Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-15
HARD JOLT FOR
WATER OCTOPUS
IN DIVERSION WAR
Staten Islanders Knock Out Pet
Argument by Saying Supply
Is Not Needed.
fF4om a staf correspondent.

TRENTON, Feb. 15.-The House
judiciary committee held another hear
ing yesterday afternoon on the McCran
anti-water diversion bill. Albert c.
| Wall, representing the Jersey City
Water Board, charged the representa-
tives of the Hudson County Water
Company with their palpable connec-
ton with the East Jersey Water Com
pany, commonly called the water
snake" He denounced the opposition
to the measure of a week ago and was
greeted will cheers as he tore to shreds
their arguments. Former Judge James
F. Murphy, corporation ounse of Jer-
sey City, preceded Mr.. Wall in favor
of the bill.
Former Board of Works Commissioner
Harrison Van Duyne. City Attorney
Herbert Boggs. Chief City Engineer
Morris r. Sherrerd and many other
Newarkers appeared for the bill. Among
those here seeking amendment of the
bill was former Senator Everett Colby.
counsel for the Gillespie pipe contrac-
tors.
The rudest shock the wate- snake has
had in man a day came when man
after man of high standing and long
re -:dence in Staten Island went before
the committee and emphatically de-
clared that the water it was proposed
to divert from this State was not
needed and, outside of the capitalists
Immediately interested, was-'t wanted.
Charles r, Burns, president of the
Stapleton Bank, of Stapleton. Arthur
c. Nellis, George S, Parsons. a Rich
mond lawyer; William F. Widmeyer,
a prominent Richmond business man;
Lambert O'Neill, owner of property
near the federal Notifications, and
others declared fatty the water was
not needed, either in the Notifications
or the municipalities on Staten Island.
AS to the need for outstanding the
water of the State, Mr.. Wall had this
to say:
who car say what will be the flu
ture of Northern New Jersey? Who
can predict what a few years will do?
The tunnels were projected when there
were not enough passengers crossing
the river to make them pay, but we all
Eknow what time has done and what
will happen when the tunnel trains arc
running to Newark. The laws of per-
centage do not hold under changed
conditions, and no man can tell wha
the population of the State will be IN
the next few years. Those big men
who ask for the amendment of this bill
tell us one thing, but they don't know.
The guess of the man on the street
who says we must keep what we have
In our water resources is better h
the argument of the man who flies
more flags and makes more noise in the
world"
MI. Wall pointed out that for twenty
years there had been war over New
Jersey water. He told of action
against Newark. Jersey City and the
Chestnut Hill Land Company for $780,
600 each alleged damages suffered be-
cause there had been water taken
from streams above the points where
the East Jersey interests drew off their
water.
The hearing continued for several
hours and narrowly missed connection
with the night session of the House.
Mr.. Boggs offered this new thought:
There is no disagreement as to the
principle of this bill. The men who
would amend it say they favor the prln-
ciple. but would like to be excepted. I
have yet to hear any good argument
for a change in the wording of the law
in order that certain specific private
agreements may be made good and the
paper of a corporation guaranteed for
private profit 10 the detrlment of the
people"
Assemblyman McCran superintended
the hearing for his bill. Chairman Wal
ter f. Edge. Duane e. Minard, of Es-
sex; Mark A. Sullivan. of Hudson. and
the other members Of the Judiciary
Committee displayed keen interest and
asked numerous questions. Mr.. Sui
Ivan showed plainly that he favored
the bill by his arguments on several
occasions with those advocating amend
ments to permit the Hudson County
Water Company to supply Staten Is
land. Turner Beall, the Gillespie Broth
ers and other water men We're pres
ent at the hearing to look out for their
interests. Mr.. Beall spoke at length.
The committee adjourned the hearing
at a late hou and will consider the
bill today.