The New York herald., 1876-12-24
JERSEY INDIGNATION.

MAYOR SIEDLER ARoUsINd HIS FELLOW CITI-
zENs AGAINST CORRUPTION.
The indignation meetingi held last evening in
Kepor hall, Jersey CITY, at the call OF Mayor siecer,
was tho most significant aud emphatic protest against
corruption known for many years. The meeting was
called TO order eight O'Clock by Mayor Sieder and
Stephen D. Harrison, cx-Mayor OF Bergen City,
was chosen chairman and Mr. Dclos +. Culver
secretary. Tho call for the meeting was read,
setting forth that enormous swindc had beon per-
pclraed on the taxpayers of the county the pur-
chase OF portion OF the property known the Har-
rison estate as site Tor new court house. Mr.
Rankin gave history Of the property and stated that
& few years ago II was offered for $4,000. II
was soon afterward sold for s3s0,O0 TO the
city but the Grand Jury, OF which he was then
a member, interposcd and the job frustrated
There wore two immense jobs staring the taxpayers
in tho iaee-a court house and a county road,
otherwise named a boulevard. The court house job
which had been conceived in niquity like the New
York Court House, already consummatcd, and he
knew OF remedy for the taxpayers except by act
OF the Legislature 10 suppress tho iniquous contract
lie called upon tho taxpayers to checkmae that other
abomination-the boulevard
NkfARiOus SCHEME.
Mayor Sedler then read letter from Mr.. Brnkcr-
hon. who had attempted TO Illustrate tho Court House
Job, condcmnng the strongest language the action
Mr. Halsiei director at large OF the Board OF Free
holders In approving the ncarous scheme before tho
taxpayers had an opportunity OF expressing their
views upon H. The resolution was adopted by the
Board the l4th and was approved by Hastec ON the
10th inst When the Mayor called Hasted to
remonsiratc against the resolution and prevent his
approving II the Director prcvarcatcd and gave tho
impression that he had the subject under consideration,
when, the facts showed, he had already approved
II. ''rhis miserable poroon, said tho Mayor. as he
warmed up, 'had the audaciy TO trnc with the tax
payers by telling the committee who waited upon HIM
meet him nj the Court House. tho day OF tho
Frccholders meeting when he knew the job had been
accomplished" The manner which the affair was
transacted from the beginning showed fraud on the
face OF H. The deed was mauc out two days before
Halstcd gave official notice of the TACT The property
sold for 1928, I20, or 81. 900 lot, while u
was not worth hall that amount only few weeks
ago Halsted vetoed the purchase. He lthe Mayor
had talked 10 gentleman formerly connected with the
Board OF Public Works, who offered S5 900 TO put
the job through. but no indignantly refused. He
voted for THIS Infamous scheme, ani especially the di
who assisted IN consummating the job hastily, be
signed political obscurty, though that after all.
would be poor satisfaction 10 outraged community.
AT the montion OF tho names VI Halstcd and Iippn-
colt there was u general oulburst OF Indignation.
Speeches we're made by Messrs Wobert, Pangborn,
Ransom Frost and others, alter which resolutions
were adopted condenning the purchase Of the prop
crty for court house, and providing Tor the ap
polntment OF committee OF taxpayers to take such
action as NAV be necessary. Another resolution was
onorcd by Mr Culver that public notice be gwen TO
bankers brokers and other S~'~i Tho negotiation Of
tho bonds already Issued.