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WAGES BITTER FIGHT ON WATER PACT IN JERSEYslt;Despite Stiff Opposition Developed At Hearing Senate Will Ratify, Is BeliefVICE CHANCELLOR LANE’S ARGUMENTS REFUTEDDr. McBrair Who AttendedThinks Comm’ssion Chairman Offset Contrary OpinionChairman W I Hamilton, of the New Jersey 8**»te Water Policy wifi^'laalon refuted all that former Vice Chancellor Merritt Lane told a legislative committee last week at the State House. Tr'nton. about the lr!-*f»»e acree-meat regarding distribution of i ho Delaware river as hold in g nothing for New Jersey, according to Dr II C. McBrair. of this city, who has retarned after at tending the senior William P Gregg. of Port Jervis, also attended the session.Mr Lane assailed the compact primarily on tho ground that It was had business on the part of New Jersey to become a party to thf agreement, because It lakes valuable rights from the state and gives nothing In return.More important at this time, he said, Is the reaching of an agreement with New York relative to the flow of the Hackensack. Ram a pi and Wall! Ill rivers, which rise In New York and flow Into New Jersey. He added that negotiations were authorised by the Legislature last year looking toward such an agreement, but New York has not named a committee to deal with the question The closing argument of Chairman Hamilton proved conclusively that tho proposition would he of great value te the water supply of Trenton and all places on the Delaware and that they would obtain a much greater use of the water by the adoption of the trl State treaty. It w*t disclosed Engineers furnished maps and data It was upon these that the ch-rfrman based ht» statements The general feeling at the close of the arguments Dr McHrair said, was that the New Jersey Senate would approve the treaty In response to Mr. Lane’s remarks. the ehairnr n points 1 out that hills had already been Introduced In Albany : tak* the sanitary condition In regard to the Hackensack, and Ramapti rivers Also for the purpose of permitting New Jersey to obtain an additional wate- supply from the upper Wn 11 k111 and Rimapo rivers hv making storage reservoirs on the Ramaoo In New York state.Ratification 1s vital at this time. Chairman Hamilton said Until an agreement !• reached, he said. It will be Impossible for New Jersey to formulate a last Ing Stale-wide water policy,The treaty was vtacked by opponents aa hany In Its terms and holding grave danpei to New Jer sey Such benefits as the compact holds out. it was said, are In favor of New York and Pennsyl 5 vaniap Former Governor Stokes, form r* er Vice Chancellor Lane, special j counsel for Trenton. Major Ezra Whitman, of Balttmore, art engtneer who appeared «i« const! it” nt for Trenton, and Mayor Donnelly, of Fronton, were a in ng *he prtn cipal speakers agalurt the treaty* j Mr Lane said it was more im ,n portent that New Jersey reach an* | aprreemen* with this state regard ■* j log the t^ree rlv1* whl*'h have ,n their source here Negotiationsj -egatding tbe«e ruu wen au h ,e | orlt;zed by the Slab 'ecislatnre last! year, hut so far New York has' taken no. action in the MatterAs long as thi present witna ‘Ion con’inues, he *nid New J. ~ey can clt; ntrol the De’aware and Is In a position to compel nego tlatlons with New Y« rk regard j Ing the other thr*e riversThurlow C. Nelson. biologist with * be \V w Jer«ev Department of Shell Fisheries, said that diversion of the Delaware river wa te-e would constitute an entering ' wedge for a series of water sup ** oiy developments that would er ev» otnally make the Delaware lit T’ltle more than a tidal estuary. He d saV that the oyster Industry in J that state, which ranks third in , th* country, would suffer greatly ' IS auch an event.
Newspaper Details
Daily Herald Middletown Times Press
Middletown, New York, US
Mon, Mar 07, 1927
Page 12
Full Page
Clipped by
Louis B.
