The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-04-05
REPUBLICAN BITTERNESS.
A Stirring Contest Waged All
Day---Speeches "PrO and Con.
fsnecinl 70 the .Lerseu oitu Nerrs. j

of the sand bar and had passed the AS
sembly. If Senator Smith, of Sussex, can
be brought here, dead or alive, tomorrow
morning, the Senate will then concur in
the House amendments, the Governor will
sign it, and the people of Jersey City will
vote on it next Tuesday. It is doubtful if
one person who voted for it had any idea
of all these events a week ago.
The Republicans went down with solid
ranks, pouring fire and fury on the char
ter and its hackers. Ex-Speaker Sam
Dickinson's blonde loveliness was absent
from the Chamber, but the fruit of his cum
ming hand and brain remained All kinds
of objections were discovered by the
Republicans to passing the measure.
Hamilton County Pagan was not in his
place when, Colonel Heppenheimer mar
shalled his forces to the fray. The Repub-
hcans tried to tie up the House as it was
tied up on that memorable Tuesday, but
they fell into trap set by the man whom
Goble, of Ocean, descibes as "Our Beauti
full Colonel" and Speaker Hudspeth shut
the lid down hard. Then the speech
making began with eloquence from the
object of Goble's and Hudson countys
admiration
"For years." Colonel Heppenheimer
said Jersey City has been suffering from
misgovernment. We have Mayor and a
Board of Aldermen, with but little
power, and Board of Finance, Board of
Works and other Boards with great deal
of power. The members of these Boards
have combined for patronage and spoils.
Some members of former Board of
Works are under Indictment. Taxes have
yearly increased. There is universal de-
sire for O centralized government;
that the Mayor shall have the same power
of appointment as is held by the Mayors
of New York and Brooklyn, and shall
be directly responsible for his appoint
ments to the people. Divided RESPONSE
bility, such as there is now, is no RESPONSE
bility. The people of Jersey City are at
fever heat on this subject, and demand
the passage of this charter find that
very strong lobby has been sent down by
certain officials to defeat this bill but
once more the Democracy has arisen tri-
umphant, and we will pass the bin be-
cause it is in the interest of the people of
the metropolis of this State.
II have done nothing this session that
am sorry for, and to cap the climax of my
official career in the House-for this is the
last term ! will sit here-I am proud to
cast my vote in favor of this bill because
it gives relief to the people of my city and
to the taxpayers at large"
M'DERMIT's ELoQUENCE.
Frank McDermit turned the blaze of
the precious stones which nestled in the
bosom of his pleated shirt ON the bill He
said that he was led to support the princi-
pie of appointments by a Mayor who
should be held responsible to the
people by the scandalous class
of men selected at the primaries
of both parties as members of the Newark
Water Commission. These had brought
disrepute on the city's fair name. 1t
should be explained here that every time
Mr.. McDermit talks about municipal
government he sails into the Newark
Aqueduct Board, because he suffers from
hydrophobia to this extent at least. He
continued, II voice the sentiment of
Democratic and Republican voters alike,
when / say that this provision at least
will call forth the hearty commendation
of the public" He also said that the
charter would probably be submitted to
the people of Newark next October. This
opinion will surprise those citizens of the
second city in the State who thought that
they had thoroughly protected themselves
against it.
Dick Brown then proved that he had
not talked himself out bymaking speech,
which was even more able than the effort
of the previous day. He did himself
proud Every sentence was q vicious hit
at somebody The speech was oozing
with venom and bitterness. He stirred
up the Hudson county members.
If the advocates of this bill, y he said
"would only throw off the vail, people
would understand it better. The present
Board of Finance is composed of Demo
Gratis who are among the best citizens and
biggest taxpayers of the city. 1t
has refused TO obey the mandate of the
bosses and give to another person who is
interested in this bill a $4,000 position
This is the milk in the cocoanut, and if
the mandate had been obeyed there
would have been no charter presented
1t is a well known fact that the
@ charter IN meyer eyer saw say daylight, but
bers of the Democratic County Elk
ecutive Committee, and was approved by
the boss, the Sheriff of the county Threats
have been made to get vote for this bill.
| have been told that would not dare OPP
pose this most infamous bill.
Tuesday. What kind of charter is it?'
the voter will ask. But nobody will be
able to answer the question Nobody
knows But the poll worker will tell the
voter it is a good charter and the latter
will vote for it. Then the citizens i'll
wake up dlu UlSCOfeT WHdU tney nave |
done. know / can't stop the passage,
but deem it my duty to enter this pro
test.
DICK BROWNS CHALLENGE.
'I challenge the Democrats to name ten
citizens outside the Ring who want this
passed. Where was any evidence the
other night of the fever heat Colonel
spoke of? Two men came
to the hearing, and neither one had read
the charter. There is very great room for
reform in Jersey City; but don't call this
thing reform. Put the true face on it. |
don't blame the men who want this bill !
passed don't blame the man who wants |
the $4,000 office; nor Feeney, who is to be
the head of the police; nor O'Neill, who is
to be the head of the Tax Board; nor our |
Senator, who wants to be Corporation
Counsel. But why don't you tell the |
truth about it? Stand up as you did |
for the other bills legislating Repub- |
licans out of State Offices and say, I'VE
want the offices /"
Mr. Feeney used his loudest voice to re-
ply to his colleague. He said, 1.-THE Lone
Star of Hudson County has spoken. His |
own party paper has said that he has |
voted against every reform hill in tha last |