood
Lake in Orange county, which lies between
New York and New Jersey.
Assemblyman Prentice introduced a bill
compelling State employees each year
to render a statement Of how much they
have contributed for campaign purposes.
This is intended to And out whether or not
State employees are assessed for political
purposes az has been revealed in the appli-
cation made for the removal OF Harry II.
Bender, the fiscal supervisor OF state Chart
able institutions. Mr.. Bender endeavored
TO dismiss an attache Of his office because
he refused TO contribute to the campaign
fund in 1904.
Senator Grady tonight introduced a
raft OF bills. One provides for the annual
inspection of fire escapes. Another makes
it a felony for any one to be interested
in wash" sales, especially on the various
exchanges. A third bill requires a hst
of ingredients to be printed on every pack
age containing drugs.
Real estate improvements in excess of
So, 600 hereafter will be exempt from local
taxation IL a bill introduced by Senator
Hawkins il passed. The bill IL favored
in the interests of morality by taxpayers
associations in The Bronx and Brooklyn
on the ground that it would encourage the
building of modern homes of moderate
size.
AS a result of the disclosures in the Til
linghast case in New York city, Assembly
man Bernstein Tammany). tonight intro
duoed a bill providing for the appointment
by the Governor Of a commission to %investi-
gate the charges Of jury fixing in New
York city. The commission ia to have the
usual powers and il TO recommend what, 1t
believes to be a Improvement over the
present Jury system.