The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-04-03
sWINDLECATES WIN.
The Senators Refuse to Submit ewark's
Water Bond Issue to the People.

The Senators Refuse to Submit Newark's
Water Bond Issue to the People.
Especial to the Jersey City Neacs.l
TRENTON, April2 1SS9.-That the Senate
is disposed to favor the projects of the
Water Swindlecates was shown this after
noon, when Mr.. Edwards sought to have
a section added to the Newark Water
Bond bill, the effect of which YOU be to
let the people have q say before s6,0OO,oOo
of their money was turned over to a cor
poration.
The amendment provided that before
the proposed bond issue was made the
question should be submitted to d vote OF
the people. In asking the Senate TO IN
corporate this proviso in the bill, Mr.
Edwards said that when the present Com
mon Council of Newark wa elected
the question of issuing bonds for q
water supply was not under considera-
ton, and that body therefore in no way
represented the popular desire on the
subject. For that reason it had no right
to pass on it. The people should have an
opportunity of saying whether OF not they.
would accept this additional burden OF
taxation. Every house and every lot in
the city would be subjected to increased
taxes by the bill, and it was only right
that the question of increasing the bonded
Indebtedness and taxes to the extent pro-
posed should be submitted to the people.
Mr.. Martin, the Senator from Newark,
said that he hoped that the amendment
would be lost, as he considered that the
present Common Council represented the
wishes of the people and was capable OF
dealing with the subject fairly. The mat
ter had been under discussion for six years
and was thoroughly understood. 1t was
the only way Newark could get a pure
water supply.
The amendment was lost by a vote of 2
to IA. Senator Smith voted with MI. Ed
wards in the affirmative. Those who
voted in the negative were Senators
Adrain, Baker, Carter, Cranmer, Hewitt,
Gardner, Mallon, Martin, Miller, Nev1us,
Roe, Rue, Thompson and Werts.
The principle of the amendment pro-
posed by Mr.. Edwards is the principle of
the Feeney Anti7Swindlecate Water bill.
The Senate has apparently passed judg-
ment on it and rejected it. 1t is true that
it has been represented thai Newark was
thirsting for water contract,
while Jersey City was not; but ut
expected to stultify themselves so far as
to reject one week the right of the people
to have a voice in so important a matter,
and to declare it the next week. Those
who wish to save Jersey City from a new
issue of water bonds, would do well to
Unink up some CblHE plitu budu u Jill IIOLu
the present Legislature requiring a vote OF
the people.
A hearing was given on the Australian
Election bin. The speakers and the
speeches were those made to the Assem-
bly, Committee.
Mr.. Baker introduced an act requiring
cable, electric and horse railroads to make
annual reports to the State Board of
Assessors, showing the amount of capital
stock issued, the amount paid in the
amount of indebtedness.
Another bill introduced by the same
gentleman provides that a Secretary of
the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the
necessary assistants shall be appointed by
the Governor. The secretary is to hold
office for five years, and is to receive al
annual salary of 81, 200. This is the office
wanted by j. P. O'Donnell. The appoint
ment is now made by the Governor and
Comptroller. The latter being a Repub-
Iican, it is difficult to find a candidate on
whom the two gentlemen can unite.
The Senate passed the bill which is
intended to enable the Jersey City Police
Board to retire Inspector Tom Edmondson
on half pay. 1t now goes to the Governor.
The bill protecting the Werts Excise law
from the consequences of q decision that
one of its sections is unconstitutional was
ordered to third reading.
William V. Steel was nominated by the
Governor to be Prosecutor of Somerset.