The sun., 1910-05-23
The Hartman GIFT.

Among the measures awaiting the
action Of the State Senate In the final
week Of It's session none IL more impOr-
tant 20 the people, none more thoroughly
deserving Of the unanimous support Of
its members than that which permits
tho State 20 accept the interstate park
offered on such generous terms by Mrs.
Z. H. HARTMAN. The measure has
already had the unanimous approval Of
the Assembly. It came to the Legisla-
ture originally bearing the emphatic
Endorsement Of Governor HU0HEs. A
similar bill has been accepted by the
State Of New Jersey.
The fact that this measure last week
failed Of passage in the State Senate Is
a matter Of surprise rather than Of sig
niicance. It appears that it was lost
in tho chaos incident TO the debate over
controversial issues. On its considera-
tlOn it evoked no spoken objection. OF
the thirty-three members present in the
Senate at the time eighteen favored il,
fifteen opposed IL. II is true that the
Hon. GEORGE II. COBB, Republican
leader in the Senate. has found in the
present condition Of State finance oc-
casion for questioning this bill. which
carries a necessary appropriation Of
S2.SOOOO. Such economy, however. n
patiently short sighted.
Amere statement Of the case exposes
the fallacy Of any argument based upon
State finance. To the State Mrs. HARRI-
MAN has offered 10000 acres Of land on
the west bank Of the Hudson and 81. =
Ooo,OoO for further acquisition Of shore
lands Another fund Of 81. .SsS, 900 has
bsen raised by public spirited citizens
The State Of New Jersey has Sppro-
priatcd $4,000 for extending the
purchase within its boundaries. An
these offers are contingent alone upon
the action of the Senate of this State.
In this situation no objection, no hos
tie suggestion save that Of Incidental
Oconomy has been heard. On the con
trary, from the press and people n the
State and particularly of this city the
approval has been well nigh unani-
nous. The project has been recognized
instantly a. one Of conservation. a. a
plan TO repeat on the shores Of the Hud-
son and under the direction Of this State
the remarkable work which in the
Rockies and along the Pacific coast has
retained for the people Of the whole
nation vast regions Of forest and of
mountains. To the millions Of citizens
Of this town, for whom the Catskill and
Adirondack forest lands are too remote
b BE- reached, the new Hartman Park
has a promise not misunderstood BY
the people Of the whole State 4 is rec
'ognized a. an opportunity % acquire
on the most generous terms a region
which in combined natural beauty and
wealth of historical association is hardly
surpassed in the country.
What the state of Massachusetts, has
done for the city of Boston and the
metropolitan district in building up a
considerable but incomparably inferior
park system. this State can now do for
this city AT q fraction of the cnst incident
10 the Massachu-ert, plan. The oppor-
tunity is one that rarely comes n anv
State. and never twice. In tho record
Of the present senate soon 10 be- made
up We believe no inoonsiderable impor-
tance will be attached 70 the action Of
individual members upon project
which has already commanded the out
spoken support II the people oT tho
whole state Here At least. IL one
thing in which no legislator can easily
or safely mistake tho popular will.