The Jersey City news., 1892-02-23
WATER ON It's MERITS.
Public Hearing Over Mr..
Hudspeth's New Bill.
Mr.. L. B. WARD EXPLAINS.
He Also Proves That There is a
State Water Board-0ther Mat
ters Affecting the City.
Special to the Jersey oity Ne,cs.


TRENTON, Feb. 90, 1892. THE commit
House and Senate gave joint hearing at
one O'Clock today on the bill which al
lows Jersey City to condemn Newark's
surplus water. There were large num-
Der of citizens from Jersey City
and Newark present. Mr.. Lebbeus
B. Ward was the first speaker. He
referred to the original water act, to
which the bill is a supplement, and said
that the original act permitted a single
city to secure waterworks by con-
demnation, while this bill permit
ted two cities TO be joint owners.
He quoted from the report Of the State
Geologist, which called attention to the
purity of the water of the northern part
of the State, land said that it was destined
to supply all the water OF this section.
He told how Governor Albeit and
some of his predecessors had
taken steps to preserve that water supply,
and dwelt upon the danger of its becom-
ing tied up in the hands of one corpora
tion. Mr.. Ward produced map which
showed the various water sheds OF the
northern part of the State.
Ile gave Inc producing caPdci1y
of each and claimed tn at the East Jersey
Water Company had gobbled up the
greater part of the supply, which was a
menace to the welfare of the State.
Mr.. Ward said that he appeared, not as
resident of Jersey City, but as the rep
resentative of the State Water Board.
MIR. Ketcham and other Newark mem
bers of the Committee questioned Mr..
Ward for the purpose of showing that
there was no State Water Board Com
missioner. Mr.. Ward satisfied every un-
prejudiced person present that he spoke
the truth.
BOARD OF TRADE.
Mr.. Joseph A. Dear. President of the
Jersey City Board of Trade. next spoke
for Jersey City, He said that the citizens
of Jersey City did not want to take ad-
vantage of the enterprise, skill or expendi-
ture of Newark or any other city. He did
not blame Newark's Mayor for looking
conium caused Newark's Dicnicing
Mayor, who was present, to blush the
color of the scarlet carnation in Presi-
dent Abrams bultonhole. Mr.. Dear said
that the water supply of the State was
being bought up by private individuals
at the expense OF the PUBIC. Mr. Dear
said that Jersey City was willing to pay
these capitalists fair interest on their
money, but when they wanted usurious
rates the city could protect itself by
using the right of condemnation which
this bill gives her. He suggested an
amendment which provides that any
city which had built water works should
have exclusive control of them, and any
city using part of the water should bear
fair share of the expense of main
tanning the works. This, he said,
would enable Newark to maintain
her control of her waterworks, and pre-
vent her from playing the dog In the
nd f,,nn nn0liZipCr n.
ply Of the State.
Senator Edwards spoke for, the city.
He said Jersey City and Newark had
lived together on the water question since
1851. and why could they not live together
a few years longer.
OTHER MATTERS.
The House this morning passed the
bill appropriating $50,0 600 additional to
the Chicago Fair, making a total appro-
priatlon of $4,000.
Mr.. Heaney introduced bill fixing the
term of Mayor of JERSEY City at five years.
1t is not to take effect until the beginning
of the term of the next Mayor.
Mr.. Flynn introduced bill providing
for the consolidating of electric and gas
companies. This is supposed to be in the
interest of the jersey City Gas Company
Senators Barrett and Hudspeth had an
other spat this morning over Barretcs
bill allowing Newark to condemn land for
the construction of reservoirs. Mr.. Huds-
peth wanted the bill laid over until he could
assure himself that it did not affect Jersey
City. Then Mr.. Barrett got angry and
pitched into Mr.. Hudspeth. But it did
hlm no good, and the bill went over until
Hudson's Senator became convinced that
it was harmless.
There was debate over Senator Per-
kius' bill providing for State Board of
Surveyors. Mr.. Marsh opposed it, and
Messrs. Gardner and Perkins advocated
it, but it was lost. The Senate passed
the House bill providing for the pension
ing of widows and orphans of members
of the Hoboken Fire Department.