The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-11-01

MCPHERSON OPPOSED IT..
Amended Hudson River
Bridge Bill Passed by
the Senate.
SHA-P DLL0QUY BETWEEN SENATORS.
New Jerseys Repr, sentative Con-
tended A Pier In the kiver
Would Be Hurtful To
Navigation.
SHA-P DLLOQUY BETWEEN SENATORS.

WASHINGTON, Nov, ], 1S93.-Ths New
YORK and New Jersey Bridge bill was
passed by the Senate yesterday after 6
sharp colloquY bstween Senator McPher-
son and other Senator's, especially
Messrs. Vest and Hill. 1t leaves the
question of the erection OF a pier in the
river to the discretion of the Secretary Of
War. The house bill came mp on motion
oil Mr.. Hill, nd the Senate amendments
re.torted bY the COMMITTEES on Commerce
were agree to. I'll
Mr.. Mcpherson said that the bill
woull destroy the harbor of New York.
The ueople of New York had the right to
oversee the co~nslructiea OF the brid &c. so
that il would interfere as little as pos
sible with tue streets aud boulsvRrls OF
the city but the people of New jersey
had not the same right. He then offered
an ameudm Mt gIying the Freeholders OF
the towns OF New Jersey the right to de-
eide the matter of location.
Mr.. Dolph thought such an amendment
unnecessary, and Mr.. Hin took the same
view aud opposed the amendment. Mr..
Vi, Pherson said the brioge would ruin
blocks of buildings and destroy streets
and boulevards. The people of New Jer.
sey would laugh at the want of fntellt>
geuce which the Senate would show by
authorizing the 10 q ion in the middle of
the river # a pier with an area as large
as au island.
Mr.. Vest retorted that the ques>
ton OF intelligence OF the Senate was
an open one, and the Senator from New
Jersey rendered himself liable to suspic-
ion by such remarks.
Mr.. Mcpherson continued his speech.
He said thai he wanted the bill to pass:
but be was sure that It was the Judgment
of every Senator that. If piers were to be
built in the river as proposed. they would
be destructive to the navigation
of the river. There was
no reason for permitting piers
to be constructed EXCEPT that the CONF
psny would be able TO save by them per-
haps ten or fifteen million dollars. while
the Of the country would be
robbed of more than one Thousand mil
lions before the end OF time. He said
that il there had been piers In the river
at the time of the late great naval parade
the ships of war could rot have
mau9uvred there.
Mr.. Lindsay asked Nj. Mcpherson
whether there was anything 10 the bill
which authorized q pier on the New
J-rsey side Of tBs river. Mr.. Mcpherson
thought there was.
Mr.. Liudsay-Is not this bin q mere
license by the general Government to
construct q bridge over II navigable
TlV6T. Anu ubeS " HOO teQUILS tudb lu6
bridge shall conform TO the laws of New
York aud Nes Jersey? Aud is not the
Secretary OF Wa authorized to require
the plans to be such as he shall approve?
Mr. McPherson-I understand that the
Secretary of War has already given his
a approval TO the plan.
ABSOLUTE DENIAL.
Mr.. Vest-I deny that. absolutely. It
would be an outrage on the part of a
Cabinet. officer to give his approval TO u
Dill before 1t becomes an act of Congresse
The Cabinet officer who would do it
would be subject 10 impeachment. / have
too much respect for Mr.. Lamont to be-
lieve that he would do any SUCH thing.
Mr.. Vest opposed Mr.. McPherson's
amendment. Tbs construction of an
additional bridge, or of q dozsn bri iges
across the Hudson River. would be to the
interest of the general public. u It
was absurd for the Senator from
New Jersey to say that q single
bridge would cheaper transportation
more than several bridges would. If the
Senator desired Co put himself In that at
titude, he might do so. For himself, he
would like to see five bridges across the
HUDSON instead of two. If they aid not
obstruct navigation, for com petition nec-
essarIly c~Geapened transportation. And
the question OF where the pier should bs
and its dimensions were to be determined
by the chief of engineers.
After some further discussion Mr.. Nc
Phersou withdrew his amendment and
offered one to the effect that the bridge
shall be constructed with a single span
over the entire river between towers or
piers. and that no pier or other obstruc.
ton to navigation shall be constructed.
Mr.. Hill opposed the amsudmsnt as one
which brought up the whole QUESTION of
whether Congress should absolutely de-
termins that there should be no pier
Whatever in the river. In his Judgment
Congress might al well determine That
there should be no bridge. There was
no ucn span in the world now. II the
Secretary of War. acting In conjunction
with the engineers, should cohclude rnat
a span of greater length could be built
and tnat thers ought not to be a pier in
the river, he was empowered to REQ aire
the span to be the full s, 100 feet. Said
MIR. HiIl:--"SonIe of the officers of the
other bridge company, l believe, are
warm, personal friends of the Senator
from Jersey
Mr.. McPhersou-And some of the off,
GERS of this bridge company.
Mr.. Hili-But / think the others are a
Mr.. Frye (Rep.. Me.)-ls the other
bridge company making opposition to
this legislation?
HILLS REMARK.
Mr.. Hill nIuk not, except that the
Seua or from New Jersey Is making op-
posi- lou to 1t; and certainly he has been
q friend of me other bridge c l