The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1904-02-10
HkRRlSON'S
WATER
Taking Of Testimony in the
Certiorari Suit Conclud-
ed in This City
Yesterday.
TIE CONFERENCE OF JULY q
Councilmen Tell What Was
Then Done-Jersey City's
Supply Ample for All
Purposes.
THE CONFERENCE OF JULY 81

Taking of testimony on the writ of
certiorari granted out of the Supreme
Court on application of Jersey City to
review the resolution of the Tosa Coun-
Gil of Harrison, passed September 10,
last, purporting to rescind the resolution
of the Council of July Z, awarding the
contract to supply the township with
water to Jersey City, and the resolution
which was subsequently passed, purport-
ing TO award a contract to supply water
to the New Jersey Suburban Water
Company, was concluded yesterday be-
fore Supreme Court Master John J. Null
vaney at the law office of Collins & Cor
bin, Hudson County Bank building,
Washington street. Charles Corbin ap-
peared for the Suburban Water Com
pany, Corporation Attorney Robert
OareF for Jersey iCty, and William j.
Davis, acting counsel for the Town OF
Harrison for that municipality. The
testimony was continuation of that
taken at Harrison on Friday last, which
was fully reported in ''The News"
Councilman Van Deeren testified that
he was present at conference on July
81, which was attended by all the mem
- - A. f,.,na;1 - 4rl,iab Geavra
Bouton, clerk of the Jersey City Street
and Water Board, presented the water
contract between Jersey City and Hal-
rison, which had been executed on tht
part of Jersey City by the proper Off
cials. Mr.. Bouton asked that the con
tract be executed on rhe part of Harri
son in accordance with the resolution of
the Council July Z. The contract was
discussed and Mr.. Sullivan, president of
the Council, suggested that it be handed
to Mr.. Davis, acting town counsel, for
examination. The contract was delivered
to Mr.. Davis. Councilmen Witt and
Reardon gave testimony similar to that
of Councilman Van Deeren.
At the hearing ON Friday last Council
man Rice testified that Councilman Rear
don attended meering of the Council
men at Newark and agreed there to vote
with the other members of the Council
for the Suburban Water Company con
tract and for the RECESSION of the jersey
City contract, and that when the matter
came up at the meeting of September Is
he funked and voted against both pro
positions. Mr.. Reardon yesterday in
addition 10 testifying to what occurred
at the July conference, admitted that he
attended the caucus at Newark but de
MED that he at that time or any Other
time promised to vote for the Suburban
Company contract He stated that or
the contrary he declared that he would
not vote for the Suburban Company con
tract or the recision of the Jersey City
contract as he believed that the Jersey
City contract was for the best interests
Of the town. !.
Councilman Henry testified that he
voted for the Jersey City contract July
Z, and that between that time and Sep
tennber Is. when he voted to rescind the
contract and to grant the contract or a
water supply to the Suburban Water
Company, he never discussed thre matter
of the contract with any member of the
Council or any member of the Suburban
Water Company. He never saw the re-
port of the Water Committee, advising
against the Jersey City contract, until
the meeting Of September 10. Asked
why he had voted for the recisien of the
Jersey City contract and the granting of
the ether, he said that he had formed his
opinion in the matter from what he had
read in the newspapers. He said that
the thing that influenced him principally
was the fact that he had read in the
newspapers that Jersey City could not
connect with the Kingsland main and
thus give Harrison supply from its new
reservoir at Boenton.
Assistant Water Purveyor Cook, who
testified that he was Water Puryeyor Of
the Town Of Harrison from 1891 until
tow years ago, and that since he ceased
to be Water Purveyor he has been As
sistant Water Puryeger in connection
with another office which he holds, swore