New-York tribune., 1912-03-16
DIX URGES CONSERVATION
Promises Special Message if
Legislature Fails Him.
LINT OF AN EXTRA SESSION
covernor Considers Scheme
More Important than Con-
struction of Erie Canal.
,gv Telegraph to The Tribune. J

Albany March lo-GoVeIIOr DlA IL no"
ting every effort he can spare from
,,oIitical differences with Tammany
In over Public Service commissioner
', 80 the carrying out of his conserva-
.rosrsmme. His highest ambition is
..o,,re the passage by the Legislature
,bo state Conservation Commission bill,
,ia,no for the scientific development
-, conservation of the states water
80 and the complete ownership by the
20 v,;tbin fifty years of the water power
.sso,,9b q sinking fund process
~ Governor said this afternoon that il
=. action we're not taken on this bill he
S.o,ld nrobably send special message to
w. legislature dealing with the matter
some time next week. as well as one re-
,S.,no 70 the primary law amendments,
u-hicb he is now preparing. There are
hir,s of an extra session being called II no
oo,iop is taken on the two propositions
hnt the Governor would make no comment
on this phase Of the question.
snsaking of the conservation bill. how
,rnr no did say that if it did not become
. law at this session of the Legislature 1t
a. ,na measure that will eventually become
I,u, as the people will demand it. He con-
elders il Of even greater Importance to the
nsonle than the construction Of the original
Erie Canal.
Tho Governor distinguished between the
rerris hill. which was drafted by legis-
,ot,ve investigating committee, and the
I,onssrvstion Commission bill by saying
t,st the former was only a quasi-public
,ronositiop. which would develop the power
Of only a few streams, while the latter
would develop the power OF every stream
in the state. He added:
am looking upon this proposition from
,be viewpoint of the public. This VIII hot
oo,Iv 6eyelop the power along the barge
anal but il will harness the power OF
everv branch stream OF the state, II VIII
develop a force up TO large denhlle uni UNI
NJ nssrly 1900 900 horsepower. NO constr
t,,tIonal amendment is needed to put II mo
eFssc, By the sinking fund process no
extra tax will be required. II IS mercy
util,zing that which the pubic alreduS
owns and which is now going to waste
The Governor declared the economy that
Will result will be felt by every household
in the state. The drudgery which the large
majority Of housewives are now called up
on 10 perform will be done away with, he
said. for power can be secured at low
cost for heating, lighting and cooking.
"It means" he continued, that every
yorkingmang home can be supplied with
all the modern conveniences at cost that
will. be less than the price OF coal for
heating alone
The Governor expressed the opinion that
the proposed plan would not compete but
will act in conjunction with the present
power companies. In other words, they
would not be driven out of business. but
would not be able to charge a rate higher
than that which the state would charge
Governor Dix replied to the charge that
the proposition was socialistic by asserting
that it was no more so than the building by
the state Of highways and the barge canal
for the benefit Of the people and their in
dustries He also called attention 70 the
fact that 95 per cent of the municipalities OF
the state own their own waterworks.
In spite of the Governors anxiety over
the primary and conservation bills legisla-
tors here do not believe he will call an extra
session in case they are not passed. They
are now looking forward to an adjournment
in two weeks, according TO the resolution
which has been adopted by both Houses.
Senator Wagner has said that he has
not yet been able to secure enough votes
for the primary bill in the Senate and that
until he does secure them he will not push
the measure. Governor Dix conferred to-
day with State Chairman Palmer on legls-
lative matters Mr.. Palmer is in accord
with the Governor, and II is said that he
will see Charles +. Murphy in reference 10
the legislation that the Governor has urged
He left here for Now York this afternoon.