The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-12
THE JERSEY CITY FRAUDS
The Grand Jury Session Closed
at Last.


Remarkable Prsssntment Startling Exhibit
Of Municipal Frauds-A Corrupt and Sub
sidized Local Press-vote Of Thanks
to the New York Herald
After the lapse OF nine weeks-a term without q
precedent for o Grand Jury In Jersey the Grand
Jury Of Hudson county, In session at Jersey City,
were discharged yesterday. 1t would not be cor.
rect to state that their abors were concluded for
thorough investigation into the affairs OF the several
departments of the Jersey City government would
occupy at least three months; but the Grand Jury
have achieyed a great work In bringing to justice
the CHIEF members OF the corrupt Ring and in deal
ing blow at municipal frauds which VIII be felt
for years 10 come. Az halfpast ten O'Clock yester-
day morning Judges Bedle. Randolph and Brinker.
hof took their seats on the bench, and the Grand
Jury soon afterwards made their appearance. The
foreman handed in q batch OF twenty.tnree indlct-
ments, making 1873 in all together with the Follow
ing
PREsENrMENT.
70 the Hon. JOSEPH ID. BEDLE, Presiding Justice
Court OF oyer and rerminer and General jan De.
livery, &c, OF the County OF Huds0n:-
The Grand Jury of and for the January term OF
1872 for the county OF Hudson respectfully represent
to the Court that they carefully inquired into
all matters referred to them in your charge at the
commencement Of their labors. January TO- 1872.
before nv them. Of when number ssa nave peen
examined. They have especially examined
and inquired INTO misconduct in ONCE IN dif.
Jersey ers p CIty Greenvlle o" als H oSoEen, the
town Of Harrison and township or Union, and
ments IN all cases where the evidence would war
rant such action. The Grand Jury would fail to
discharge Its duty did 1t hesitate " express It's con-
domination, In the severest TERMS OF the rregulari-
ties, II not criminal carelessness In the transaction
s s ns aaa shoa
positive limit to their powers 10 the organic law,
and be compelled to confne their acts within such
limits.
especially public officers have acquired habit Of
violating certain visions OF the city charter
cusing themselves on various pretexts. When the
city was small and the operations OF the city gov
eminent were Kept w1tnin very limited sphere the
exercise or such discretion attracted less atten.
ton, but IN the present extensive operations no
discretion should be allowed. The express provl-
sons Of law should be the only guide the attention
OF the Grand Jury mas been especially called to the
Public WORKS when the charter REQUIRED that It be
given out by contract lisa
REPREHENsIBLE AND DANGEROUS PRACTICE
to allow parties to take WORK by the day ana en-
pioy large number OF hands, TO keep their own time
s as oays @ es ss s
ton OF sewer connections at the Ravlne road and
Inc reconstruction o. tne van v0rS, ana henderson
character mas been performed. The excuses offered
IN these cases cannot oe sufficient to compensate
TOR the bad precedent established ny such viola
tion OF the organic law. The charter is In itself en-
iirely TOO liberal IN the powers granted, and when
ana passes beyond them at It's own discretion the
public safety demands OF this Grand Jury present.
ment Of the fact TO your honorable Court, to the
end that the people may become aware OF 4,
THE IMPENDING DANGER
and apply the remedy IN ume In the opinion OF
this Grand Jury much Of the evil complained of
would disappear II the local government were re.
stored to the people themselves. From the evidence
different boards OF Jersey City, In their employment
OF persons at large and exorbitant salaries. and
deducung from them for political purposes extra
ordinary percentages, thereby making the people,
through taxation pay Tor political campaigns,
OF the State should pass law to compel the dscon-
unuance OF the same by making II an indictaDle
the Board Of Public WORKS; where considerable
amounts have been thus collected from the en-
Testimony has been furnished to us by the most
prominent surveyors regarding the practice OF pup
nc officers taking from Iae treasury OF the people
-stve sums to men called surveyors, both o. the
present and past city governments OF jersey City,
Tor work that could be done for insignificant
amounts IN comparison with the thousands OF dol
lars thus expended, to the great detrimelt OF the
taxpayers and the credlt OF the city.
ANOTHER GROWING EVIL
is the power assumed by police Justices Of commit
burdenlng the county with the support OF great
number OF persons deprlving their families Of sup
throwing The families upon the local authorities lor
assistance. From the town or
we have listened patiently to the recital OF com.
plants by promineh( citizens against their Street
none M W E are pS Gotned WIN powers
CITY, and tue citizens have redress except
through the Legislature. In the township OF
WEST HOBOKEN
the Township Committee have, without authority OF
law, issued improvement certificates, extended the
time for the performance OF contracts on streets,
ana relieved the contractors IRON the penalties In.
CURED, contrary to the express wording OF the con-
tracts. The work and material accepted by them
have not been III accordance with the true intent
and meaning OF the specifications and contracts,
yn III thav
had no authority under the law.
the Grand Jury would nos discharge its whole
duty II 1t aled TO call special attention to the In
crease OF vile and
OBSCENE BOOKS AND NEWSPAPERS
Information sufficient Tor an indictment OF partcu.
lar persons has not been furnished, but 1t Is hoped
that the next Grand Jury Will De able to find such
our midst does not cease. Young, impresslble ana
inexperienced persons are led astray, their minds
corrupted and they are frequently urged to ruin
The Grand jury would also call the attention of
the Court to what they cannot fail to consider
THE GRAND CRIME OF THE AGE,
that OF perjury aud to state that much OF their
labors under the direction Of the Court has been
frustrated by witnesses whom they have had on the
stand, and who displayed an utter disregard OF
truth; and there have been some cases when citl
not nestated to w III and deDerate per
Jury, as was aerward proven to the entire sasfac-
ilon Of TINS body. we most sincerely regret That we
cannot, from the nature OF our position present In
dictments against these parties for public trial.
The Grand Jury would call Afternoon to the prac-
tice IN tile
BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERs
OF members Of that DO ,ri participating IN the con.
tracts maze by said Board under assumed names
and presenting the same to SAID Board Tor payment,
and having the same sworn to by persons not sup.
plying the same and not In any way connected with
said contract. We would respectfully suggest That
some action pc taken py that Board TO cheek these
reprehenslbe practices.
LIBELs
The Grand Jury cannot adjourn without calling
attention 10 the loose manner IN which the papers
OF this county attack the characters of cuzens,
without any effort Oh their part To investigate the
truth OF such charges, thereby turning the liberty
OF the press into the most wanton license. The at
tentlon OF the Court Is called to the condition OF the
POLICE DEPARTMENT OF JERSEY CITY
and its mode OF dong business. The Court VIII OBJ |
serve that large number Of indictments have been