The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-05
SEWERAGE
COMMISSION
ATTACKED
Trade Board Calls Special
Meeting to Act on Pas
sale Trunk Sewer.

ley District Sewerage Commission from
their alleged apathetic attitude with
respect to the inauguration of actual
work in the construction of h Passaic
River trunk sewer, was taken late yes
terday, when the special committee
: of the Board Of Trade decided to call
a special meeting of the Board of
Trade next Wednesday for the purpose
of securing the $780, 900 the commission
requires to carry out its preliminary
plans. 1t was decided to invite the Of
Z fcials of all the municipalities affected
by the present condition of the river
and urge upon them the necessity fol
immediate contributions, and in the
event of failure to procure a sufficient
amount In this way to request the au-
thorities of this city to make up what
ever of deficiency may exist.
The action taken was at the advice
and with consent of the Board of
Works, as represented by two of its
commissioners, and on the written
promise of Mayor Jacob Haussling
that he would actively cooperate in
any action that the committee deemed
1t necessary to take.
Joseph Coult, counsel for the Pas
0dlC Ndiley DlSlT1Cl otWeTdB0 OOInDlS-
sion, represented that body at the
meeting. He explained also ethat the
5000 0 required for the preliminary
work under the statute was only ad-
vance payment, such amounts as the
/. manufacturers contribute being ulti-
mately deductable from the pro rata
assessments to be charged against
them.
NJ C1aIF ,Ilo1 %k.& ..ov.k1~- - @1a
commission had for more than a year
paid the current expenses of the board
from their personal accounts, and
that they had decided o to begin
work until the full amount necessary
was deposited to the credit of the COM
!. mission. 1t was said during the con
ference that $4,000 of the amount is
now in the custody of the commission
the respective contributions of New
ark, Belleville and Passaic.
George w. Tomkins. chairman of the
special committee, presided and opened
the conference with a scathing denun-
citation Of the delays and "inaction''
of the commission He said 1t had
been placed in a position to do some
thing by a long and bitterly contested
Campaign by the boards of trade of
all the cities and towns interested and
the public generally. but instead of re-
spending to the urgency of the public,
seemed to have taken. he said. not the
slightest interest or to appreciate the
duties of their Office or the danger to
the health of the State.
Mr.. Coult responded to this by say
ing that he and John S. Gibson. secre-
tary to the commission. had gone to
the various municipalities and urged
the necessity for prompt payment OF
the $4,000 as representatives of the
commission.
1T can hardly be said that the COM
mission has made no effort" he de-
clared. 1.-THE difficulty has been not
with the commission, which fully APP
preciates the noisome and dangerous
condition of the Passaic River. 1t Is
the various municipalities with whom
we have conferred who are responsible
for the delay. You must remember also
that the commission is absolutely with
out force in the premises. This nsoney
can only be obtained by the voluntary
action of the municipalities"
Mr.. Tomkins wanted to know why
the commission had not endeavored to
secure assistance in the matter. He
said he was aware that Gibson and the
commissioners counse had visited the
towns along the river. "Why don't the
commissioners go themselves? Why
don't they respond to the requests of
this committee for Information of the
status of the sewer work." Mr.. Tom
kins asked.
IT can't answer that" replied Mr..
-Coult.
well, the committee has requested
the commission to furnish 1t with a re-
mort showing what action has been
taken to inaugurate the work this $780,
900 is to be expended for, and to show
what steps had been taken to secure
the money" was the reply.
"What we want is action" said R. G.
.Jenkinson. "If the commission can't
raise the $4,000 this board can, and l
am in favor of going ahead at once.
The fight to get legislation that would
permit us to change the condition Oh
the Passaic River began in 1895, n
has been carried on by this board, and
some of its members, constantly since.
Now we have a law that permits the
commission to begin work. and they
have sat idle for six or eight months,
and absolutely nothing has been done.
rye always looked upon the commits
sion as a joke, and it is a joke, all
hut Mr.. Coult and Mr.. Gibson. they
are the only ones who have done any
thing"
Abr. Samuel Robertson said he thought
the quickest way to produce results
would be to call a special meeting OF
the Board of Trade at the earliest pos
sible moment, and invite the commits
sion andzthe officials Of the municipali-
files along the river to attend. The
suggestion was finally put as q mo-
ton.
Mr.. Jenkinson suggested that the
motion be amended so that il the mu-
n~icipalities did not respond to the In
vitation and manifest a desire TO par
ticipate, that the board take sucn
action as would insure the work pro-
ceeding at once with the contributions
already on hand from this city, Belle
Vile and Passaic, the authorizes OF
Newark being asked to furnish sucn
balance as may be necessary. Inls
amendment was reduced to writing
and on being put to the meeting was
carried unanimously.
Mr.. Tomkins suggested that next
Wednesday would be. perhaps, as
early a date as could be made avail
able, and that day was set for the
purpose.