The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-03-14

4 HIS LHey Hdu DeeH coiHpeiieu ~ ~ soAie
time ago By the drawing down Of the
water.
Corporation Counsel George i. Rec
ord. Of Jersey City, received fatter-
ing reception when he arose to defend
Jersey City's interests in the canal
abandonment He said that Jersey
City's objection to the bin was not to
its principle OF its scope. The proposition
to close up the canal seemed to him to
be sensible one, SO far as the outlines
Of the bill were concerned. Ills oppo-
sition to tile measure went down into
matters Of detail lie had heard that
the canal was not to be sold to the high
est bidder. His opinion an along had
been that the property was 70 be sold to
the highest bidder, and he had been as-
founded TO hear otherwise, The com
pany was ostensibiy asking TO be re-
Heved by the State Of a burdensome and
expensive property, 70 be followed by
the granting Of new franchise Tnis
might be a fair proposition. and he
would not attempt to argue That it was
not. He did not believe that any mem-
her Of the Legislative could afford to
vote for a bill which lid not provide
that any property shonld be sold q The
highest bidder and in the.oppn Il woul'l
be unfair to permit any corporation g
place the State at a disadvantage by The
passage of any law, as might be done if
the future should prove that the canal
property would be worth millions Of dol
lars. Speaking for Jersey City Mr.. Rec
ord said that no man who lives in New
ark o.. Jersey City wanted any trolley
company or any other company t. be
granted a franchise for any purpose
whatever until the purpose for which tue
franchise was wanted was made per-
fectly clear in the law. A provision
should be made in any act passed by the
Legislature for the equal taxation Of
any property that would be affected by
that law, The opinion of the Attorney
General should be obtained by the Leg
islature as to whether the Jersey City
basin would, under the bill now being
considered, revert to the State or could
be sold to the highest bidder. Amy new
public use Or utility should be made sub
jeet 10 the consent Of the municipality
affected and the cailaF he'd in the hands
Of new owners should BE made o pay
loc:l taxes. The proceeds Of the sale u
the canal basin in jersey City should BE-
given either an 70 the city or to the city
and State half and half Otherwise the
basin should be sold as a separate parcel,
and the city should be permitted or au-
thorized TO bid upon it At the sale.
Ex-United States Senator Smith said
he appeared rs one of tlie representatives
cf the Board Of Trade Of Newark which
had suggested amendments 10 the bill
now pending I'VE are here. he said,
mot 10 oppHse the abandonment Of the
canal We are, il. fact. in favor Of aban-
domnenf. We are here to suggest what
we believe to be the hest way to bring
about the abandonment Of the canal.
The Board Of Trade had many objec-
tions to the bin, not because it had been
presented by a corporation, because the
hoard believed that corporations had
rights as well as the people. The object
Of The Board Of Trade was to 50 act and
suggest as would prove most benetieial
10 The citizens Of the whole Stare. He
had 10 desire nor had the people oi
Newark any desire. TO say that the sum
Of Sl26.000d00 should be frittered away
but lie wanted to say that the citizens
of the State Should be protected while
the canal company is being saved these
many millions of dollars by abandon