Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1923-04-16
READY FOR LAND |
INVESTIGATION.
Legislative Committee to
Have First Hearing Next
Tuesday on Land
ALSO BRIDGE MATTER
Special Counsel Employed by
Lumber Co. and 0uSted
Highway Board Members

TRENTON, April 2S.-The Repub-
lican legislature committee probe in
to the bridge plans of the former
Democratic highway commission be-
gins next Tuesday. Senate Presi-
dent Joseph F. Wallworth, of Cam
den will preside and it is expected
that Attorney General Thomas f.
McCran will direct the investigation
for the committee in person.
The committee is authorized to
take UP but two of the acts of the
old board. One is the spending of
S230,000 for the approaches to the
Amboy Bridge over the Raritan
River and the other the awarding of
the contract, without bids, for the
temporary bridge over the Hackei--
sack River between Jersey City and
Newark to one of its own members,
John Ferris, of Jersey City. This
was done on the ground that an
emergency existed which would not
brook the delay of advertising for
bids. The bridge is an important
Lincoln Highway link and cost
about $4,000.
1t is understood that next weeks
mittee will be devoted mainly. to get
ting the records from the minutes of
the Highway Department concern
ing these two transactions before the
pvobing body for examination.
So far as given authority goes, the
investigating COMMITTEES has no
power to go into the use of warren
ite on state roads, the Republican
majority in the legislature very care
ftfll lxy rQfa w,
subject from the resolution creating
he committee.
On what it digs out on the two
zig bridge projects as reflecting on
Democratic management does. the
republican probe committee hope to
oIild up nice mountain of political
'apital for use in this falls campaign
md possibly in the big Presidential
md senatorial fight in New Jersey
IN 1924. State Senator Emerson IL.
Richards, of Atlantic, a lieutenant of
Senator Edge, is member of the
committee and expects to take an
active part in directing the exam
nation of witnesses and delving into
the facts.
1t is understood that the $230,000
first session of the prob COM
which the Donnell Lumber Company
received from the state for its prop
erty as part of the Amboy Bridge
approaches, and which is the SUBJ
ject to be inquired into, is still on
deposit In Perth Amboy bank. At
least that was the statement heard
here when the legislature adjourned.
1t Is expected that all the former
highway commissioners who were
members of the board at the time
the acts complained of were record
cd will be subpoenaed, as well as
members of the Donnell Lumber
Company. Several of the former
officials have already retained coun-
sci, it is understood, to answer the
suit started in the chancery court
concerning the Amboy bridge
matter.
Regarding the Hackensack bridge
contract, it was awarded to the firm
of Stillmann, Delehanty & Ferris of
Jersey City, and the action in giving
it to Mr.. Ferris firm was subse-
uuently approved by the State House
Commission, which was Republican
IN complexion politically at the time.
State Comptroller BugEee and State
Treasurer Read, Republicans, had
the power. had they SO wished to
block the award of the contract.
Governor Edwards, Democrat, was
the third member of the State House
Commission at the time.
A big event scheduled for
tomorrow here is the conference
called by Governor Silzer to map out
a program for the disposition of the
Morris canal property. which came
TO the state in the settlement of that
matter last year. 1t is planned to
make up set of suggestions for the
consideration of the 1924 legislature.
Mr.. Silzer has invited all the mu-
inequalities through which the canal
runs and all others in any way af-
fected, to be represented here tomor-
row at the conference, which will be
held in the assembly chamber. The
Executive wants committee named
o study the problem and this will
kelly be done tomorrow. Just who
night comprise that body it could
OF be learned today ahead of to-
orrow's meeting.
Truckng--Jonn Garden now located at
u State Street. Tel. 47s.
fi4S7-4.7-tfs