The New York herald., 1922-11-23
Fears Concession for Use of
Energy Developed in
Lower River.
CITES ELECTION RESULT
Rest in South Will Extend
Over the Thanksgiving
Holiday.

Gov-elect Smith wrote yesterday to
Charles D. Newton, State Attorney
General. protesting against the grant
ing of franchises to private companies
to develop State water power. Mr.
Smith said he was informed that the
Water Power Commission would meet
to-day and might grant a concession
to some company to develop electricity
from the Niagara River below the
falls His letter follows:
my DEAR GENERAL
1T has been called to my attention
that the State Water Power Commission
is to meet at Albany tomorrow morning
at 10 o'clock. | have been further In
formed by a newspaper article that II is
the intention of the commission to act
upon some applications for licenses to
develop electrical energy by private cor
porations. The paper that / read says
that there is a possibility that license
may be granted to some company to
develop energy from the waters Of
Niagara below the falls.
Before and during the campaign I
took a decided position with regard to
the development of electrical energy
from water power owned by the state.
/ have held that it should not be given
to private companies for private devel
opment, but should, on the other hand,
be developed by the State itself under
State ownership and State control for
the benefit OF all the people Of the State.
"I would therefore ask In view
OF the decision of the people at the polls
following the campaign in which the
subject was a distinct issue, not to grant
any license or permits to private cor
porations for the development OF cleo
trical energy from water power resources
that belong to the State and permit that
subject to be dealt with by the incoming
administration in accordance with the
explicit promises made during the course
Of the campaign.
Mr.. Smith gave out this letter at the
Biltmore last night on the eve OF his
departure for the South. where he Will
remain over Thanksgiving as the guest
OF William II. Todd
THE whole question is whether the
State will give fifty year permits for
| private profit, or whether the State will
do the work itself" he said. II am
writing this letter as a private citizen,
| but / want to make known my position
OF course, nothing 1 can do can stop 1t
| If they want TO grant these private
| licenses"
posed OF the Speaker of the Assembly,
H. Edmund Machold: the President pro
tenn of the Senate, Clayton r. Lusk; At
torney-General Newton. Frank NJ. Will
Jams, State Engineer and Alexander
Macdonald. State Conservation Com
missioner. all Republicans.
Two companies have applied for per-
mits to develop Niagara water power
They are the Lower Niagara River
Water Supply Company and the Niagara
Gorge Railroad Company. Both have
sled applications with the commission
and will be heard to-day. Applications
are for permits to make surveys and
plans preparatory to applying formally
for Niagara water power license.
The Govenor-eIect said he is going
away for a rest and will not talk or
think politics until his return next
month. He declined TO say what his
plans are on transit prohibition
or any other issue. except that he
stands on his campaign platform. He
also declined 10 name any persons under
consideration for appointive offices.
DR.. Charles w. Berry, Adjutant-Gen-
eral In Smiths first administration.
Brigadier- General in the Twenty-seventh
Division during the war and a well
known Brooklyn physician. called on Mr.
Smith yesterday. 1t was learned on good
authority that Dr. Berry is to be reap
pointed Adjutant-General.
Mr.. Todd Is an old friend Of Mr.
Smith. He is a member of a shipbuild-
ing firm and, on the authority of the
Governor-eleot. "the best volunteer fire
man in Brooklyn" John f. Gilchrist.
Commissioner OF licenses. who was
treasurer of the Smith campaign COM
mittee also will be Of the party.