The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-02-19
RIPARIAN LAND BILL.
Senator Hudspeth Proposes
to Abolish Grants and
Exact Rental for
Leases.
rspecial to ..Tbe Jersey citv News.,1

Especial to 1.-THE Jersey City News"J
TRENTON. Feb. IS, 1901-The meeting
of the Senate last evening was short for
this stage of the session. and adjourn
ment was taken before nine O'Clock Mr..
Hudspeth introduced an important reso-
luton in relation to riparian lands. They
provide that hereafter the Board of Ri
parian Commissioners shall grant leases
for the lands under water and not make
grants in fee. The resolution reads:-
Whereas, Under existing law the Ri
parian Commissioners have authority TO
lease or grant the lands of the State lying
under water to third parties, and to capi-
talize the annual payments on leases and
convey in fee simple such lands under wa
ter; and
Whereas, 1t appears from the reports of
the said Riparian Commissioners that the
grants for lands under water and the
conversion of leases into grants by capi-
talizing the annual payments as afore-
said, have greatly exceeded in number
and extent leases made by the said COM
missioners; and
Whereas, If the State continues to grant
in fee simple its lands under water IN
! excess of the leasing of the same, to the
! extent it has in the past, in short time
| it will be entirely Invested of its lands
under water TO its great financial detri-
ment and loss; and
Whereas, 1t is the sense of this Senate
that the absolute grant of the lands of the
State under water should be discontinued,
and that hereafter leases for such lands
should only be made by the Riparian
Board, either for a fixed term at an annual
rental, or for a long or perpetual term at
an annual rental to be fixed from time to
time, by arbitration between the State
and the lessee, in no case however any
lease to contain a provision for CONVEX
sion of the same into grant; therefore.
be it,
Resolved, That the Committee on Ripar-
ian Rights be requested to obtain the aid
of the Attorney-General in the prepara-
ton of bill drawn to accomplish the
above purposes, and which shall confirm
so far as possible with the reccmmenda-
+, tions of His ExceIlency. Foster NJ yoor-
| hees, Governor of the State, as outlined
in his annual message addressed to the
Legislature of this State A. d. 1900, and
that the said Committee report TO the
| Senate as soon as possible, such a bill
for action on the part of the Senate.
The difficulty which is experienced in
framing legislation acceptable to all the
. municipalities in class as provided for
/ by the present constitution has for long
time been serious obstacle in the way of
much needed legislation and a demand
for return to special legislation has
come from all sections of the State. In
!, the Senate Mr.. McCarter introduced con-
current resolution proposing an amend
ment to the State constitution by strik-
ing out subdivision 8. which reads as fol-
| lows:-"Regulating the internal affairs of
towns and counties. appointing local Off
GERS or commissions to regulate municipal
affairs" The amendment is designed to
do away with the constitutional in
habition against local legislation in the
cases referred to above. 1t was referred
to the Committee on Judiciary.
4 The Senate passed.
No. 2ls. providing that a fee be paid to
the County Clerk in the case of every
( justices complaint honestly entertained,
no matter whether an Indictment be
found or not. Mr. johnson. Of Camden,
! said the bill was to clear up an ambiguity
/ in the present law. and If passed at all
/ CONTINUED on Second Page.)