The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-03
~ r. fA 500
TWO CENT FERRIAGE
Assemblyman McEWan's
Earnest Fight for
the Bill.
MoNopOLIFs OPPOSE IT
Carroll and Coyle Favor It--Taken
Back For Slight Amend
ment.
MONOPOLIFS OPPOSE
Special to The Jersey CITY Ncars.

TYENToN, May 3, 1s94.-Mr. McEwan
brought up his two cent ferry bill yesterday
afternoon on final passage. In supporting
the bill he said the Republican party last
fall pledged itself to ameliorate the condi-
ton of the people and yet, thus far, the
Legislature had not passed one bill IN That
direction. How can they hope, he asked, to
come back next fall with a majority If they
did not keep those pledgesa 1t now costs the
poor. working girl and laborer who cross
the ferries So cents a week, and to those peo-
pie the difference in the rate which the bill
would bring about meant q great deal. The
only objection to the bill was the WestShore
ferry, and yet he could dispel the delusion In
regard to that route. The West Shore ferry
was run in connection with the trains when
there was not one tenth of the local traffic
there was now. If Jersey City, Hoboken and
the other Hudson County cities and towns
were bowling wildernesses the railroads
would have to RUIZ the ferries in connection
with trains.
The Hoboken ferry carried Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western passengers at one
half cent each and if they could afford to do
that the other ferries could at two cents. In
fact, Mr.. McEwan said, all the money re-
ceived for ferriage was clear profit as the
roads had to run these boats in connection
with their trains.
When the committee notified the various
railroads that the bill was before it, not one
except the West Shore asked to be heard.
The others knew that they could not adj
vance any arguments against the bill even
through paid attorneys.
MiEwAN AGAINST -MoNoPoLrEs.
"We lost a President once" Mr.. McEwan
went on, warmly, ..by upholding trusts and
x,1n1,,Jiau IF Uo hnna fn glloppa0 in fhA
future we must lay q heavy hand upon all
such monopolies and trusts. l am so earn
est in this matter and SO sure l am right
that invite anyone to question the Justice
of this bill. Tn question has not two sides.
Tho railroads talk about the floating palaces
which they nave furnished and declare that
they cannot keep them up if the present
rates Of ferriage are decreased. l tell you
that those double-deck boats were made
/ necessary by the increased traffic" Mr..
McEwan closed with a strong plea for the
passage of the bill in the interest of the poor
people.
He was followed by Olcott, who said that
| New Jerseys Legislature could not legislate
for New York. If the ferriage in this State
| was decreased, there was no reason why the
companies should not raise the price in New
York SO as to make the round trip the same
| as it was now. The Legislature should be
| fair to the people who had invested their
| money in ferries was the burden of Mr.. Oh
| colts finishing argument.
Mr.. FLYNN advanced an ingenious argu-
| ment against the bill. He said that if the
measure became q law the companies would
make up what they lost through cheap fer
| rage by increasing the price OF communication
tickets, and he called upon the member to
benefit the larger number of people in
various parts of the State who used the cars
| instead of the few in Hudson County who
| crossed on the ferries.
CARROLL N COYLE SPEAK 0 IT.
Mr.. Carroll made a speech in favor of the
| bill. and Mr.. Coyle made an appeal for the
poor people of Hoboken.
While his constituents were not directly
| interested in the bill, Mr.. Beekman said
many people in other parts of the State
were and he proposed to vote for 1t. He be
lieved that corporations had rights which
were to be respected, but in this case it look
| ed as though the corporations had taken all
the rights and left the people none.
If the ferries could carry passengers
for three-quarters of a cent at q profit they
could certainly do it for two cents. The bill
was opposed by Mr.. Storrs. who got into a
| fierce alteration with Messrs. Carroll and
| Coyle, He declared that a person could
| cross the Hoboken ferry now for two and a
| half cents. Mr.. Carroll denied this in a
| rather offensive manner, which made Mr..
| Storrs fare up and declare that Mr.. Carroll
| was skulking behind a subterfuge. He knew
that he meant Ten UlcAetS cOulu 20 DouSHI
| for twenty-five cents. Mr.. Carroll denied
| this, and advised Mr.. Storrs to get better
| posted on a subject before he attempted to
speak upon 1t authoritatively.
Mr.. Coyle produced a Hoboken ferry com
mutation, Which allowed twenty rides for
fifty cents, and said that they were a hard
ship upon the purchaser, as he had to wait
in fine In slush and rain to have it punched.
In replying Mr.. Storrs said that as the bill
was drawn, it was unjust, as it made the
rate for teams two cents as well as for pas
sengers.
At this MI. McEwan pricked up his ears
and took a look at the bill. Then he moved
that it be referred back to second reading
for amendment.
Have we got to go through all this agony
again. YEARLY explained the Speaker.
The bill went back and Mr.. McEwan
amended it SO as to confine 1t to foot pas
sengers only.