The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-03-19
CANAL TANCLE.
Reeds Bill to Appoint a
Commission of Inquiry
Passes Eighteen
to One.
HuDSpETH'S VIGOROUS FIGHT
Pitney's Spiteful Opposition
to Jersey City's Inter
ests Succeeds.
Especial to .srhe Jersey city News."l

the abandonment of the Morris Canal.
The lobbies were crowded with delega-
tions from the upper part of the State
who oppose the measure and most
active army of experienced legis-
lative promoters" was on hand to
put it through. The bill itself did not
come up owing to the fact that the
Senate has promised another hearing on
it on Wednesday. 1t was conceded that
the measure was dead when it became
known that the Senate had adopted the
concurrent resolution to adjourn on Fri-
day.
The friends of the bill claim that they
have eleven votes in the Senate which are
just enough to pass the measure, but not
enough to suspend the rules and without
a suspension of the rules the bill cannot
be put through before Friday.
There was very lively time however,
over Senator Reeds bill providing for
commission to inquire into the entire sub
ject of the abandonment of the canal and
report to the next Senate whether the
; canal should be so abandoned. The bill,
which was introduced for President Pit
ney, came up on final passage when
calling Senator Cross to the chair Mr..
Pitney spoke for the bill.
He said the original bill, No. 162, raised
a very grave question, and speaking as
one probably as well informed as any
Senator this particular subject, he be-
lieved it was not possible to obtain an in
telligent conception of what is involved in
162, before the final adjournment of the
Legislature. He insisted on the right of
the people to be possessed of all neces-
sary information before action was taken
on No. 1872, hence he urged the appoint
ment of a commission.
Mr. Hudspeth moved that consideration
of the pending measure be postponed till
No. 1872 has been reported. He said he
knew when he introduced No 1872 that he
would be subject to attack, but he felt
that if the bill was calmly and fairly
considered, it would finally commend it
self to the intelligence of the Senate.
The pending bill was introduced merely
to sidetrack No. 1872, in which latter
measure he was interested, simply be-
cause it promised relief to Jersey City
in the matter of securing proper water
supply. He didn't shut his eyes to the
fact that the Canal Company would be
benefited, but he would not stop for that
reason.
To him the crying need of Jersey City
was paramount consideration The
speaker insisted that the rights which
the proposed Commission was to investi-
gate, were already understood through
the decisions of the courts, rendered at
various stages of a litigation covering
many years.
He went into the history of the 1itiga-
tion and replied to several Interruptions
by Mr.. Pitney. Mr. Hudspeth opposed the
pending bill because no time is fixed for
the commissions report, and also be-
cause there is no limit to the expense.
which may be contracted, and extravag-
ance was likely. He revived the history
of Jersey City's attempts to get pure
water supply, starting forty years back.
and telling among other things, of the
vileness of the water, saying it was so
bad at one time that his horse would not
drink it. He alluded to the necessity of
going to the East Jersey Water Company
for water and paying big money for
what the Almighty had meant to be free
for mans use. Finally Jersey City had to
go to Rockaway water shed through Con-
tractor Flynn.
The Senator then described with much
feeling how the contract would fall
through unless legislative relief was sf-
Pe~N's'e@SO ~SNN-SNN -S--
He earnestly pleaded for the postpone
ment of Senate 211 until No. 1862 could be
reported, and discussed and amended, if
necessary, to satisfy every interest of the
State.
Senator Pitney replied to Senator Hud-
speth and opposed the motion to post
Done, referring to the closing sessions of
the Legislature as being too near at hard
to permit any delay. He said that when
the bill was introduced, he expressed the
belief that there was not sufficient time
to arrive at a properly understanding of
the problems involved; it was proper 10
appoint commission to inquire into the
matter, and the Governor may be depend
ed upon to appoint high minded, fair and
patriotic men. Regarding any limitation
of the expenditure of the commission, he
said the problem was one of the most
serious that has come to the attention Of
the Legislature in some time, and it should
not be pickayune or small, and hinder the
work of the commission by fixing the lin
it of expense. If no report is forthcoming
at the next Legislature that body may
take whatever action may be found nee
essary.
Senator Pitney did not think that the
Governor or the commission would be de-
reject in their work. lie said the next
Legislature, with or without the report OF
The commission can have the entire ses-
sion to consider the matter in detail, and
arrive at a fair understanding. They will
have the advantage of the newspaper iiI-
vestigation as well as the commission $
findings The bill before the Senate stood
on its own merits. The Senator from
Hudson has been hoodwinked Let him
open his eyes and see what everyone else
gees. The East Jersey Water Company is
an offshoot of the Lehigh Valley Railroad,
and Mr.. Flynn is an effshoot of the water
company. From whom shall Jersey City
get its water but from the East Jersey
Water Company under another name.
Jersey City is in control of the East Jer-
sey Water Company. and will still be in
control of that concern If Mr.. Hudspeth' S
bill is passed. Half Of what has been sand
IN advocacy Of the latter IS not true. If
There Is any difficulty under wlicn Jersey
City lapors now. she has iie one 70 blame
but herself. Jersey City has been grossly