The Jersey City News

PASSAIC POLLUTION
Commission to Remedy the Evil Organizes in Trenton.
(Special to "The Jersey City News.")
TRENTON, April 23, 1902.

Former Mayor Julius A. Lebkuecher of Newark was elected president of the Passaic Pollution Commission at the organization of that board in the State House yesterday afternoon. John S. Gibson of Newark was selected as secretary of the commission. The members of the commission will hold their first meeting in Newark next Tuesday afternoon at a place to be designated by the chairman.

The pollution commissioners came to the Capitol about noon and went at once to the executive chamber, where they were received by the Governor in his private office and discussed the situation for an hour behind closed doors. They walked across the corridor to the office of the Secretary of State, where each one presented his certificate of appointment and was sworn in by De Witt C. Van Buskirk, a notary public of Bayonne, who happened to be in the office on other business.

"There's the first step toward purifying the Passaic," said Secretary of State Dickinson, after the five men had been sworn with uplifted hands, to perform their duties as commissioners to the best of their ability.

The election of Messrs. Lebkuecher and Gibson was made without opposition, it being understood that the selections were in accordance with the Governor's wish. The three Democratic members voted with their Republican colleagues on both elections. Mr. Gibson is secretary of the State Republican Committee. His salary has not yet been fixed.

President Lebkuecher said after the organization of the committee that he intended obtaining headquarters in the Prudential Building, if possible, and that the board would get down to work without loss of time. No definite plan of action had been decided upon as yet, but in a general way it is understood what the plan would be.