The Jersey City news., 1906-01-11
Advocates of the Principle
Are Not Likely to Get
Much Satisfaction From
the Present Legislature
MORRIS CANAL WAR EXPECTED
TT IS CERTAIN AN ABANDON
MENT BILL WILL BE INTRO
DUCED AND THEN THE FUN
WILL BEGIN.
Especial to .The Jersey city News.


TRENTON, Jan. II. 19O6.-The
present indications are that an effort will
be made during the present session of the
Legislature to enact some local option
law. The initial move in this matter
was taken by the Anti-Saloon League
of New Jersey, several weeks ago, and
resolutions were adopted urging the Leg
islature to enact a law which would per-
NIT of local option.
The prospects of any such LEGISLATION
being enacted are not particularly
bright 1t was the rock upon which the
Republican party was wrecked some
years ago, and there has been little dis
position on the part of the leaders to
act as sponsors for the measure ever
since. The Republicans felt that the To-
cal option question was a dangerous
proposition, and as they had an over
whelming working majority in both
Houses, they were not disposed to make
any concessions.
Last winter Senator Samuel S. Chids,
of Somerset County, at the request OF
the local option people, introduced nleaa
sure, but it never saw daylight after It
was presented. 1t was placed in the
hands of an unfriendly Senate Commit
tee, where it was allowed to steep until
the end of the sessions. Hearings were
given by the committee as a sop to the
advocates of the measure, but they
availed nothing. The Republicans fear
ed to commit themselves on the question.
When Senator Childs sought re-elec-
ton last November, the opponents of
local option worked hard to accomplish
his defeat and succeeded. They charged
that the Republicans fought shy of the
issue and that. it ill-became a Democrat
to stand as sponsor for measure which
would arouse no end of opposition.
There are only four Democrats in the.
Senate and it is not likely that any Of
them will take up the cudgels for the
local option people by introducing their
pet measure. They are contented to all
low the Republicans to settle the ques-
ton to their own satisfaction.
The Morris Canal abandonment propo-.
sition is sure to come before the Legis-
lature again this winter and is just as
sure to encounter opposition. There is
very little likelihood of an abandonment
bill getting through both Houses drawn
en- the lines entirely satisfactory to the
lessee of the canal--the Lehigh Valley
Railroad Company. The railroad com
pany would like to get rid of the canal
because it does not pay and notwithstand-
ing the road must pay dividend yearly
to the Morris Canal Banking Com
pany, owners Of the canal, according to
the terms of the lease.
While the Lehigh Valley company
would like to get rid of the canal, it
would also like to receive compensation
because Of the great value attached to
the water rights and the right Of way
that it is proposed to surrender and that
could be used for other purposes. There
are many questions involved, including
the States right to acquire the canal up
on the expiration Of the present charter.
Outside of the equal taxation question,
the Morris Canal abandonment measure
will cause one of the bitterest fights of
the SESSION. Hearings wild be given on
the bill by the committee to whieh II is
referred and it is not likely that vote
will be taken on the measure until the
closing days of the session.