The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-24
JERSEYS BIGGEST D. !"
briggs Drainage Bill Dreadfully
Denounced.
Mass Meeting in Newark last Nighf-Sp.ty
Speeches and Red Hot Resolutions

As wassiaborately expressed in the HERALD last
summer, sInore monstrous Legislative swindle was
never passed. IN tlse New Jersey Legislature, year
before, than that known as the briggs Drainage
bill, which gives extraordinary powers 20 COM
pany of spectators, chiefly take iron. their own
ers some twenty miles OF meadow or swamp
lana without their leave and try to dram
them at their (he Owners) cost, an:t 10 con-
ascase to the company certain portions thereof
Last week bill repeating that part of tho~origiaal
bill relating to lands lying IN Essex county passed
the Senate by vote OF thirteen Osix but fears ars
entertained that 1t Will meet with q di1ervnS
fate in the House this coming session. In
Newark last evening" pursuant to prr.tS
call issued by Mayor Ricord at the request
OF cirizens meeting was held at the City Hail. IN
the Mayors Chambers. The attendance was large,
the speeches extremely spirited, and the resolutions
passed ANYTHING but tame. The Mayor was called
TO preside ana Mr.. II. H. McCleve chosen secretary
After few Introductory remarks BY the Mayor
setting forth the objects Of the meeting, exAssem
bymen Henry W. Wilson rose and said the bill
was
FRAUGHT WITH INIoUITy.
II conferred power pack OF land.grabbers to
wrest from rightful owners their land without giving
them just compensation such AZ they are entitled to.
IL bill that sought To benefit and enrich lew
ut the expense OF the MANY. Here a notorious
Trenton lobbyist, named Frank Patterson. Jumped
lowed by cries OF ''Put him out put him OUT
Resumlng, MIR. wilson said, the briggs people mad
thing. Later in the evening he put the following
conundrum TO the meeting III It costs sB7o 600 to do
nothing, how much wll it cost to dram the mea-
The venerable Jabez Hayes followed and said the
"a FRAUD ON THE FACE OF IT."
briggs had no desire to dram the meadows, but to
get hold OF the land so as to make a grand water
front Tor the Pacific Railroad Company.
Mr.. TlchenOr spoke next. He was meadow
cwner, ana If the bill was not fraud and swlndie
he dld not know what one was. Patterson, inter-
rupted him, too, but the speaker settled nm by
saying that any man VINO would stand up for such
blll was a paid emissary. !sensauonl Waxing
interested IN the blll were "a set OF
they could well '''' anord to pay lobbyist
docking at Patterson $1,000. Sensation aud ap,
waqed eloquent almost In scaLhng expose Of the
bill and how IL had passed the Legislature. IT. was
people not one, but five minions and even then
there was no check He SAID tnat II the Legislature
its monstrous provisions they would carry the mat
ter into the Courts ana there secure justice. The
| Alderman was loudly applauded. After some more
| talking In the same strain
SERIES OF RESOLUTIONS.
preceded by long list OF ''whereases,r were passed
without dissenting voice. The first resolution is
forth 'tnat the county OF Essex VIII resist, at what
ever cost any and all attempts upon their chartered
rights, whether the same are made under the con-
venient cover OF Legislative enactment or Other
| wise.'
bin not only conflicts with the chartered rights or
| this city, but 1t Is also
AN OPEN GATEWAY OF DEATH
to all Its Inhabitants lnasmuch as the carrying into
effect the provisions or the act lnaugurates coOs-
sal system OF open drains bitches, into The depths
| OF which the seeds OF malaria and pestilence Will
| find q convenient and permanent abiding place"
third threatens our dearest ana most sacred
rights' and 'jeopardlzes our very lives" The
| fourth and last resolve earnestly lmplores and re-
| quests the Senate 1.-THE House they meant-HERALD
| REpORTER) 10 relieve the people OF Newark ''frOm
the tolls Of the desperate advenLurer who largely
controls our future destiny, and whose audacity
| has never been equaed in the annals OF the
| New Jersey Legislature" The meeting then ;.d-
| iOurned.