New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-21
rROTEsIINS AGlINsr 1 BILL.

JERSEY CITY's OPPOSITION TO SENATE BILL
80. 1877.
FROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNE
TRENTON, March 2O.-A committee of citi-
zcns Of Jersey city thiry-Gve in number waited on
Governor Ludlow at noon today and requested him TO
veto bill No lG7, confirming the title of certain
corporations riparian lands In that city. Mayor TauS-
sig introduced the delegation to the Governor, and Mr.
Nevin, Of Hobokcn and 5. y Ransom Of Jersey City,
presented legal brief embodyng the views Of the
thorcs OF the cities the bill The brief sets forth
the arguments hitherto advanced and makes eX-
tended review Of the constitutional features OF the
measure claiming that they sufficiently to
defeat II should IL become law. James Fleming Of
Jersey city exhibited maps Of the properly by which
is sought to prove that the originally dedi
Gated through the lands filed in and occupied by
the railroad companies.
Ex-senator Leon Albeit, Corporation Counsel OF Jcr
scy City, made address stating that the bill takes
away all the rights II jersey City public docks now
and hereafter, with exception If the act il consu
tonal it will be impossible open streets to lewafcr
except by exercising the right Of eminent domain,
whereas. il it Is not law, the city may pro-
coed TO acquire property OF great value to which il
holds a legal title. The citizens, Mr. Albeit said,
almost unanimously opposed to the bill aud demanded
that their rights should be protected.
DIR. Qumby. who stated that he had large property
interests in Jersey city said that the railroad companies
now held 500 10000 worth Of property which not
taxable, and the burden was getting to be more than
jersey City could bear The state has done Jersey City
great wrong ia selling the riparian fronts there aud
then exemptng the railroad property from local taxa
ton, and II the wrong this bill would INLET
added would be impossible certain persona
action, to the extent OF violating the law. If
tie ill not vetoed. The sewers would be intercred
with even worse than AT present The distractions OF
the railroad companies had caused the death rate to rise
- b per 1000, the highest IN the country and
further interference would DC disastrous. Judge Aidrch
Old citizen. some "Reminiscences of the condition
OF Jersey city before the entrance of the railroad
panics claiming that The cy7 right 10 free access 70 the
river had never been doubted for until twenty
years a&o. James Fleming said thu bIl took from
municipal bodies the power TO dedicate roads and
highways across riparian lands, yet retained for them
the right open streets by tn" exercise Of eminent
secure railroad cStr1ncc 10 S"w-York harbor and h3
seriously affected The whole state. rho retaining Of the
ut.t Or eminent dIIhah, however, amounted to
morning. BY the c1arer street could not be
opened except upon petition OF one-thrd of the
number OF property owners, while the Iemonstrlnce
Of one-haf was sufficient defeat an opening. As the
ri.filn iai IaFuGi "iCn I cy Hd'nGI 10 "Pon us
slcetS was Ao ~ the corporations the CITY '9ud never
act, the companies would not petition and their
ILOnsTance would be sufficient to defeat the opening
President an Kelpen; 0t tue jersey Guy B0arI OF
Aldermen said senate ul lG5 aud Senate bills l39 and
~ equally Objectionable to the citizens all OF them
proposing To take away rights the city held; The vaue
Of Tie riparian land was SHOWN by the fact that one strip
that the corporations were SEEING TINS property In order
To sell IT to other companies AT an enormous profit lie
feared the future II tns legislation went into effect,
the law could not RESTRAIN the ovcr-burdoned people
sir. Fitzpatrick, another delegate said the people b.
they appealed TO the Governor for protection.
Mr.. Morrison, Of Jersey city, said the burden was
getting too heavy for Jersey city, aud the people
asked the Governor 70 hOd up their hands to keep ncm
sinking. lie said there mad been lease by tle city
to the GUARD Company which showed that the rights OF
the city TIL front had been conceded, but the
lease had disappeared. delegate said his faith eI had
been Alderman 1851, and that the lease had been
executed under Mayor who succeeded by
Dudley Gregory, who was largely interested IN the
Jersey Associates, and tue lease then supposed
have disappeared.
Governor Ludlow said he would tax g the papers and
maps anu give tie matter careful consideration.