New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-02
THE POLLUTION REPORT.
1T PROPOSES THE CREATION OF A STATE
AND LOCAL BOARDS.
ALL THE WATERS or THE STATE TO BE PRO
TECTED FROM SEWAGE AT THE EXPENSE
OF THE Observation-Disclosures COMMITS
;IoN's BILL INTRODUCED.

TECTED FROM SEWAGE AT THE EXPENSE
OF THE MUNrcIPALITIEs-T COMMITS
sIoN's BILL. INTRODUCED.
Trenton. March ! (speciaD-The Senate to-day
received the report OF the Commission appointed
under the act OF 1885 to consider the pollution Of
streams and rivers in the State and to suggest .
remedy therefor
Soon after organization the Commission decided
that the prominent offence existed In tho
Passaic River, and especial attention was i'm
medately directed 10 that stream. After extended
investigation OF the conditions prevailing the Com
mission decided that the lower Passaic was SO
seriously polluted TO constitute nuisance.
The decisions o; the Commission summarized
follows.
That the condition OF the lower Passaic River
That all the waters OF the State should be pro-
That the local governments should pay the cost.
That state authority should supervise the work
lshed permanently and with liberal powers
local control subject 70 the supervision indicated
ana NJ nat the Local board should be elective .,
adopting the best remedies as they are degeioped
That systematic action nv the state now will
prevent great loss and difficulty IN The future
there should BE- provlsos for Immediate action
n the suits in courts 0hould he decided against
the municipalities
me commission consisted or William HUM.
chairman; Or. James A. Exton. secretary; DR..
Herman e n Herrod Charles F Harrington.
Elias J. Marsh jr. Charles ". Fuller and Will
lam Kent
THE COMMISSIONS BILL.
Senator ". VI Johnson introduced the Pssss'o
Pollution act drawn In conformity with the eug-
gestions and recommendations OF the Commission.
The act provides FOR the establishment Of State
Sewerage Commission. and authorizes the creation
Of sewerage districts and district boards II
also prescrbes2their powers and duties II provides
that the State Commission shall consist Of three
persons to 10 appointed by the Governor, ana 20
receive $3.50 a year They empowered 10 apo
point secretary and Ak his salary and 70 employ
sary
The Commission is also empowered to pass and
enforce rules prevent the deposit Of sewage IN
hv a sne of Il ~, q years in1prisorment or both
The Commission shall. cause TO be made thorough
fiction OF sewage or other polluting liquids. and
shall sanction only such as will not Themselves
cause pollution Of the water
The bill requires every municipality 20 furnish
the Commission with statement showing how 10
sewage Is disposed o.. the amount discharged every
twenty-four hours. etc. The Compassion Is EN-,
powered TO order suct changes and alterations OK
Five thousand dollars is appropriated for the sr-
pense Of the Commission this year
The sewerage districts provided for are each 70
consist of TWO or more municipalities DESTROYS ~ pre-
venting sewerage pollution and Of forming sew.
the fall election constitute the District Sewerage
Board and 10 serve five years. Such boards are
sewerage systems buying lands for the purp''-. ara
issuing bonds in Us corporate title 10 meet expenses
every day Of actual service
TO RECLAIM THE MEADOWS
The Senate this morning by vote Of IA 10 I.
passed Senator Ketcham's bill providing for the
dikng and reclamation OF the Newark and Hack
ensack meadows. The bill provides that the cost
Of the Improvement be assessed upon the property
holders IN accordance with the benefits conferred.
rha oil
Ketcham who tod his brother Senators that tho
bill ought pass II for no other reason than that
the meadows are the headquarters OF the famous
Jersey mosquito. and that II this pest were eradi-
ca I'D II would prove a boon 20 the State.
But he advocated the bill for more important res
sons namely. that It would promote the health,
wealth and prosperity Of the city Of Newark and
thousand acres OF submerged land In these mead
9~o which fqur thouaHa are w''nn me hs
land would be- Of untold value for manufacturing
purposes and on account Of It's character close
! proximity TO New York OF great value for truck
gardening A careful study Of the provisions Of
the bill bad been made and II had been i IND.
thortes Of Newark II had been estimated that
the meadows could be reclaimed at cost Of $3.50
an acre but even II these estimates we're rong.snd
n cost 500 an acre. the bill would be a good one
for the land would speedily become worth 5000
senator Packer Of Burlington opposed the bill.
saying that his constituents had been spending
over 5000 year pumping water out OF the Bur
and drown them our every time there was
freshet In this way they had spent $1,000 and Il
tba coal In The meadows instead % burning il for
steam power. The bill. ne said you'd be- INJURIOUS
10 Burlington County. senator PACKER alone vo'ed
IN the negative.
MONEY FOR GOOD ROADS
The Senate passed by vote OF 10 to Senator
u w Johnson's Good Roads bill. which appropri-
ates $4,000 for the permanent Improvement Of
public roads Senators Martin and Foster voted
the bill said the only objection he had heard was
that the appropriation was NOT sufficiently large
fF.f al q he
saying that he had introduced bill 70 be con-
sidered later which would enable every county TO
take advantage OF the Road ACT.
senator Martin. in explaining why ne opposed
the bill said he thouent Ihose tours ne" naa
the preference I'm the matter Of State aid
NEW BILLS IN THE SENATE
Senator W NJ Johnson introduced batch ~ FIVE
bills AS q result - the work OF the special COM
mission which has had charge OF the codincation
Of the Crimes act He also offered n report sup
elemental TO that OF the Commission which
ordered printed one OF the provisions in these
Kills eives a defendant the right 10 waive A trial
bv Jury and TO be- tried by Judge only With
this exception the bills are designed to repeal and
Mr. Pitney introduced bill providing for the
binding out of children living IN poorhouses 70
States upon the approval OF the County Judge
NUMBER OF BILLS PASSED
Among the many bills which passed the senate
were these. Making IL unlawful 20 remove shells
from any natural oyster-seed ground. incorporat-
ing the city OF Englewood. adding par, OF Ridge
field township. Incorporating the tow snip OF sum
| nit Union County. borough. making any per-
| SON Interested n local public improvements m
/ eligible a. a member OF the Assessing board. sup
prment 10 the Fireman act authorizing the
huilding OF a freman's home FOR aged ana disabled
/ 0renen. 10 prevent emptying sewage into rivers
= hove The source OF our water supply, enabling
cor,h Amboy TO enter into d water contract
! Mr. Ketcham's bill authorizing me Governor 20
/ appoint nve Commissioners TO revise the statutes
/ relating TO cities was lost but MI stokes moved
., reconsider on account OF the absence OF Mr.
/ Kafcham The motion was carried President
/ reed opposed the bill believing that the cities
/ ought 10 bear the expense OF the commission
The senate adopted the adverse report OF the
/ Committee on Boroughs on the Incorporation OF
the Borough OF Fort Lee .
A concurrent resolution by MI. Stanger was
| adopted providing mat ne United states senators
- Congressu en- from <ew-Jersey be requested
f-aft u-ifh he So az