New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-15
THE GENESEE GRAB.

The Schoeneck bill which passed the Assem-
bly, under whip and spur last week comes up
to-day before the Senate judiciary Committee
for hearing This is the measure which is
designed to rob the people of this state of Glen
Iris bestowed upon them by Mr.. William Pryor
IetchwOrth at cost to himself of probably
more than half n million dollars, and to give it
TO speculative corporation for selfish explota-
ton and profit The whole scheme, even when
Judged by the representations of its promoters,
is so self condemnatory that the simple state
ment of the terms of the bill and the avowed
intent of its authors should assure its speedy
death.
Mr.. Letchworth for many years threw his
estate open TO the public n pleasure ground
and place in which to view and TO study some
of the most impressive and enchanting wonders
of nature in this part of the globe. He spent
hundreds of thousands of dollars In the enlarge
ment and identification of the place and in
measures designed TO protect it against pre-
ciSey such spoliatiOn is now threatened in
this Schoeneck bill, and he refused to sell 1t at
any price TO those who would destroy or impair
its charms. All this he did for the benefit of
the people of the state, and finally, crown his
life work he gave the whole property outright
To the people of the state on the express cond-
ton that ii should forever be kept as he had
kept It, inviolate, for the use and enjoyment of
the people and the people of the state. through
this very Legislature which Is now harboring
this noxious Schoeneck bill. accepted 1t on that
condition and pledged themselves to fulfil that
condition.
Now ii Is proposed by the Spectators and
politicians behind the Schoeneck bill that the
state shall break faith with its benefactor and
shall repudate the condition on which 1t ac
cepted his gift by handing the property over to
the SpOliOtlOO AGAINST which no uac
solicitous TO guard il, and which would never
have been possible had he retained control of IT,
That in itself should be enough 10 condemn the
scheme But there are other considerations
which should appeal with convincing force even
TO those who can no value In anything save
as 1t is expressed in dollars and cents
The concern which IS trying to grab the peo-
pies property apparently has not or does not
wish to use the money necessary to utilize It
after 1t has grabbed It. Therefore, 1t proposes
to get the state not only TO give II the property
but also 10 provide the money with which 10
improve it for pecuniary gain. The scheme Is
to assess upon the city of Rochester and the
adjacent communities the sum OF S2OOOOO0
with which to build the DAMS power houses
and other appurtenanCes which the company
wants. This proposition is bostered up with
the plea that the power TO be developed would
largely be used for public purposes, such as
lighting the streets. But the bill very carefully
omits to stlpulate at what price the concern
shall sell power for public uses, so that after
Selling the public's property and getting the
publc's money with which TO make II lndustrl-
ally profitable the corporation would remain
free TO charge the public any price IL might be
able TO extort
And then this amazing proposal Is crowned
with the condescending suggestion that having
gwen the corporation an estate worth half
million dollars and having provided 1t with two
millions more for working capital the state
may be permitted to levy an assessment of one
million on the concern. The only fitting answer
IS to XIII the SchOeneck bill beyond all POSSIBLE
ity OF resurrection and TO deal out a like fate
to the morbund charter of the corporation IL
self.