The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-10-21


~ urged was not passed. There were
Democrats in the legislature and from
Hudson county who were resolutely
opposed to the Fielder scheme of
wholesale plumber of the people Of
New Jersey, and all the insidious arts
and sinister persuasions of the rail-
road lobby probably could not have
prevailed in the assembly.
But the Fielder scheme was shunted
on by proposition considered by a
state commission of a sale of the ca
nal property for the joint benefit of the
lessee and the state When the rail-
road company, fearful of popular up
rising, agreed to that proposition Sen
ator Fielder had to drop his hands, and
his attempt TO give the whole property
to the railroad company had to be
abandoned.
A synopsis of the Fielder bill will
show its objects and demonstrate the
entire truth of the indictment against
the man who now asks the people Of
New Jersey to place him In the posi-
ton of governor of the state.
Senate 141 provided for the repeal of
the canal charter to take effect when
the canal company should file its ac-
ceptance of the act to be passed. The
company was to release" to the state
the water rights Of the canal. Be 1t
observed that with the charter repeal
ed these rights would Immediately be
extinguished anyhow, as they existed
only as charter rights and only for the
canal navigation. There has been no
exemption of the canal property from
state taxation since 1884. Senator
Fielder In his bill pretended there was
and the surrender of the imaginary ex-
emption was the second humbug con-
cession he offered to the state
The Joker In the Bill.
Commissioners were to be appointed
to sell the canal property. They were
to assess the value of the stock of the
canal company (owned by the Lehigh
Valley, and this value was to be paid
out Of the proceeds of the sale The
commissioners were to negotiate con-
tracts for the sale, "in whole or par
cells" of the canal terminal at Jersey
City and of the land and canal right of
way. And here was the joker in Mr.
FieIder's BILL
''The Lehigh Valley Railroad compa-
ny or any of Its constituent companies
or its nominee shall not be precluded
from purchasing any portion of the
property so to be sold by the commits
sioners." And after the stock was paid
off out of the proceeds of the sale, said
the bill, 'the balance, If any, shall be
paid to the Lehigh Valley Railroad
company"
Observe the cunning Of this plan of
sale. All the balance was to go to
the railroad company, the company or
its nominee to be bidder 1t could
bid $10O,000,000 for the property or
any amount and would not have to pay
single dollar over and above the
amount to be paid on the stock owned
by itself. 1t would be impossible for
any other party to make competing
bid. Mr.. Fielder's plan of sale was an
absolute shutout for every interest but
the Lehigh Valley Railroad company
or its nominee" which would get this
enormously valuable property for vir-
tually nothing.
In this outrageous bill Hudson coun-
ty got nothing Passaic, Morris and
Warren counties got nothing. A small
concession was made to Newark. 1t
could maintain its public market on
its present site, also its public dock,
which is owned by Newark, and would
have easement through the canal for
pipes. And that was the small tub
Mr.. Fielder threw to Newark
All In Lehish's Hands.
Mr.. Fielder's bill was so framed that
the Lehigh Valley Railroad company
could put the canal right of way to
any use it saw fit, the only restriction
being that of using steam for a rail-
road running through Newark This
was readily conceded because the pur-
pose was to use electric power, steam
being now obsolete ON suburban roads.
1t was the monstrous character of
the Fielder bill and the danger of this
enormous wrong to the state being per
petrated that prompted the plan of q
sale of the canal ON the joint account
of the state and the canal !essees, a
sale in which the railroad company
would not have the strange hold on
the property provided for by Senator
Fielder BY this alternate plan the
state was to get all the canal west of
Paterson, while the canal east of Pat
erson was to be sold and the proceeds
equally divided. The railroad com
pany was to get the valuable canal ter
minal for 100000 with three miles OF
the canal In Jersey City. This propo
sition is still pending Whatever car
be said about its merits, the PROPOSE
ton has some claim of fairness com
pared with the enormous grab of mil
lions contemplated by Senator Fielder
In his bill for ''canal abandonment"
A governor has an immense patron
age, and it can be employed with tell
ing effect in legislation. A canal aban
Comment bill will be introduced at the
next session of the legislature. If the
governor then is james f. Fielder. does
1t need the gift Of prophecy to tell what
kind of bill will be introduced t.
get the powerful support of the gov
ernor?