The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-08-03

necessity of State action Ito prevent the
conflicts and injustice whicn would arise
from the appropriations OF the availaple
sources of supply by the more vigorous
| local authorities to the exclusion OF those
late in the field or by private companies
| Inasmuch as the commissioners III their latel
reports had specified the Pequannock River
| as the natural and most available source OF
| supply for the urban population OF Passalc,
| Hudson. Essex and Union counties, the un-
scrupulous course of Newark in allying it
self with a private corporation IN deroga-
| ton of the States authority and disregard OF
the rights of neighboring communities,
aroused feeling of resentment ana lndlSna-
ton in Jersey City. This found expression
| in the Legislature of 1890 in the lntfoduc-
| tion by Nh. Michael Mullone of the bill
| known by his name entitled "a supplement- to
an act to enable cities to supply the lnhabi-
| tants thereof with pure and wholesome
water
| The distinguishing feature of this bill was
| the provision that any city needing new ana
additional works for the better supply OF
| such citv with water might proceed to erect
| and construct or contract for the erection
and construction of the works necessary to
| secure such supply in the usual manner, OF
| if deemed best i'll view thereof, purchase
| and own the whole OF a Joint interest IN
water works already constructed There
| was a further provision that in case of ina
bilitv to agree with any owner the city could
condemn any lands, waters and rights re-
| uuired for the purpose of the act, or in ike
| manner condemn water works or joint IN
terest therein and the use thereof.
EFFECT OF MALoNE's BILL
| The effect of this bill, if passed. would
have been to compel the surrender of New
ark's unfairly obtained advantage and COM
pei a partition of the Pequannock water sup
| DIV. Incidentally the bill would also have
| been fatal to the schemes of speculative syn
| dicates in their efforts to create a monopoly
| in the potable waters of the streams which
| they claim to control as private property.
| The measure, which was introduced late
| in the session, created great con-
sternation in Newark and among the
syndicates, and they brought all
| their influences of any nature what
soever to bear against it. The municipal au-
! thorities of Jersey City declared in favor of
| the bill, and delegations of citizens went to
! Trenton and urged its passage. The Hud-
son members supported it, but owing to the
numerous hearings that were given it and
| the lateness of the session the measure was
not brought to vote
| In his message to the Legislature of 1891
| Governor Albeit called attention to this bill
and urged the Legislature to afford protec-
| tion to the smaller communities, especially
| against any attempted exclusive occupation
| by single cities, in excess of their reason
| able demands, of valuable sources OF water
supply, and commended the views expressed
| by the State Water Commission in their re-
| ports already referred to.
This recommendation of the Governor was
| followed by the reintroduction by Mr.. Null
| lone of his bill, and determined and vigor-
| Gus fight was made in the Assembly by the
(. Hudson members, supported by the city
authorities ofsJersey City. and an influential
and able delegation of citizens on one side,
and the authorities OF Newark and repre-
~ ,f..v. f0Fr1
panv on the other. The political influence
of Essex, and the money of the Lehigh Val
lev Company prevailed, ana the bill was
again defeated after most stormy debate.
GOVERNOR ALBEIT TO THE RESCUE.
In 1892 Governor Albeit returned to the
charge, and in his message of that year, pre-
sented q strong argument, fortified by sta
tistical tables, ia favor Of the establishment
of State control of the water supply, and
concluding with warning of the danger of
permitting their control to pass into private
hands. He said:-"I still entertain the
opinion that the attempt of private corpora
tions to withdraw water from rivers and
streams to sell to the public and obtain a
monopoly thereof under which they claim
| the right to prevent great cities from using
the same for public purposes is dangerous to
the public interests"
Encouraged by the Governors words,
the friends of the bill had it intro
duced a third time at the session of 1892.
This time it was fathered by Senator Hud-
snetb aud bacame a Senate measure Sena-
tor Hudspeth made one OF the ablest speeches
of the session in its favor and it was en-
dorsed by resolution of the Board of Works
and Mayor and Aldermen of Jersey City in
memorial to the Legislature. Among
other things the memorial said:- PARTIES
80 bsv va sfnrmed syndicates with Iarge
oa,,;taI at command and will If NOT cbecke ed
aI and Stata action acTire
~ ~ es,t,.oI of tho rraat yvatarShed of the
S,.o dosibad y; +ba onrna1 m ga IF the
ea,,a,noy. tho nrasant vcar
o9velnoi Tsn un9 20 bayo oroan;zad water
,,,-,i-s.,,,;as inder a ctatu.a which nermits tne
s,,,,,Yoa,;y of anv and ali
a1ar no.,e,s,,as formed mder If their
.In o,,d n,ona,tv with those of
en- otbar co,noratjon oi. cornorations.
formed for any nnynose whatever. except
raiirosd comnaniesl in this or any other
Sta+e atslt o' tharsby forming a ciant water mon
o,soiv. aud that bv means Of contracts with
oit;aS IF +bis and other States. like that en-
tarad ap,sI into hv the civ Of Newark. they hone
~ ,,,,+ II ont Of the mower of the state to SET
oS;da tbai, siIeged title without thereby inn
nai,ing the obligation of these contracts
hit that the nassaSe of the said water bill
viii nv str;ctlv constitutional methods. pre-
va,,t tl,a fn,.mation or continuanc4 of the
rrn;a1+o5 ,,,nnonolv and will promote tbe
r. p5ot;,' f :, sohama Of State water s1nnlv
d'ni,,. ~ r;erhts If oil flo co,n1unites of
~, g., LII Is. Isa sr,a,dad alikn
''is NJ. u,,gs,1otb,s Iii Ivas referrea to the
ra,,1,,,;tt4o -, NrrnicinaI f,ornorafions of