New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-26
SEWAGE HEARINGS BEGUN
Referee Named in New York.
New Jersey Litigation.
MANY EXPERTS TO TESTIFY
Dr.. 0'Sullivan Represents This
State in Fight Against
Passaic Trunk Plan.

Chief Justice White has appointed James
d. Maher, OF Washington. as referee in the
suit brought by the State OF New York
against the State OF New Jersey and the
Passaic Valley Sewage Commission, to en-
join the latter from emptying the sewage
of Its proposed trunk sewage tunnel which,
according to present plans. would have
capacity OF 100000 gallons daily, into
New York Harbor off Robbins reef.
Several hearings have already been held.
and men of prominence in the civic or
ganzation OF greater New York have APP
peared before Mr. Maher to protest against
the building of the proposed sewer unless
screening or purifying plants are provided.
Dr. William j. O'Suivan. an assistant
corporation counsel. has been designated
by the Attorney General of this state TO
represent New York. Recently the Board
of Aldermen following the earnest solicit
tation OF DIR. O'Sulivan. voted an appro-
priaton of $4,000 for The purpose of hiring
experts to testify as to the effect the
emptying of this vast amount of sewage
would have on the waters and on the
health OF the residents of New York City.
DR.. O'Sulliyan has been working night
and day, and persons in this city conversant
with the suit expressed the opinion yester-
day that be would win 1t. especially since
Governor Dix has signed The Bronx sewer
bill, which provides for the screening and
publication Of the sewage which will pass
through that vast conduit.
j. Pierpont Morgan, member of the anti
pollution committee OF the Merchants AS
ISOLATION, is interested In the suit. II the
Passaic sewer should be built according TO
present plans the result would be. say
some experts. that the unpuriied sewage
would he carried by tides up the Hudson
River as far as Troy and brought back by
the same instrumentality and distributed
In the North, East and Harlem rivers. dis
seminating evil odors which, BECAUSE of
their strength, would he obnoxious TO per
sons along the shore front. as well as pas
sengers on the incoming steamers and
other boats. Furthermore, such unpurihed
sewage, II Is said, would be full OF germs
and might seriously affect the health of the
city.
Among those who have testified before
the referee are Henry Hageman Hall. Ed
ward Hatch, jr, and Robert A. C.. Smith
the latter vice-chairman of the Chamber
of Commerce. The Merchants Associa-
ton, the Art Commission, the Chamber Of
Commerce, the Historical and Scenic
Preservation Society and the City Club
are among the civic organizations which
have signiied their willingness TO aid DR.
O'sullivan In his fight in every possible
way.
The $1,000 appropriation made by the
Board of Aldermen enables DR.. O'Sullivan
TO hire experts in sewage matters from all
y Of tho
Next week there will be a conference of
some half dozen OF these In DR.. O'Sulli-
vans Office in the Hall OF Records. The
state has had great difficulty in getting
the services of these men. some OF whom
are now In Europe, and others widely scat
tered in this country on their vacations.
For this reason DR.. OSullivan at the last
hearing asked and got an adjournment
until September 5.
The state mus finish its direct case by
October Of this year. The defence is then
allowed until January TO put in its re-
buttal evidence. BY March both sides
must have their completed cases in, and II
is believed that the referee will be able TO
make his formal report TO the United States
Supreme Court some time in May.
Joseph Coult and Adrian Riker are the
counsel employed by New Jersey to defend
the construction Of the Passaic sewer. But
already there Ia dissension in the ranks
OF the Jersey people Rudolph Herring,
known as the father OF the trunk sewer
proposition. has changed front entirely, II
is said He is now opposed TO the building
of a sewer TO empty of Robbins Reef. In
stead. he advocates a sewer, with purfca-
ton and disposal plants. which shall empty
into the natural watershed the Passaic
River.
Both the Oranges. Glen Ridge and Mont
clair are up in revolt over the plan, de-
claring not only that IL Is not the proper
or natural solution Of the question OF
sewage disposal. but also that they have
been assessed too great a portion of the
expense. Other towns as we'll arc dis
satisfied. The four towns above mentioned
have declined to enter into any contracts
with the Passalc Sewage Commission.
IL is understood that Dr. O'Sullivan will
call as witnesses members Of the old New
York Bay Pollution Commission and MEM
hers OF the Metropolitan Sewerage Conn
mission. as well as other experts. The
next meeting viii. he held at No. 800 Broad
way on September 5. When Dr. OSullivan
was seen yesterday he declined 10 discuss
the suit In any Of its aspects.