Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-04
Defer ACTION ON
EAST JERSEY SALE.
Want More Detailed lnforma-
ton from State Water Sup
ply Commission.

PATTERSON, April 4.-Actlon on the
purchase of the plant of the East Jer-
sey Water Company at Little Falls.
and its subsidiaries, was deferred by
the nine municipalities in the Pas
sale Valley district, representatives
of which cities and towns met with
the State Potable Water Supply Com
mission in the city hall yesterday. In
the opinion OF the town representa-
tives at the conference. full and ade-
quate information concerning the
PROJECT had not been furnished by the
State commission. When this infor-
nation is furnished the municipaH-
ties VIII come to q definite agree
ment.
The municipalities represented at
the meeting and the representatives
We're; Paterson, Mayor Robert Hayes
nordHee, Finance Commissioners
Frank Van GleVe, William Berdan,
Samuel b. Farnum. Robert j. Neldon
and city Counsel Edward T. Mercy
and City Attorney Randall b. Lewis;
Newark, Board of Works Commission
ers Charles L. kraemer and Albert II.
Blertumpfel; Passaic, Mayor George
n. Seger, city Counsel Edward o.
Miller; Glen Ridge, Mayor E. H.
't1iiAi 9bf Leigh DdNt5f Clemens
Herschel; Nutley, Commissioners II
c. Lefferts and A. II. Carr; Prospect
Park Borough, Councilman J. Van
Duren: Montclair. Robert NJ. Boyd,
il, Walter Kidde W. II. Schoon-
maker, Il. II. Harrison, A. G. Wilson;
fotoWa Borough, Mayor Walter II
Hudson, c. o. Holmberg, William
Ferguson and Daniel l.. Campbell.
To Meet ON April II.
y meeting OF the municipalities to
discuss the project has been arranged
for April II in Paterson. at which
time it Is expected that all informa-
ton relative to the proposed pur-
chase will have been furnished by the
commission. Yesterdays meeting was
adjourned without setting a date for
another conference between the COM
mission and the municipalities.
The Commissions Side.
In calling the session to order Presi-
dent George Wright said:
The State Water Supply Commits
sion submits for your consideration
the alternative proposition. OF the
taking over of these properties by the
commission and operating the same
in the interest of the municipalities
supplied as the plants are now oper-
ated. continuing this operation for a
period of five years, or until suffl-
cient of the purchase money bonds
are retired to meet the conditions i'm
posed by the company; or operate the
properties by turning over the dis
trlbut1on systems to Paterson, Pas
sale and Montclair upon the advance
by these municipalities OF $4,000.
The commission has used its best
efforts in trying to bring about a
satisfactory solution of the complex
situation which confronts the several
municipalities receiving water from
this point. 1t now feels that it is
laying before you n definite propo-
sition, and one the adoption of which
1t feels justified in recommending to
your favorable considera ton.
The laws now on the statute books
are adequate to bring about the sug-
gested operation of the plants by the
commission. and the company, by ac-
cepting the bonds of the State Water
supply Commission, will enable the
transaction to be financed without
calling on the municipalities for
funds unless they voluntarily prefer
the second suggested method. which
would enable them TO take over the
operation of their distribution sys-
TENS at once.
THE commission Is authorized by
law. with the consent of the gov
ernor, to take over these plants upon
an agreement with the company,
whether the municipalities concerned
approve of such taking or not.
THE commission, however, does not
care to consummate these negotia-
tons unless it is assured that the
municipalities Interested or a majority
of them, desire to have such action
taken, In which event the commission
will consider that ii is acting in the
capacity of trustees for the several
communities and will. therefore. feel
bound to so operate the plants that
the earnings of the same shall be
equitabay distributed among the sew
eral units proportional to the value OF
these units.
80 that, at the end Of any period
when the municipalities shall desire
to take over their own distribution
systems, the equities in the properties
can be exactly ascertained. AS these
equities will, Of course, depend on the
earnings of the plants, ii will-be i'm
possible now to make u definite state
ment az to what these exact values
will be. but the commission expresses
itself az ready to adjust these mat
tiers at any time il is in u position to
do so and the communities may de-
sire to have the same done"
Mayor Fordyee. of this city, the
first called upon, declared that while
the city Is in a position to come
into the scheme, il Is unwilling TO
do anything until more information
concerning the project is forthcom-
ing detailed inventory as to just
exactly what would be received in
the event OF the purchase is sought,
he said. Other municipalities took
IA similar stand and after discussing
..nr,nn ,n,irnr. dntniIe thu r,nnntin,r 49,.