The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-05-19
DISPOSING OF BILLS.
Governor Griggs Signs
Thirteen and Vetoes
Eighty-seven.
CORPORATIONS TAKEN CARE OF
Delaware Dam approved and In-
creased Police Pay Killed
Marriage License Act
a Law.


Especial to 1.-THE Jersey City News."1
TRENTON, May 10, 1S97.-Governo,
Griggs yesterday disposed of the create
part of the bills which remained in hi
hands either by signing them or film.
them in the State Library, in most case
with his objections thereto. Many goot
measures were thus killed, but the Del
aware Dam bill and almost every Other
act wanted by General Sewell and the
Dig corporations were signed. On
of the most important measures the Gov.
ernor signed was the Delaware Dam bill
a measure in which the Kusers, who SC
layishly entertain the Governor on their
farm just outside of Trenton, are deep.
ly interested. Under all the circum-
stances the Governor felt constrained to
make a long statement about his action,
which he furnished to the press. This is
his statements
This bill authorizes the formation OF
companies with power to erect dams in
the Delaware River above tide water, for
manufacturing and electrical purposes.
The Delaware River above tidewater does
not differ in legal character from any
other stream of its size, except that it is
the boundary line between New Jersey
Pennsylvania. The jurisdiction of
each State extends to the medium line
OF the stream on it's respective side. The
soil or bed OF the steam to the middle
thereof belongs to the riparian owner and
not to the State, to the same extent as
IN the case OF a river wholly within the
limits of a single State. The rights of
the owners of lands on the Delaware
above tide water are not different from
the RICH of riparian owners on the
pas Msn the Raritan or any other river
except that, forming the boundary be-
tween two States, It is subject to the
rights of the respective States as estab-
them, made in the year 1888, whereby it
is declared to be a common highway for
the use of the States. But the use of the
ton, Is as entirely within the right ha Of RI
parian owners as though the stream flow
ed wholly through the State of New Jer-
sey
by courts of the highest authority, nota-
bly, by the United States Supreme Court
in the case of Rumble v. Delaware and
Raritan Canal Co, a Howard 50; l Wal,
lace 275, and by the Court of Errors and
Appeals of this State, in Attorney Cen
eral v. Delaware and Bound Brook Rail-
road Co.. II c. E. Green 631.
I'm the latter case a history of the
legislation, negotiations and uses pertain
ing to the river is given by Chancellor
Runyon, and the right of riparian owners
to erect mills and dams on the New Jer-
~ IAS NAS Scl3A
is affirmed, subject only to the duty of
not interfering with navigation. This bill
gives powers to corporations similar to
those possessed by an individual riparian
owner; and, with the consent of Penn
sylvania, corporations formed under this
bill may extend dams all the way across
fish and canals for RATS or boats. I fail
to see any danger to the public from the
formation of such corporations No pro-
prietary right of the State Isl granted
n xro No 1~Tra Ia all tho 40 fn
conferred; on the contrary, the rights
of companies formed under the act are
made expressly subject to the taking of
the waters of the river for public water
supply without compensation. No private
rights ear be acquired except upon MAX
ing compensation. If the franchises
granted are valuable the State can tax
them every year by a franchise tax that
will cover every penny of compensation
that any one may think the State should
receive.
wider overs, wa passed in 1876, and
uncha1lenged until 1896, when it
was inadvertently repealed.
The people Of Trenton, represented by
its Board of Trade and leading business
men, are very earnest in their belief that
this law. If met by a reciprocal act in
the State of Pennsylvania, will be Of
As that locality is the one
chiefly concerned, l am more inclined to
favor their interests than to be con-
/ ~ ny tltOSC liOL CO.
pecially concerned by local association
in the measure.
The general railroad law authorized
the free Incorporation OF railroad COM
panies. It's passage was hailed as a
step in the advancement of commercial
interests. The powers granted by this
bill are much less extensive than those
given by the general railroad law.
1.-THE power to erect dams upon streams
so as to utilize water power is one of
the Oldest and most frequently exercised.
The Connecticut. the S-usquehanna, the
Niagara, the Mississippi, the Penobscot
and Kennebec, the Passaic and Raritan,
States large enough to furnish ten-horse
power are. by this means turned to the
assistance of industry. The Delaware IT.
self is damned across its whole width
York.
II fail to see any public injury tha
can come from the grant Of authority to
the river Delaware above Trenton"
The Governor still has in his possession
a few bills, which he says he will hold
for some days before giving final de-
cision upon them. This is lone to af-
ford those interested a chance to present
in favor of signing them. The
Governor said yesterday that several per-
had asked to have bills held which
he is satisfied are unconstitutional. They
want to present briefs from lawyers to
convince lin otherwise. The briefs
is giving every opportunity possible for
the presentation of arguments.
Among the bills signed yesterday was
Assembly No. AS, which is the much
talked of Lloyd Marriage License Bill.
The bill was considerably amended after
It's introduction; It provides tina no
State, where both the contracting parties
are non-residentS, until a license there
for shall have been obtained from the
City CLERK or Registrar of Vital Status
takes place. The fee for the IL
cense is fixed at so cents, having been re-
or person performing the
Is compelled to make a return Of fhe
marriage within thirty days to the proper
anthoriti m,;s pn Ssra 2 PEI penalty Of 500 me.
parent or guardian, and no person under
the influence of liquor or any other
narcotic is to be permitted to receive a
license.
Parry's bill, dividing the State into two
for the care of the insane.
T 8 are on the Trenton and Morris
southern counties of the State and the
latter the northern counties. The prfnci-
pal feature of the measure is that It pro
yvldes Tor two distinct Boards of Managers
Each board will consist of
eight members, to be equally divided po-
litfcally. h appointments are to be
fve-year terms.
The Governor has not yet named those
who will be appointed to fill the vacan-
cies thus created on the two Boards. He
said yesterday that he would make the
appointments within a short time, but
was not sure whether 1t would be before
next Tuesday, when the Legislature con-
The Governor sipned Cana+e 1,;lI NJ