Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-02-01
SENATE PASSES
PORT MEASURE
Attempt to Throw Monkey
Wrench in Plans FOi!ed in
Upper House
100000 APPROPRIATION
Opposition Voiced to Bill of
Senator Case, But it is
Voted Down

TRENTON, FcD. 1.-An attempt
to throw n monkey wrench" into
the plans tor the iurthering of the
New York Port treaty work was
nipped in the bud by the state senate
yesterday " nen that body passed the
bill introduced by State Senator
Clarence b. Case % Somerset coun-
ty, which appropriates the sum of
500 600 for the taking care of New
jerseys and Of The expense incident
to the wOrk'n out of the port de-
velof ment.
Senator Joseph S. WallWorth. Of
Camden, scconde I by Senator Col
Inns i. Alien of Saiem. both Repub-
licans, and the latter chairman Of
the Joint anpropria tons committee,
opposed tn bill which was passed
by q vote Of IS tC 0. These two
members, together with Senator
Hageman, of Ocean did not vote.
Senate. WallwCrth took the
ground that the bill would be an
opening wedge for supplemental ap-
propriatiors next year. Some great
colossal co poratiors are going to
be benefited by this port plan" he
declared. "The real question is
whether it is going to be a matter
of cXpenGe to the taxpayers of this
state. 1t is 100000 now, but when
are we going to stop, AS mem ber
of The appr" priati )I,a committee for
three years have seen some of the
most innocent things started. They
begin at thirty and forty thousand
dollars and then develop each year.
| have in mind an example now
where the amount is raised this year
to $140.000."
Senator Case said there was alb
soluIely no private interests invol-
we'd. Il nay say that I have gone
over the who, scheme carefully and
all ;hos WI, opposed it have chang
ed heir views. The only organized
effort agaiNs' it comes from Tam
many Hal III New York, that is the
New York city government, but |
think that viii be taken care of from
the other s.do of the river. Governor
Edwards, who formerly opposed it,
endorsed tin, project in his annual
message. The good faith of New Jer-
sey is involved in this matter. a
year ago VIC passed the port treaty
bill, and Owl the governors veto, so
that everybody knew what he was
doing. We solemrlY signed our
names to that contract with the
State o Ne York. Are we to go
back on tina now? Camden should
syapathize with Jersey City. A
brid2e proje.t 70 Camden has been
launch ed which viii cost the state
millions Of dollars. and yet there
is objection offered to spending
$4,000 for /. proposition which af-
fects 8 100000 people. If the State
of New jersey is going to welch on
this obligation, We might as well
know it nov.
Senator Allen at this juncture in
timated that even if the bill passed
his appropriations committee might
not be able to find the money for
its purposes.
"ru guarantee there are 100000
people in Hudson county who Will
contribute a dollar head for this,
if the state of New Jersey is unable
to provide the money" said Senator
Simpson, Democratic leader. This
proposition is a very vast one, 1t Is
too large for me to grasp. My county
owes the senator from Somerset d
great debt of gratitude for his work
and sincere interest shown in this
matter. 1t is historic thing we are
doing here today. We should nor
be afraid of the Tammany tiger
across the river, because / have a
notion he will have a fine scent for
the contracts involved"
There was a hint thrown out dur
ing the debate that the real reason
for the opposition was not being
disclosed. There is talk that sever
al railroads, which feel that the port
situation around Jersey City and
New York better suits their pur-
poses and interest as it is, wanted
to halt the progress of the port
plans and the passage of the bill N
the senate.
The senators who opposed, how.
ever, expressed their approval of
the project but questioned the finan-
cial wisdom of spending the money
provided in the bill. 1t is under
stood it is to go for the payment OF
experts such as engineers, and
other advisers who are working on
the development project. In addi-
tion, legal fees are included Sena-
tors Whitney of Morris and Repub-
lican Leader White of Atlantic also
asked several questions as to the
financial phase of the subject Both,
however. voted for tn. bill. Whitney
said he understood the project was
to be self-supporting. Case answer
ed that the Port Authority Commits
sion intends to borrow money to
pay the general expenses of the de-
velopment and it is planned to pay
this back out of the profits made.
These profits will be from charges
to those transportation and other
companies the business of which
will be facilitated by the port de-
velopment.
y 70