New-York tribune., 1908-02-26
TOAST TO NEW TUNNEL.
GoCernor Fort Cheered as Nert
Vice-PreSident at Dinner.


AS a fitting climax to the celebration attend
ant on the opening of the tunnel under the
North River between New York and HoboEen,
there dinner at SherTy's last night, where
both Governor Fort Of New Jersey and Governor
Hughes Of New York Joined in wishing the en-
terprise the full fruition OF its promise At the
dinner there We're fully four hundred men at
the tables while the galleries were filed with
women. Enthusiasm ran high and at no time
was the demonstration greater than when SEN
ator Samuel K. Robbins, Republican leader OF
the New Jersey State Senate, called for Three
cheers for Fort, next Vice President of the
United States"
The gathering at Sherry's was made Up OF
about the same persons who had made the trip
through the tunnel IN the afternoon. There
were many jokes passed from table to table
regarding the journey, and all through the even
ing there were countless questions as to the
whereabouts of Governor Hughes. Governor
Fort had spoken and William H. Barnum, Of
Harvey Fisk & Sons. who financed the tunnel
construction, had been called upon to speak
before the Governor Of New York appeared
Governor Hughes was cheered and napkins
were waved like guidons in cavalry charge
His staff managed 10 find places during the
demonstration, and finally he was at his place
on the right of w. q. Oakman. the toastmaster
who had at his left Governor Fort. In intro
ducing Governor Hughes, Mr.. Oakman said:
ITO the Governor of New York. who may vet
be named for a much more exalted position"
This allusion brought shouts from all parts Of
the hall
In presenting Governor Fort, Mr.. Oakrnan said
significantly: Let drink the health of one
whose name may later turn our thoughts to ma
/ tonal affairs Governor Fort This resulted in
the cheers for him the next Vice President
and since nearly all the Senate of New Jersey
was present it was strong demonstration. Gov
ernor Fort bowed repeatedly. and then the as
/ seInblage Joined in singing Hold the Fort"
Finally the Governor of New Jersey was able to
make himself heard and said:
My state is called the mother Of corporations. We
take no offence this. We are rather proud of II
We, We may not be proud. or even pleased, with
were created under laws have done but that
was not the fault of our laws but of the manage
ment Of the operating under them or in Viola
ton Of them Cur first defining the rights and
powers OF corporations. among which the right
70 be perpetual was passed in 1875, and our next
feLatIng 10 manufacturing companies and those
Ior lh'flG navigation were passed in 1919. these
lowers "l1ll 9nty slight changes. have since been
Private enterprise ali over the country has davaI
oped under New jersey corporation law Why have
have had the liberal laws I think that is ,o+
the reason Other states have outbid US in this
they found our IeyisafIre not ht9 i oL Influences
strike legislation; they found our peoDle fair
ready help and not TO hinder Wbaq 4u a. 9Iciaas h
a united capital Of $S.5rooo0l0 They have A nla
During 1897 only twenty-nine of these cornora-
uons became bankrupt. and but fifty-ope had ra
state bank trust company has failed or si,s
P1eea @ az 2aiimelf; @ ahd OF the 1o45 banking. insur-
80 - &c 80. 3uiidlhs and loan associations not
no
corporation law has not been abused and does not
need amendment? Far from It II has been mis-
- bde NE Poii{ H. NJ W p to to make IS this That. taken
try sound. in most Instances honestly Con
Quoted. and that New Jersey need not be ashamed
that we have fathcTed so many Of the enternrieas
which have produced such splendid results TaI,s
t;, ts sTs4t corporations which have built and
bulidlng the system OF tunnels. part OF which
we have seen successfully put in operation to-
cay Some OF these companies are incorporat-
ca with US one has questioned their action
or what they have done proposing TO do
Would they have done this without the cdrnogs
tion? 1t is doubtful Corporations have come
qUasi-pubic, possessing the states mower ,f emf
nent domain. must lie controlled under raaeanabia
Just and iair facilities IN transportation. that
one one as against another and. TO likewise see that
ne ne OUTPUT OF capllaI bears some reasonable rea-
non 10 l9e lost OF construction and equipment
and that in the main the manag cement and Sirec,
main in the board OF directors selected by the
SlockhoIders who are. or should be- governed sole
the corporate property.
New Jersey naturally rejoces over the things q,
this day Wen We may With present facilities for
interstate transportation have outstriuped ali
the Eastern States IN increasing population ana
with the new method our growth cannot be pre-
dcted -
Governor Parker Of New Jersey in 1872 said
that In less than fifty years from that period there
would be more people in New Jersey within a
radius OF twenty-five miles of the City Hall Of the
city q New York than there would be upon Man
haitian Island I notice that IN paper me by
the president OF the tunnels company that he es-
Inmates that there are now in New Jersey within
a radius of dfteen miles Of the tunnel a million
end half Of people The prophecy CT Governor
Parker is now true The number OF people who
VIII reside in New Jersey within a radius Gf fVen-
tE-i1ve miles of the City Hall Manhattan Island
y fifty Years from will undoubtedly exceed
those who viii be found within the Rorough cf
Manhattan ana the Borough of Brooklvn " -
New York and New JERSEY NAV well concrat,-
l@te iheinseiNes upon this day: upon the martial
completion - fhi7 great tunnel enternrjse! ,,nor
the assurance which 1t and other things like n
eve Ia tfF great future Of the states Ilnon
The certainty OF the great wealth and business in
ierests and future prosperity which is 10 come IA
- a. individuals and states
when Governor Hughes appeared Mr. Bar
mum was about to speak. but immediately took
ms seat and left the field clear. Governor