Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-03-29
.SILZER To CALL
CONF FERENCE OF
CITY OFFICIALS
Declares He Has No Faith in
Dealing With "a Rotten
Legislature"
MORRIS CANAL MATTER
Says Situation is One OF
Greatest Problems Before
the State

METUCHEN, March 2s.-Declar-
ing that he had no faith dealing with
a rotten legislature Governos
George S. silzer today announced he
would call a special meeting OF the
officials Of the New Jersey munich
paIities to consider any comprehen-
sive plan of dealing with the Nor
ris Canal situation. The meeting.
he said, will be called some time
next month.
He characterized the canal situa-
tion as one of the greatest proSsems
before the state and expressed the
belief the municipalities would take
an active part in suggesting the
means to bring about its disposal.
The governor, who with Mrs. EiI-
ger was about to leave for a vaca~
ton trip over Easter, scored the re-
cent legislature for its attitude or
the canal question,
They wanted to ErB2oint con-
nlittee of investigation Aand they
wanted to spend $20, 900. ."eas sail,<
81 am fully aware Of these sosc1
investigating committees whk9A
spend peoples money and aceonrp-
Iish but little. Some. of them don't
even take the trouble to gather. a
lawyer takes notes. and makes a re-
port. There the matter ends.
"A conference of municipalities,
I believe, will accomplish more in
short time than legislative COM
mjttee squandering some $4,000 on
one of those so-called investiga tions.
TT would be useless to cali a roi
ten legislature together again TO con-
slider the Morris canal question.
The governor declared he had tae
Morris canal situation in mind evesl
before his inauguration and had
taken up the matter with the Rookie
feller foundation which deals wls4I
waterways in New York City ais
its environs.
''I thought they made a study q.
the problem but I found they led
only the beautifying of a waterss
in mind and that they had only con-
sidered the canal in the norther.l
part Of the state. Their idea was
put a boulevard of either side OF ttie
canal, making a motor highway.
Later I set out for another
method Of solving the problem, b-is
have had but little time. One
thought I had was of a 4iigh speed
trolley line between Newark ana
L
Newark. am aware OF Newarks
traffic problem and believe a tanne1
and motor highway would aid It
consider ably.
Il. the matter of the Disposal os
the canal, the governor asked fz
fair play He pointed out there
were many matters to be considered
before 6isposing of the Ta.erW.Ay
and urged the municipalities not 10
be selfish and to consider the I'M
terests not only OF few but OF
every one.
Ha celled attention. to fact thas
ore Of the problems to be met tn-
cluded 112 bridgsR also the watez
rights.
persons using these bridges he
seIL. deserve consideration. You
cannot expect to take a hssdge away
fl ON a community and ask the pao~
pie 10 walk perhaps a half mile OUT
Of their way Then again you nave
the water rights 10 consider I nns
derstand the water in Lake Hcpaa-
cong would be serioGs'v affected
In the matter OF drainage. you
have to consider Paterson at the o.
L. & W. railroad station there you
have large hill, The water runs
from this hill to the canal. Take
away the canal ana the water would
run into the streets of Paterson and
food them. These are only a. few
OF the many problems we have to
deal with
The governor indicated he beiiev-
er the state board of conservation
and development still had the power
to protect the interests of the pub
tic while the canal question is being
settled. Referring to the fear that
the canal might become a health
menace, he said the state board Of
health would have the power to
deal with the situation.
Parry Writes Letter
NEWARK, N. j., Mar. 29:-State
Senator William H. Parry, in letter
TO the Newark City Commission To-
day, suggested that a meeting Of the.
governing bodies and attorneys or.
the municipalities through which the
Morris canal passes, together wist2l
members of the legislature from tflel
counties tapped by the canal. be calI-I
ed TO prepare the necessary bills tel
provide for the disposal of the Nor
r.is canal. These bills, he PROPOSES I