The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-03-16
Decision to Withdraw Duff
fields Abandonment Bill
and Offer a substi-
tute Reached.
WHO WERE AT THE CONFERENCE
Character OF the Changes Not
Made Public But State and
City Interests Will Be
Protected.
Special to eThe Jersey city News. Z

Special to "The Jersey City News.s')
NEWARK, March 16, 19o5.-The
Morris Canal abandonment bill intro
duced by Assemblyman Duffield will be
withdrawn and substitute measure ac-
ceptable to the Newark Board Of Trade
will be offered to take its place.
Such a decision was reached yesterday
afternoon at a conference held in New
ark. The copferees were Edward s.
Campbell. Joseph CouIt, Moses Plant,
Walter J. Knight, Winton G. Garrison,
Ex-United States Senator James Smith,
Jr., John r. Hardin, Chandler w Ri
ker and Wilbur s. Mott, of the Newark
Board Of Trade: Assemblyman DuffieM,
Senator HilIerx, of Morris county; As
semblyman Mills and Ex-Mayor Edward
A. Quayle, of Morristown; Mayor Dor
emus, of Newark, and Corporation Coun-
sci George L. Record. Of Jersey City
Counsellor William II. Corbin, repre-
senting the Lehigh Valley Railroad, was
invited to attend but did not appear
Neither was he officially represented.
The present canal bill was carefully
considered BY the conference. together
with the amendments suggested by the
Newark Board of Trade and the recon-
mendations made by Corporation Coun-
sci Record. At the conclusion Of the
conference it was announced that an
agreement had been reached on all points
involved, and that they would be embod-
led in a substitute measure to be intro
duced in the Legislature .by Assembly
man Duffield to take the place of the
present bill. It was decided to withhold
from the public the conclusions of the
conference until the amendments were
prepared.
1t was learned. however, that Joseph
Coult, John r. Hardin, Chandler w.
Riker, Corporation Counsel Record, of
Jersey City, and Assemblyman Dufield
were appointed a committee to prepare
the amendments Suggested by the CON
ference and draft a substitute measure.
This committee viii meet this morning
in Na,4-arl and .,,ra, ,s.,,.o +la .s,,b.a; +,,+c3
so that it can be submitted at confer
ence Of the General Committee of the
Board Of Trade to be held this afternoon
for its acceptance
In speaking about the substitute bill,
AssemIblyman Duffield said that he had
no doubt the changes agreed upon by
the conference yesterday would prove
satisfactory to the people whose interests
are involved in the canal Abandonment
ITO prevent any misunderstanding,
said Mr.. Dnhields st was deemed ad-
visable to withhold the character of the
amendments and the points Of the agree
ment until they were drafted in the
substitute measure.
There was a substantial agreement
by all parties attending the conference
that the amendments as adopted would
protect all interests involved in the aban-
donment scheme and that these were
calculated to meet all reasonable OBJ
jections raised TO the canal bin in its
present form.
Corporation Counsel Record would not
discuss the proposed amendments this
morning. 1t is understood, however,
that he has insisted that the canal
should be sold to the highest bidder at
auction and that no perpetual franchise
should be given to the Public Service
Corporation to use any part of the canal
until the States interests We're protected.
He also insisted that the canal company
should be relieved Of the valuable water
rights il claimed in the canal.