New-York tribune., 1906-03-27

the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company has to
operate the Morris Canal"
The theory is that the railroad company. being
a Pennsylvania corporation, chartered to oper-
ate railroads and not canals, cannot operate
canals, and particularly cannot operate canals
in this site; but the legislature not only author
ized the lease to any person or corporation but,
after the lease was made recognized 1t, and by
Legislative authority authorized the railroads
company to extend the canal; and IL has oper-
9Ied II ana paid the rentals for thirty-h years
nhat sooo purpose could be served Dy setting
the lease aside? The railroad would be released
from paying the rentals. and the property would
ran into the hands Of the five hundred Morris
! Canal stockholders, to their impovershment, for
the canal is good for nothing such.
| What would the state gain by such perhdious
| action? It would inture the stockholders all OF
whom are citizens either OF New Jersey or OF
| neighboring states. Il would annoy the IehRh
| Valley Railroad Company. although perhaps
benehtting it financially. The state would oc-
cupy the position Of having lured the company
into the bargain when II seemed to the interest
OF the state TO do so, and afterward having
broken the bargain when that seemed in its in
The state has already taken position which
is not credttable. The provisions Of the Morris
|4 NoiIS4 CtlaILeE "hlCh give the canaI 10 ths
state ultimately are on condition that the com
pany shall pay no taxes, and yet for twenty
two years the state has forced the payment Of
taxes on the entire canal property collecting
from the railroad company as lessee in this way
more than $450.O00 in direct reputation Of the
terms of the charter. The bitter agitation and
persistent slander that have accompanied this
whole subject ought not to be cOuntenanCed by
the state. The Legislature deliberately referred
citizens, who after years investigation re-
ported unequivocaly that legislation ought to
be enacted permitting the abandonment OF the
canal; that the charter ought to be repealed"
They said that the canal canal was Of no
value to the state, and can be operated by no
one without large annual loss; that the canal,
while in its time useful, is at present obsolete.
They prepared and reported carefully drawn
scheme for the abandonment OF the canal, the
repeal of its charter and the conserving Of its
property Of all concerned.
Mr. Pollock Of the Sterling Iron Works, at
(1raaT 10 fha 2
good one because it enabled the state to ascer-
tain whether the Lehigh Valley intended to OBJ
tain perpetual water franchises in the case of
abandonment.
MR.. KELsEY's LETTER.
The Rev Adolph Roeber and others spoke.
Frederick W Kelsey sent a letter to the COM
mittee. He said:
AS I shall be unable to be present at the hearing
m the Zth as TO- a 3a ngr! Tng an9 y0 n
ter permit me on behalf Of the ioint COMMITTEES Of
the allied civic organizations to state that we are
the resolution referred to. and hope that it may
receive favorable consideration by your committee,
This committee. after careful consideration, was
sembly Bin No 107. known as the Prince bill as
drawn by the Hon. Cortland Parker. one Of our
We still believe that the proper safeguarding Of
Cans shG Tor 6 m e Of b9t q 5 a OF MS
session but on the principle that progress is bet
current that the Prince blll viii not be fayoraby
sage OF Joint Resolution No. 6, as mentioned.
II no other result can be accomplished than to
lebar the further consideration OF such inquitous
measures believe the Duf1eld bill Of last
'ear and the Mills bill OF this year to be the pas
age Of this resolution is, we consider, worthy Of
III praise and cordial support.
The kind Of legislation proposed by the Morris
,anal bills Misunderstanding companions to the
eCently attempted gas lease legislation in Phila-
elphia-and perBistently advocated by the bene-
ciary corporations, consider a disgrace to the
tate. and believe the good citizenship and the
ause for good government will be advanced. and
our action approved IN the passage OF the Flyins |
esOlution now before you.