66

Moreover,

street railroads in cities, towns and villages."
the consents of owners and local authorities, as required
by the Constitution," are referred to in both sections. It
appears entirely proper, in the consideration of this bill, to
treat the corporations mentioned in these particular sections,
as street railroad companies and the roads therein referred
to as street railroads.

In any event, if it is proposed to act under the Constitution, there should honestly and fairly be accorded to the people, the protection which the Constitution intended.

I think no one can read the peculiar provisions of this bill, without being convinced that its design is more to further private and corporate schemes, than to furnish the citizens of the State street railroad facilities, under the spirit and letter of the Constitution, and within the limits therein fixed for the benefit of the people.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

MEMORANDUM FILED WITH SENATE BILL No. 445,
PROVIDING FOR NEW WATER-WORKS IN NEW

YORK CITY.

DULY APPROVED.

STATE OF NEW YORK.

EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,

ALBANY, June 1, 1883.

[Filed with Secretary of State.]

Memorandum filed with Senate bill No 445, entitled "Act to provide new reservoirs, dams and a new aqueduct, with the appurtenances thereto, for the purpose of supplying the city of New York with an increased supply of pure and wholesome water." Duly approved.

I have delayed action on this bill in deference to the wishes of residents of the city of New York who desired

to be heard upon the measure; and after listening to much discussion on the subject, I am very clear in the opinion that I ought to approve the bill.

That the city of New York should have a greater supply of water, there are few, I think, have the hardihood to dispute. An examination of the present condition of affairs also discloses the danger that even the present inadequate supply may at any time be interrupted or suspended. These considerations force the contemplation of a contingency fraught with discomforts, deprivation and peril to more than a million inhabitants of the State. To temporize with such a question, or to hesitate in the face of such a danger, savors of a recklessness almost criminal.

The bill before me, so far as I am able to discern, is a carefully drawn plan to remedy the evil, and supply this pressing need of the city of New York.

The principal objection urged against this bill is that the designation of commissioners in the bill itself by the Legislature is unconstitutional, undemocratic and a violation of the doctrine of home rule.

I think the bill is constitutional; and while I am not willing to be committed to the assertion that the best manner of selecting commissioners was determined upon by the Legislature, I am unwilling to be responsible for the delay of this work, because another plan was not adopted.

It is hinted, rather than alleged, that the persons named as commissioners are not such as to give assurance of the speedy, efficient and honest prosecution of the work, and that there is reason to suspect that a political job is concealed within the provisions of this bill.

Such innuendo is easily indulged in, and when not con

nected with official responsibility may be harmless. But I have no idea that any opponents of the bill would sincerely ask me to defeat this legislation on such grounds.

.

I believe this bill furnishes the means of relief to the people of the city of New York, and protection from threatened danger. If it shall appear that the work is not in good hands, I shall be surprised and disappointed. And it is confidently expected that in a common need, all opposition to the details of the project will be displaced by a cordial co-operation with those bearing the immediate responsibility of its consummation.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

MEMORANDUM OF OBJECTIONS ACCOMPANYING

THE SUPPLY BILL.

STATE OF NEW YORK.

EXECUTIVe chamber,

ALBANY, N. Y., June 1, 1883.

[Filed with Secretary of State.]

Statement of items of appropriation objected to, and not approved, contained in Assembly bill No. 444, entitled "An act making appropriations for certain expenses of government, and supplying deficiencies in former appropriations."

The several items herein enumerated contained in Assembly bill No. 444, entitled "An act making appropriations for certain expenses of government and supplying deficiencies in former appropriations," are objected to, and not approved, for the reasons hereinafter stated.

'For the payment of the expenses for cartage of Senate and Assembly documents to and from the post-office in Albany, during the session of eighteen hundred and eighty-three, to be paid to the parties who ren

dered the services, the sum of nine hundred dollars, being five hundred dollars for carrying Assembly documents, and four hundred dollars for carrying Senate documents."

This item is objected to, and not approved, for the reason that the compensation named is clearly disproportionate to the value of the services rendered. The appropriation for this purpose in 1875, was two hundred dollars, and while the service rendered is now no greater than then, the . compensation has gradually increased from year to year, until it has reached the sum here proposed. This seems to be entirely unjustifiable.

"For the law library formerly in possession of Chief Judge Church, and the law library formerly in possession of Chief Judge Folger, for the payment of books already purchased by the State, and books required for the libraries, the sum of five hundred dollars each, to be paid on bills certified by the judge having such library in charge, and on checks or drafts certified to be correct by the chief judge of said court."

This item is objected to, and not approved, for the reason that it does not appear that the libraries for which the tax is proposed are for the use of the public; and furthermore, the purchase of books for which no appropriation has been made was a violation of law. Ample provision has already been made in the regular way for the support of the public libraries owned by the State.

That portion of the appropriation for the Commissioners of Fisheries which reads as follows:

* * * “For rebuilding the salmon-trout hatching-house, at Caledonia, one thousand dollars; for maintenance of the new hatching establishment at Cold Spring, Long Island, three thousand dollars, and for maintenance of the hatching establishment at Palenville, Greene county, one thousand dollars."

These several items are objected to, and not approved, for the reason that the sum of fifteen thousand dollars appropriated for the maintenance of the State Fisheries, should be sufficient to meet all necessary expenses of that branch of the public service.

"For Messrs. Eidlitz, Richardson & Company, architects of the Capitol building, for advances made by them for repairs of the ceiling of the Assembly Chamber, done upon the consent of the Capitol Commissioners, during the summer of eighteen hundred and eighty-two, the sum of three thousand one hundred and fifty-nine dollars and fifty-five cents."

This item is objected to and not approved.

According to the report of the New Capitol Commissioners made to the Legislature, the commission gave its consent that the architects might make what repairs to the Assembly Chamber ceiling they deemed proper, at their own expense, and that the State should not be made liable for the expenditure.

"For supplying the New Capitol with water from eighteen hundred and seventy-nine to November, eighteen hundred and eighty-two, to be paid for out of the maintenance fund of the Capitol, the sum of five thousand nine hundred and ninety-six dollars and seventy-two cents.

This item is objected to, and not approved, for the reason that if any liability exists on the part of the State, the claim is clearly one that should be submitted to the State Board of Claims.

"For deficiency in appropriations for postage, expenses of committees, compensation of witnesses, legislative manuals, Croswell's Manual, Clerk's Manual, indexing the bills, journals and documents of the Senate and Assembly, and other contingent expenses of the Legislature, and for pay of messengers, eighteen thousand five hundred dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to be paid, in case of expenses of committees on the certificates of the chairman of such committees, and in case of services for either house of the Legislature on the certificate of the clerk of such house, subject to the audit of the Comptroller.”

This item is objected to, and not approved.

The ordinary annual appropriation for compensation and mileage of members and officers of the Legislature is three hundred and forty thousand dollars. In addition to this, the Legislature has already appropriated thirty-three thousand dollars for contingent expenses, an amount certainly sufficient to meet all proper expenditures of the class covered by the foregoing item.