Perth Amboy evening news., 1924-07-18
Police Concentrate on Two Suspects In Boys Murdt
new FIGHT PLANNED TO SAVE SHIP Cana
IMiddIeSex I'm Fight
To Save Canal Funds
Legislators and Waterway
Workers Not to Drop
Fight for Canal

Seeing their effo.ts to have the
proposed ship canal between Nor
gan and Bordentown blocked as the
result of Attorney General Katzen-
bachs' action in approving the use
of a part of the Morris canal aban-
donment funds by the State Board
OF Conservation and Development
instead of using the money for the
rights of way for the canal, a strong
hight by waterway enthusiasts and
legislature members interested In
the canal now appears certain.
AS the result of hard work by the
Middlesex county men in the leg
islature this year. led by Senator
Morgan +. Larson and Assembly
man Harold G.. Hoffman, a proviso
was made in the bill pertaining to
use of the funds received by the
state from the Lehigh Valley Rail-
road as the result of the Morris
canal abandonment which stipula-
ted that the act pertaining to the
use of the funds for the purchase
OF the Morgan-Bordentow ship
canal rights of way should not be
interferred with in any way.
When questioned about the pres
ent status of the case this morning,
senator Larson said he is not a law
yer and cannot say that the attorney
general has made a mistake In favor
ing the turning over of part of the
Morris canal funds to the conserva-
tlon board but, he poitned out, that
proViso contained in this years bill
was drawn up after an opinion had
been received from the attorney
generals office and the bridge advo.
Gates were assured by the attorney
generals office that the funds would
be available for the Morgan Borden
town ship canal
Not having any knowledge of the
attorney generals action in this mat
ter until informed by the Evening
news this morning, Senator Larson
mad no opportunity to study the mat
ter and determine what action
might be taken. He pointed out that
there might be q chance of the State
Board of Commerce and Navigation
securing right of way funds if the
lands made available by the Morris
canal abandonment are sold. This.
however. would not be in the near
future and the prospects of going
ahead with the Morgan Bordentown
canal were not very bright unless
something is done to prevent the
funds going to the Board of Conser-
Vation and Development.
Assemblyman Hoffman, upon
learning of the attorney generals
action, declared immediate steps
should be taken to prevent the turn
ing over of any part of the Morris
canal funds to the Board of Con-
servation and Development. He said
he would take some action at once
and get in touch with Mayor DON
nelly, of Trenton, other advocates
of the ship canal and the Middlesex
county legislative members who
have fought hard to get the right
of way money. The possibility of a
restraining order loomed up which
would prevent the Morris canal mon
ey from being used in dismantling
the canal.
DeVoe Agrees with Attorney General
NEW BRUNSWICK, July 49,
When questioned this afternoon CO.
corning the attorney generals opin-
ion in this matter Assent blyman
Fred w. DeVoe declared he was of
the same mind as the attorney gen.
eral. The local assemblyman ex-
planned that Chapter 151 of the Laws
of 1928, which provides for the Nor
ris canal abandonment moneys going
to the Board OF Commerce and Nav
igation, also provides that a sum
sufficient for the maintenance and
operation of the Morris canal be de-
Quoted from the amount paid the
state by the railroad company. In
other words, Assemblyman DeVoe
says, the amount to be used for the
Observation-Disclosures canal right of
way purchase will be the total
amount paid the state by the rail-
road less the amount specifically "a
propriated for the maintenance and
operation of the Morris canal.