The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-11-22
OWNERSHIP OF
WATER SUPPLY
Governor SiIzer Outlines Plan in
Talk to New Jersey State
Chamber of Commerce.
COST PUT AT -sl5o,ooo,ooo
Believes State Should Acquire Sources
and Apportion suppIy--6onds Of s7o,-
ooo, 900 for Present Works and Of
o,ooo, 900 for Development.

Trenton State ownership Of the
entire developed and undeveloped wa
ter supply of New Jersey was advo-
Gated by Governor Silzer in an adj
dress at the annual dinner Of the New
Jersey State Chamber of Commerce in
Newark. To meet the expense of such
requirement the governor would issue
state bonds, divided into two classes
bonds given in payment for going
plants taken over and development
bonds to raise money for new supplies.
The plants In operation would be the
security behind the first class, the
bonds to be held by the municipalities
or companies whose plants were ac-
CURED. The second class of bonds
would be sold in the open market
They would be tax free and bear low
rate of interest because OF the high
credit rating of the state.
The governor estimated that in the
northern district of the state, where
the most urgent need of water conser-
walton and development was manifest,
it would cost 900 to take over
public and privately owned water
works, Of which $17,000,000 would go
to private water companies and the re-
mainder to municipalities. Full devel-
opment of the north Jersey water sup
plies would entail the expenditure of
approximately $80,000,000 more, or a
total of $3.50 900, 900, the governor said.
He pointed out, however, that this de-
velopment could be gradually done and
would not require the immediate ex-
penditure of the large sum involved.
Must BE Kept Out of Politics
The governor declared that IL such
plan was adopted it must be kept out
Of politics, otherwise it would be much
better to continue under the present
piecemeal policy.
.'If this great project is to be made
the football of politics, with all its &C
companying incompetence, waste and
extravaganza" he said, st had better
not be undertaken. II the question is
to be dealt with and solved by legis-
lature which of necessity cannot give
abundant time and thought to mat
ter of this kind then we had better not
undertake the plan.
1.-THE commission to carry out such
plan must not be composed OF poiiI
clans or those favored by them. 1t
must not be made up of men who are
more interested in party success than
in the public interest.
at must not be made up of men who
are interested in the expenditure of
money in order to provide patronage
or to aid favored contractors. The
commission must be nonpartisan and
made up Of the highest type of men
who can be induced to undertake this
work, men who are willing to make
some sacrifice for the people"
The governor said that he expected
that objection to the plan would be
raised. Among such objections, he de-
clared, would likely be the statement
that all the work outlined could be
better done by private companies, that
IL the water companies disappeared
the municipalities and the state would
lose the taxes now paid by them. that
provision for the immediate future
might be made by the state developing
the Wanaque, Ramapo and Raritan
river sources of supply and that state
commissions do not operate effectively
and economically.
Calls Problem Serious
Before unfolding his plan the COVER