Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-03-30

Vlueu ample compensation. AnOInel
defeated amendment was one offered
by Mr. Marelli of Passaic, who urged
that Greenwood lake, in that county,
should revert to the county freehold
ers instead of to the state. He said
that such a provision was made for
Lake Hopateong, which was also af
fected, but Passaic county had been
disseminated against, and he declared
the bill was a pure and simple water
steal.
Passaic's Interests Safe.
Mr.. Duffield said the interests of Pas.
sale had been safeguarded by pro
vision which allowed Greenwood lake
level and further provision which
prohibited the diversion of the waters
from their natural courses. He said
that to characterize the bill as a steal
was unfair and came with bad grace
from Passaic, whose interests had been
especially looked after. An amend
ment by Mr. Robbins providing that
the Morris Canal and Banking compa-
ny as well as the Lehigh company be
required to accept or reject the proyi-
sions of the bill was withdrawn
Mr. Wright of Passaic presented an
amendment prohibiting the diversion
of any of the waters affected to any
other state. but the amendment was
ruled out by the speaker as not being
germane to the BILL A further amend
ment by Mr.. Wright provided for the
publishing of the acceptance of the
act by the Lehigh company in all the
newspapers of the counties affected.
The amendment was lost
The bill then, having been read
through, was declared passed on sec
ond reading. and Mr. Duffield moved
for a suspension of the rules and the
placing of the measure on third read,
ing at once. This was opposed, but
was carried by vote of 81 to IA. II
then went on third reading, and the
arguments for and against it We're re
newed.
DumeId Defends His Bill.
Mr.. Duffield said the bin on second
reading had been argued in full, but
he thought the bill a fair one. and
it afforded an honest method Of over
coming an important question. 1t has
been argued that the canal should be
abandoned because it has become a
menace to the health of the people. If
the whole matter of preparing the
measure had to be gone over again,
Mr.. Dufffeld said, there could be no
fairer means employed, nor could the
proposition be treated in a more intel
ligent manner The people of the state
believe this proposition TO be a good
one, and the passage of it will mean an
increased valuation in lands to the peo-
pie adjacent to the affected territory.
Assemblyman Fordyce opposed the
bill because, he said, he believed it
wrong in principle. The legislature was
asked to give away for a song valua-
BILE asset. He said the state should as
sumo ownership of the canal route and
use it for trolley or other purposes. The
canal franchise should be recalled by
the state, Mr.. Fordyce said, and let out
to companies on short terms.
Mr.. Hamill said there was no public
demand for the bill, but it was asked
for by the lobby. 1t was legal ques-
tion, he said, whether the canal com
pany had not given up the claims and
rights to the franchise because the ca
nal has long been abandoned to all
practical purposes. .'The railroad COM
pany has for years been trying to cram
such bill through the legislature" he
said, "but until now they have been I'M
successful
Mr.. Marelli stated that he was OPP
posed to the bill because it was against
the best interests of the people. With
the abandonment of the Morris canal
there would be nothing to drain the
Garret mountain, and Paterson would
have practically to build new sew
erage system.
After several other speeches the final
vote was taken and the bill was de-
clared passed.
The senate adjourned early Monday
night, and a dinner was given at the
Trenton House in honor of President
Cross, recently appointed United States
district judge.
The senate passed measure of gen
eral interest to bankers. 1t was pre-
sented by Senator Minturn and pro-
yides that patrons of banks must ex-
anime their returned vouchers within a
reasonable time after they have been
sent from the banks This is to pro
tect the institutions from losses through
forgeries or raised checks after a year
has elapsed, the bank not being held
liable after the expiration of that time
if no notice of the forgery or raised
check has been given.
Message From Governor Stokes.
Governor Stokes early in the week
sent to the senate a duplicate of his
message to the house last week urging
new and consistent enactment of laws
| governing master and servant. Sena-
tor Hutchinsons bill providing for a
q IL e..