New-York tribune., 1910-02-03
MUST BE NO JOKER"
HUGHES ON STOR4GE.
Tells Tiators People Uon t
Stand for Exploitation.
rEv Telegrarh 70 The Tribune. ]


ers, VINO called on him to-day. Governor
Hughes expressed the opinion forcibly that
while the state constitution should be
amended TO permit water storage, 1t must
be done in such fashion that there could
be 40 exploitation OF private interests.
Any constitutional amendment, any bill
or measure for this purpose, will be scruti-
nized to the last syllable and punctuation
mark TO sec that there is no Joker in II.
that there is nothing t1at can be twisted
against the public interest in it. said
the Governor He also raised the Query
whether, If the state decided TO go into the
development of its water powers and thus
into the bushes OF selling power, it should
be done through the existing Water Sup
ply Commission or some other instrumen-
talitv would be necessary.
The Governors visitors were q deiegs-
ton of business men from Jefferson, Fank-
lin, st. Lawrence and Warren counties,
who called on him, led by Senators Cobb
and Emerson, TO ask that Northern New
Yorker be appointed 10 the Water Supply
Commission TO succeed Ernst J. Lederle,
recently appointed Health Commissioner Of
New York No candidate name was men
toned, but it is understood that most of
the men there favored e. y. Smith, law
yer. OF Watertown.
THE GOVERNOR SPEECH.
After the purpose of the visit had been
set forth by Senator Cobb and others, the
Governor expressed his great interest in
the proper regulation of the flow of the
states streams and the water storage
project. He said hs had set forth in his
annual message what he considered funda-
mental principles on this matter. The
Water Supply Commission had been max
ing a careful investigation of the water
storage and power development question
under the terms eff the Fuller bill, and had
shown full appreciation of the important
trust ccnfided TO il. He continued:
Now this is a matter which relates to
the prosperity OF the entire state. Moth
ing that will make the northern counties
OF the state industrially IS efficient as
they should be can be ignored in CONSIDER
ing the prosperity of the State of New
York. When 1 say that this relates 10 the
prosperity of the state. and the entire
state, | say it in the sense that we want
i'm this state the fullest development of
industrial energy We want to get all the
power there is conserved and cur COM
munities to hare all the business that the
people of the state can conduct, and every
opportunity for talent and work that in
genuity and our natural resources, properly
conserved and developed. can provide. No
one who understands the possibilities Of
the future of this state can look with other
than the greatest interest upon this mat
ter which has engaged your attention and
has been the subject of the studies OF the
Water Supply Commission
Now 1 believe this can be done without
any sacrifice Of the interests of the state
In its forests l believe that this can be
done with due regard to those interests
in my desire to conserve and protect But
il the water powers of this state, consider
ing their relation to the streams that rise
in oNr forest preserve, are to be developed.
their development must make it understood
TO all the people of the state that they are
not threatening the interests of the state
IN our forests, Or trying to give a private
grip on any state property. That must be
understood and put beyond. peradventure.
or this movement will not go on, no matter
how interested you are in il in Northern
New York. or how important the develop
ment of the wafer powers may be.
The sentiment of the state is so strong,
and | believe so final with regard 10 the
protection Of the forests that the people
viii not allow any part Of them for water
stora se purposes to pass into private
hands. The result will he that any consti-
tutional amendment. any bill or measure
for this purpose, will be scrutinized to the
last syllable and punctuation mark TO see
that there is no joker in ii. that there is
nothing that can be twisted against the
public interest in 1t, and the public gen.
orally throughout the state will demand
that il be exactly what II processes TO be-
a plan in the interests OF the entire state.
PEOPLE WON'T STAND FOR IT.
Now believe that is what you want in
the northern country I believe il is g.
sentiment that you represent as much as
people from other parts OF the state. I
emphasize what ] have said simply so that
II there is lingering anywhere in the minds
OF some that iG that way. or any other
they can get hold OF forest property ana
establish storage reservoirs for their own
purposes. they yet of
they want the wafer powers developed
They will never get ahead in that way.
O. may say about il, the people won't
stand for it
On the other hand, If it becomes thor
oughly understood that it is best. and that
plans more comprehensive than any private
interest could devise. fairer and more pro-
teCtve than private interests could be
trusted TO devise, can be carried out, and
that NC shall have the powers developed
unGe~ state control to be held In state
ownership. and to be leased or dealt with
only under fair conditions SO that indus
try viii he free in this state while at the
same time ii viii progress, then think
public sentiment will rapidly develop be-
be assumed that any plans that will be
made Will make possible the preservation
not simply under state control. but for
their essential purpose Of our forest lands
But 50 far as have studied this question
it seems 10 me \ very easy matter if We
go at il in the right way. TO do this with
but, on the contrary. protecting them.
Now, having these plans. having these
general ideas about the line of procedure
Of course we have brought TO our attentions
the agency that should be adopted. / have
nothing TO say on that point fha. is at ali
definite. l merely suggest that Up TO this
time We have been using an agency orig
inally created tor another purpose The
Water Supply Commission was created
originally without these important plans
in view. and these later matters are 50
great and trdnsCendinE in importance thar
they almost obscure The original nurDose
OF the commission
COMMISSION HAS DONE IT'S WORK.
That commission has done its work. and
q commission OF men who were all roSi-
dents of the northern counties. YOU could
have got up very lnlch better studies
far the commission has been a nle IN
go. They have approached il from the
right point ef view ana done q great deal
OF successful work, and deserve high credit
But the question is now. looking forward
10 the actual entry upon some of these inn
portait plans OF development. what agency
should be adopted IN order that we NAV
go forward with them. whether we should
continue the commission in this line:
whether that should bc altered how :,
be created, are subjects which you as
business men we'll members of the
Legislature. win carefully consider.
II, however, It comes to the point OF
dealing with the commission as il Is
now-and | am not prepared to say ope
thing or the other upon it;rXcept that ii is
only fair 10 say that .hc question Is now
presented differently than here 20 fore--then
I am going 70 take into consideration the,
interests Of the entire state, not except-
what is the best thing 10 do. And if /
conclude that YOU have got the man up