Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-03-13
B EG JERSEY
FOR WATER.
Staten Islanders Appear at Tren-
ton to Ask for Relief MCCar-
ter in Opposition.

TRENTON, Mar. l3.-ReprcSenta-
lives of Greater New York appeared
in force yesterday afternoon before
the joint judiciary committee of the
senate and house and made an elo-
quent plea for the abrogation of the
law of last winter preventing the di-
version of potable waters of the state
to the extent of supplying Staten Is
land for at least fifteen years.
BY that time, it was stated, New
York expects to have a new water
supply which will furnish the entire
metropolis. including Staten Island.
An unusual feature of the occasion
was the appearance of Attorney Gen
eraI Robert II. McCarter, who on be-
half of the state opposed the conten-
ton made for New York and the
United States government on account
of its important works on the island.
Referring to letters received from
Mayor Mcclellan, former President
Cleveland and Secretary of State Eli
hu Root. Mr.. McCarter said that not
one of these gentlemen had investi-
gated the matter personally, but had
simply written letters upon the rep
reservations made to them and init
mated that these requests emanated
from water companies who do not
wish to be deprived of a valuable con-
tract.
This charge was Indignantly de-
MED by Corporation Counsel John j.
Delany. of New York, who said that
it was entirely unwarranted by the
facts, and added that speaking for
himself he had no interest whatever
in any water company. New York,
he said, was interested only in secur-
ing a sufficient supply for the press
ing needs of the island, and was only
asking for a part of the waters that
now go to waste in New Jersey.
He argued that the states have a
Joint commercial interest in Staten
Island and each would be benefited
by it's upbuilding. Lack of water, he
%contended, was a serious menace tC
the future prosperity of the island
and the health of the people. On
the ground of humanity, if for nc
other reason, Mr.. Delany said New
Jersey should consider the request
of a sister state.
George Cromwell, the President of
Richmond borough, said he had been
advised by Prof. Burr, of Columbia
that it would be fifteen years before
Staten Island could get a supply of
water from the new water plant OF
Greater New York. All the island
wants, he said, is about 10000, 600
gallons of water a day of the $780,
I 100000 gallons that daily flow into
New Jersey from New York state.
William Guerin of the Staten Is
land Fire Department, made a plea
for water for fe purposes, declaring
that in the event of a big fire or the
island it would be in the hands of
God Almighty and the New Jersey
sioncr of public works of the Dor
ough, spoke of the needs of the quar-
antine station. He was followed by
former Supreme Court Justice Gilbert
Collins, representing the Hudson
Water Company.
William f.. Chrystie, representing
he Staten Island Water Supply Com
pany. excepted to Mr.. Delany's charge
that the present supply of the island
is injurious to public health. He con-
tended that there is plenty of water
on the island to supply all demands.
CI.-.I-- " Q ,H.;f aF Dn+arrntn
on behalf of the Citizens Associa-
lion, of that city, disputed the claim
that there was water in the Passaic
river to spare.
Attorney General McCarter said
that there was now pending before
the Court of Appeals of the state a
case in which act of last winter pro-
hibiting the taking of water from the
state was involved. When that case
was argued, Mr.. McCarter asserted,
not a word about the pressing needs
of Staten Island had been heard. The
lawyers of the Hudson County Water
Company had simply appeared and
argued that the law was not consti-
tutional.
Now the water company was APP
parently unwilling to await the de-
cision of the court and was urging
the legislature TO pass an act for its
benefit. He told of the appointment
of a commission by the governor to
consider the whole question OF pota-
BILE waters of the state and to inter
fere by legislation would be a very
dangerous proceeding, MI. Delany,
in answer to the attorney general, de-
clared that New York would natural
ly not appear in the suit he had re-
ferred to, as it would have no stand
ing in the court. New York was
simply interested in getting "a water
supply for Staten Island.
r. V. Lindabury, who declared that
he appeared for all the parties want
ing favorable action. said that the let
tiers of Mayor Mcclellan and Secre-
tary Root thai rhe water was needed
should be all the proof necessary for
the legislature. .'Is New York to be
treated as il it were a foreign coun-