The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-10-19

It is not likely to be corcurred in.
Mayor Wanser will not approve the FL
not probable that either board will be
able to employ experts. The Finance
Board is determined to know its power
in the premises, as the adoption OF the
following resolution will show
Resolved, That the Corporation Coun-
sci be and hereby is requested to fur
nish this board, at it's next meeting, with
a written opinion as to whether the
authority given to the Board of Finance,
in Section l28 of the City Charter, rela-
tive to the employment of such agents
as may be necessary for the discharge
of it's duties and to fix their compensa-
ton, extends to the employment OF ex-
perts, to furnish scientific or technical
information which the board may re-
uuire to enable it to act intelligently
upon matters coming before it for con-
current action; and if such authority
is not conferred in said section, whether
it is conferred elsewhere in the City
Charter
TO PROTECT THE PASSAIC.
The next resolution adopted touching
upon the water question was to confer
small honor on the Board of Trade.
.'Resolved, That the resolution pre-
sented to this board by the Board of
Trade, urging action on the part OF the
city authorities to ascertain whether the
Act of March %, 1852 authorizing the
taking of water from the Passaic River
to supply this city confers upon the
Mayor and Common 1Ouucll Ol Jersey
City a right to have the water of the
Passaic River preserved from contamlna-
tion, be received and spread upon the
minutes"
mends the stand the Finance Board has
taken in the water question and con-
cludes by calling attention to the city's
power to prevent the pollution, OF the
Passaic, near the intake, at Belleville.
IS THIS A KNOCKOUT?
AS a Knockout blow to all prospects
of a new supply being obtained, the
board adopted the following preamble and
resolutions
sWhereas, The Board of Aldermen, as
the elected representatives of the people
of this city and the legislative branch
of the city government, did. on Septem-
ber %, 1884. adopt preamble and reso.
lutfons declaring il to oe the sense OF
that board that the city sllonld at once
proceed to maintain its right to draw
water in g. state of absolute purity
from the Passaic River. according to
the terms Of the act anthorizing the
construction of the Jersey City Water
Works, against all infringers OF said
fsWhereas, The Board of Trade of this
city has in like manner urged that pro-
ceedings be at once taken by the city
authorities to ascertain If the right to
have the water of Passaic River pre-
served from eentaminason GO Is anfed e4n
Jersey City in said act passed March %,
1852; and
Whereas, 1t is evident Inat II salu
right exists, as part of said franchise
SO granted to this city or otherwise, the
failure to enforce it viii be, in effect, a
waiver and renunciation thereon, and
will, of necessity, involve the abandon
ment Of the present waTer supply drawn drawn
from the Passaic River at Beileville,
and also as a probable consequence the
placing of the water service under the
administration of a separate, private
CORPORATION, incapable of exercising
police power to protect the sources of
supply from pollution; therefore
.sResolved, That we recommend that
an expert legal opinion De obtained
from eminent legal counsel as to the ex-
istence of a legal right in the Mayor
and Aldermen of Jersey City to have the
water of the Passaic River, within the
limits named in the said act of March
25. 1852, preserved from contamination,
and as to the proper steps to be taken
to enforce such right. II such right ex-
lists and is enforceable, against the in
fringers thereof: and
Resolved, That q copy of these reso-
lutions be sent to His Honor the Mayor,