New-York tribune., 1914-03-31
ASKS CLYNN TO KILL
MAIER WATER BILL
Mitchell Calls 1t PerniCiOuS
and i'm Interest of Pri-
vate Companies.
MAY HAMPER USE
OF NEW AQUEDUCT
Governor Urged to Hold Public
Hearing if He Will Not
Veto the Measure.

Vigorous action is being taken by the
Mayor, the Corporation Counsel and
Commiss oner Williams OF the Depart
ment OF Water Supply and by various
civic organizations to prevent the Maier
conservation bill from becoming a law.
Mayor Mitchell sent telegram 10 Gov
ernor Glyun last uiSht pointing out
vicious features Of the bin and Urging
him TO veto it
The Mayors telegram follows.
After a careful examination OF Maier
bill No. 927. Introductory No. o26. to
amend the conservation Jaw in relation
20 water supply. we are convinced that
& is a most pernicious measure. whether
bv desire or not il is calculated TO add
several hundred per cent 20 the value OF
the assets Of the private water COM
panies operating in the Borough OF
Queens.
..It may even. If the Conservation Com
mission withhold its certificate OF con-
venieuce and necessity. 20 far toward
entrcnching them in perpetual monopo-
lies. II is one OF the city's legitimate
corporate functions 10 soc TO IT in its own
way that all of its citizens, lncludih5
those Of Queens. enjoy proper water
supply at reasonable cost, and thls oHi
will greatly embarrass the city IN us
efforts TO do this and deal fairly with an
concerned.
Another vicious effect OF this bill IS
that it may prohibit the use by the Guy
OF the Catskil water supply even IN ''S
own existing mains except with the con-
sent Of the Conservation Commission
May / suggest to your ENcellehcy 'h''
no better provision could have been con
cehed i'm the interests of the so-caneu
Ramapo water grab. feel that the CITY
has the right TO demand at your hahds'
veto OF this vicious measure. IL you
have any doubt OF the wisdom or Vetolhs
this bill the City Of New YORK requests
that YOU accord public hearing 10
which It will send representatives 10 lay
before Won more fully its objections
commissioner Williams was outspoken
AGAINST the bill. 1T will oust the city
from much OF It's control OF lts Wv"
water supply he said, and turn II over
IN a state commission, which cannot w
eouipped with a knowledge necessary W
enable IL 10 say how and on Wha' terms
this water shall be distributed through
ont the city. This proposed legislation Is
enacted solely in the interest OF private
individuals"
The act contains a provision thac 10
municipality shall hereafter supply VIZ"
water anv territory already supplied oy
IFS existing water works system so 'na'
the Catskll water could not be ofousi'
into the city without consulting the con-
servation Commission
Henry DeForest Baldwin. president ..
the Queens County Water Company' st.tu
,ba Underlying idea was TO reSulate
vate water companies as TO ther 60, cs,t
vice rates and capitalization. o%utn %
comnanies. he added were the 0hiy pEGj
iic Utilities not now regulated IN 'h'S
state. go, ,,,iatior he
declared they receive proper pro' pro co
ton for their investors without WHOSE 20 a.,
oneration hundreds of munlcipanueS III
tbie etate would he an imposslDlltyx It,,
Mr. BALDWIN said that the rlSht ol tus iis
.,t,. IN hiring water from the 'al'h'"'
could not be questioned