Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-05-27
TWO OPINIONS OF GOVERNOR
GRIGGS.
GOVERNOR eRIGGs AND THE DAM BILL.
,ss. ..4..,..t

GOVERNOR GRIGGS AND THE DAM BILL
From the Public Ledgerl.
"Governor Griggs has given way TO the
pressure OF corporation influence ana
signed the infamous Delaware Dam DILL
and thus brought lasting shame on him.
self and his administration. IL was re-
ported a little more than week ago, on
apparently good authority, that he was OPP
posed to signing the measure because there
were reasonable grounds for the belief that
its enactment would destroy valuable
industries and because there were doubts
as to its constitutionality. III this report
IS true the Governor has acted the part Of
coward as well as proven recreant 10 the
high trust which was imposed ON him
by the people of his State. and his action
must bring down upon him the contempt
even of those who controlled him for their
own selfish ends.
I" For years the promoters of the gigantic
water snake known as the Delaware Dam
bill have been endeayoring to secure con-
troll of the Delaware river, above Trenton
Falls. On more than one occasion bills to
gra- franchises of this character, which
would benefit the holders of them, but
destroy the fisheries, take away the rights
of riparian owners, and create a gigantic
monopoly, were introduced into the Legis-
atures of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Although these privileges are believed to
be worth millions of dollars TO the few
who desired the franchises, and not a
dollar of compensation was offered for
them, the New Jersey Legislature, no.
tor ously subservient to corporation in
Auences, never failed to pass the bills, and
the complaisant Governors of the State
signed them Fortunately the Legislatures
of Pennsy lvania have been composed OF
better material than those of New jersey
and emphaticaly refused to sanction the
Infamous schemes, so they came TO naught
This Is almost certain to be the case now,
for there is NJ reason to believe that the
prese Legislature at Harrisburg will
lend itself to proposition which can be of
no benefit to Pennsylvania, and which is
certain to bring ruin to vast and growing
industry in which thousands OF its people
are directly interested.
{" When the Delaware Dam bill was intro
duced into the New Jersey Legislature no
one thought that body would do other
than pass it with indecent haste, but there
was hope that Governor GTiggs, who was
cl-CtCN dc a piOiNob nSo'hoO 49, P~%t~ASe@'
rottenness which prevailed throughout his
State, would have the manliness to with
stand the greedy demands OF corporations.
In this they have been disappointed, and by
his act in giving way to those who demand
the ownership of the Delaware river, he
has demonstrated that he is no more fit for
the high position which he holds than many
of those who have proceeded him and who
have been held up to just public condem-
nation.
- If there was reasonable chance tor
concurrent legislation on the part OF Penn
sylvania, it might be understood how a
weak Governor could be induced to sign a
measure of the character of the Delaware
Dam bill, but it would require almost a
marvellous feat TO pass it through he two
Houses at Harrisburg at this stage of the
session, and with the overwhelming public
sentiment there is against it. Thus Cover
nor Griggs, in giving his approval to the
water snake, has not only shown himself to
be in sympathy with selfish corporate inter-
ests as against public policy, but has been
guilty of monumental piece of folly"