New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-22

paragraph
And If you a. all familiar with The Tri5uns's
threats Of even sa00C0 libel suits TO deter from
OF measures that IL believes to be contrary 10 ths
contained IN your last letter had any effect In the
office OF that newspaper II would be only 70
was affected BY the conduct Of your Corporation
aud to that end to keep the community more fully
informed as to those corporate schemes and opera
tiOns that affected the public. Yours very truly,
HENRY ". SACKETT.
ITO make The above perfectly clear .HIr- MocaE-
duced herewith
The recent articles in The Tribune regarding the
proposed abandonment OF the Morris Canal IN
New-Jersey. for its present uses, and substituting
the OF the bed of the canal for transportation
purposes. have been objected to by Thomas n
McCarter. president Of the Public Service Corpora
ton. doing injustice TO him and to that cor
poration. On December 2 Ndr. AIcCarter wrote to
the Editor of The Tribune. particularly complain
ing Of the article published the preceding day and
Of what he declared to be the false construction"
that had been placed in that article the address
delivered by him before the Beard OF Trade in
Newark the preceding week. on the question OF the
availability Of the use Of the roadbed Of the Morris
Canal within the limits Of the city OF Newark l0r
transportation purposes The answer to this letter
of Mr.. AIcCarter reminded him that its purpose
was the discussion OF affair OF great pubic IN
terest, particularly TO the people OF the state Of
New-Jersey, and the publication Of certain facts
and transactions in relation theretOi that Il there
We're any Of fact in the article that did n
justice to Mr., McCarter or 10 the corporation or
which he was president, The Tribune, on learning
of such errors. would be ready 20 correct them;
but. assuming the facts to be correct it could not
surrender the right the expression OF It's opinion
concerning the public interests involved and the
effect on those public interests and the methods
that appeared to have been followed by the Public
Service Corporation and by the Lehigh Valley Rail
road Company.
The Tribune is in receipt OF 2 letter from Mr..
McCarter in which he says:
The Public Service Corporation Of New-JeTsey
large number Of the leading g2s electric hnt ana
street railway companies which it now controls
calamity to the entire State me crisis was
serious ser one and the pressure upon me 70 accept
that. contrary to my incltnations, ebanGonsd ny
profession OF law and resigned the ONCE OF At
dent -.
The company began business with aO.O00o0 OF
cash capital. every dollar OF which paid n
II has set about the rehabilitation of ali the prop
critics controlled by il, and means 70 give the pso-
pie the service which its would imply. Be,
also because it has inherited Conditions which can
not be rsmedied in day, il naturally comes in for
reason that am espeeialIy Jealous Of its good
name. and while I shall always be wilkins TO nave
upon 1t additional burdens with which it has nolh-
nothing whatever TO 90 with the abandonment OF
the Morris Canal, was 1t formed. your
gestion that the roadbed Of the canal within he
used r. for sfrset rs si 1I1r9os IS ob6 Tbsrs
is nothing about It, and it has been talked OF
s gs1e The sh COMMITTEES 70 N the BoTa Of y. Te q
the city OF Newark having this matter N nllaG'
70 address the Board OF Trade at its meeting on
l stated and my address made it perfectly clear
beyond the possibility OF misunderstanding. thass
the canal were. TO my mind as lawyer, extremely
might not admit or solution that these dlrtculues
would only commence and would not conclude with
ture. 1 further expressly stated that should 30
entirely satisfied with the recommendation OF the
matter, as 10 the prOprlety or the abandonnent or
marks made at the same meeting OF TIE Board OF
Trade. which were not published as part or my
understood by every one present and BY the public
generally. that the company OF which l was presi-
to do with the question OF abandonment, did tell
board for what transportation purposes. In my
Judgment. the canal bed could be used II the DIM
culties could be met. and the canal legally aoan-
doned. In this respect complied with The invita-
These being the facts. The Tribune declares that
I stated in substance that the canal was to Do
needed it in its BUSINESS that ssvvept aside every
consideration OF public right and interest in the dis
the charter OF the canal and every legislative en-
sSIss ta tSe vy ~ nv Tfs on 10 ne
legislature at the sole behesI OF a corporation
than that OF his company" In short, the nrst
column of the article. by direct statement iplfc-
ton and tnnuendo. asserts that the Public Service
Corporation and as It's president. have determined
that the canal must be abandoned for the selfsn
purposes OF my company. without regard 80 any
other interest In the subject that the whole project
Is great job, and that millions OF dollars OF the
peoples money are TO Do voted away by the puoao
servants at the hehest of my company. No article
true or false, could do more harm 70 young cor
poratton, with gigantic task before t. thar is Try
ing 20 do It's work faithfully and make place ~
itself IN public esteem. Nor could any charsS
sireh the CHARACTER Of the responsible head Of sSa
a corporation TO greater extent, II / doubted aE
own Judgment on this point. the protests Wae9
have come to my ears concerning the article al99
the mass OF correspondence which have recelNs1
of it.
MIR. McCaTteF adds; 'You suggest that state 90
you the errors OF fact OF which complain ana
have endeavOred in this somewhat cursory uiaih,es
10 do So. The Tribune therefore. publishes -
above statement OF MIR. MeCarter. 50 that p ssat
come before its readers In his words, anu ~
they may themselves Judge OF the merits OF W. W,
McCarter's contention that the article eSpeel.ssS
referred to did Injustice him to thu eoEp0A~
ton or which he Is president.