The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-31
mitchell SEES PERI,
IN NEW WATER BILL
Fearing Monopoly in Queen.
Mayor Urges Governor ia
Veto Measure.
HINTS OF RAMAPO GRAZ
Chamber Of Commerce Baoks
Protest Against Maier.
Foley Act.

Mayor Mitchell and other city official.
are genuinely alarmed over the oas.as.
Of the Maier-Foley water control bill Tho,
fear the bill will not only give pr,va,.
water companies a perpetual monopoly
In Queens but may prevent Manba,,,,
itself from using the $4,000. od0 C,,skm
supply without the consent OF the Conse,
walton Commission. which has Jus, Doe,
Increased, as the Mayor pointed out y.,
terday. by the appointment OF Patrick p
McCabc.
Both the Mayor and Water Commh
sioner Williams call the bill "vicouss
| The Mayor says he understand 4 Wa
/ passed with the backing OF a rowerHJ
| lobby maintained by the private com.
| panles OF Queens. He also saws nothing
better could be devised In the interests o.
the so-called Ramapo grab
The Mayor sent to Gov. Givnn ia~
night telegram demanding In behalf o.
| the city that the act be vetoed
| A telegram from the Chamber ~ Com
merce asked the Governor 10 postpor.
action until after Thursday. when the
chamber Is to give its opinion ~ N.
measure.
Mitchel's Protest to GIynu.
Mayor Mitchell In his telegram 70 n,
Governor said:
whether by desire or not tire Nn |,
calculated to add several hundred pet
cent to the value OF the ssets OF the
private water companies operating IN N.
Borough OF Queens. II may even. Il N.
Conservation Commission withhold Il,
certificate OF convenience and necessity
60 far toward entrenching them IN pe..
petual monopolies
1T Is one Of the city's legitimate cor.
porate functions to see 20 Il IN IT. Dan
way that all OF Its citizens. inclut',s
those OF Queens. enjoy a proper watA-
supply at reasonable cost, and This bin
will greatly ernbarrass the city In ~
efforts 10 do this and deal fairly w''h ali
concerned.
Another vicious effect Of this bill :.
that It may prohibit the use b. the c';v -
the Catskill water supply even IN i's ovr
existing main except with the consent ~
the Conservation Commission.
May I suggest TO your Excellencr tNa,
no better provision could have been con.
ce!ved In the interests OF tho so-caled Ra-
mapo water grab. feel that the civ me
the right toOlcmand az your hands veto
OF this vicious measure. II you have ~,
doubt Of the wisdom OF vetoiug this h.N
the city OF New York requests thar so.
accord a public hearing. To which e VII
send representatives to lay before ypo
more fully It's objections"
"vicious." says Williams.
Commissioner Williams had long '.N
yesterday with Corporation Counsel rolt
and representatives OF the Chambe- ~
Commerce and the Merchants Association
ut the end OF which the Comm ss're-
wrote this comment on the Malcr-f''e'
bill
THE Water Department is thoronE-''
aroused as to this measure, whcr 1s-
many vicious features II will GUS 'ta
city from much OF it's control OF - owe
water supply on which II has ALREADY
spent - many millions and turn n Owe
10 state commission. which cannot a.
equipped with the knowledge uec"s~.,rI o..
enable II 10 say how and on what t,-'r-
this water shall be distributed th~ulE 'g.
the city.
1.-THE act contains a plain provision -.
no municipality shall hereafter su.r.
with water any territory already suppl
by its existing waterworks system, o. .-.'
the Catskll water could not hr lru.e
into Manhattan without cOn-ui'.ur Ola.
Conservation Commission. T. v1,'f ..
Interesting TO know whcthcr the I..-.s
ture contemplated that the Conserve
Commission should hereafter shar-
the Department OF Water Supply 2
which. under section i6s. requires :" ..
deliver the proper and required quar''
or water with ample reserve for NH--r
gencies and future demands.
WHO is to be the judge OF these thing.
the department or the commission '-
there TO be "A dual responsibility N rc-.,-.
OF matters 50 vital to the citys safe.' t-
welfare? This proposed Legislation is 80.
acted solely In the interest OF private .'
dividuals and in utter disregarI - '''
against that OF the city. No S'ore VII
left unturned fully 20 advise the Cover,
as to its meaning"
In an Interview YESTERDAY th" ",
said that the Maier- Foley bill "l'us'r
purpose for which the L'e'.."
ought not to sit"
The Legislature" he added. "s.rr
disposition to do nothing 10 80 .f' '.
convenience or further the purpus, ..-
city administration. In DENYING ~HT
the measures that We asked tNr ".'
obstructed the orderly. business r.
cheney OF our constructive WORK T''"
was no excuse for refusing to Is. -
department OF administration AMI r. ..r
tral purchasing bureau"
Baldwin Defend. Bin.
Henry De Forest Baldwin. p. ...-. %
the Queens County Water Coun1l. .
forth "A long defence ~ the Mao.
ACT last hlght. lie said its rurr. H."
primarily To regulate private ..r......
as to their service, rates and ...
ton.
The provision that mains shall Pc
extended by municipalities coy pr
water companies into each otU,r..
tories" he said. rs designed - ,..n 20
ruinous competition. II private ru.
are to have all the details Of their
ration and operation subject tu -.-
by the State and are then ,N}
ruinous competition by either u. r..'
Ing municipality or rival wItcg D.
II will make water company DO g. ..
speculation.
TT is not to be supposed tn'
or New York, whose iNhat. i.N.
a large part of the iDvestu,Htr +
out the country In public er''.,
prises, will take the lead 100 app
a policy OF contiscating cNts'fE
companies by parulle!lng their '.-..
systems. II is ridiculous To sp'".