The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-08-04
STREET BOARD GAGLAW
Lawyer McEwan Cannot Get
Even a Protest on
Record.
ASSESSMENT ADJUDIC ALTON
That Summit Avenue Improve
ment--Richard Street Sewer
Other Public Works.

The Street and Water Board sat as
Board of Adjudication this morning on
number of proposed street and sewer i'm
provements. The proceedings were en-
livened when remonstrances were called
for against the fling of the assessment
map of the Summit avenue improvement.
Three remonstrances were handed to
Clerk Bouton- One of these was handed
in by Lawyer Henry McEwan, who
with his brother Thomas, were pres
ent as attorneys for number
Of interested property-owners along the
route of the Summit avenue improve
ment. The attorneys claimed that the
contract was illegal, the general charac-
ter OF the Improvement was not up to the
specifications, the stone was not of the
regulation size, the curb and bridge stone
were not of the material called
I or, and the Pavonia Horsecar Conn
pany had not been assessed
for It's share of the benefits received. The
attorneys further claimed that the prop
erty owners could only be assessed in
proportion to the benefits received,
whereas they had been arbitrarily as
sessed largely in excess Of suoh benefits.
In presenting the remonstrance Mr..
Henry McEwan said:-"Mr. President,
In submitting this paper would like to
be allowed to-"
This is not the time and place for
explanation" interrupted President
Somers. THE paper doubtless contains
all necessary explanations.
"But, Mr.. President, as an attorney
for"
Order" said the President. tapping
his gavel.
But, Mr.. President, | insist
"Will you keep quiet, Mr.. McEwanfn
shouted President Somers. sit has been
expressly stated that all remonstrances
must be presented in writing"
But, Mr.. President-,,
Mr.. McEwan, If you do not sit down
I'll be obliged to" Mr.. McEwan sat
down. Proceed, Mr.. Clerk"
Mr.. McEwan, after consulting with his
brother, who sat in the front row of the
lobby with several of his clients, again
arose and, amid the rattle of Clerk Bou-
toms tongue, again Insisted on being
heard, with the same result as above de-
scribed
Commissioner Dugan remarked, as
chairman of the Committee on Streets.
that the gentlemen would be given pri-
yate hearing some evening to be hereafter
designated.
At an opportune moment Mr.. George
NJ. McEwan, Henry's legal partner, arose
and advancing to the rail demanded
hearing.
You cannot carry on such high-handed
proceedings. We have right to be
heard. protest against such treatment.
What have TO say desire to say in pub
lie, and If l am not allowed to say it, /
want this protest recordedn
But MIR. MeEwan was not heard.
RICHARD STREET SEWER.
The next protest was from M. De Mott
Vreeland and others in reference to the
acquisition of lands for the route of the
Richard street sewer. The remonstrance
set forth that the route selected put the
city TO unnecessary expense, as more
available route could be secured. There
had been no proper application for the
sewer made, and awards made for land
condemned were far below the lands
actual value, running as it did through
properties valued at 100000. The pro-
ceedings OF the Commissioners were c6r-
tioraried-
One objection was also made against
the award of 81, $50 for a piece of land
fronting on the Hackensack river In the
route selected for the main sewer in Sip
avenue. 1t was complained that the Com
missioners' proceedings were irregular as
they were of such nature as to practi-
cally cut off remonstrance.
G. M. Patton and others demonstrated
against the tling of the map for the
change OF grade in Linden avenue on the
ground that number of valuable trees
would be unnecessarily destroyed
NO KICKERS
Among the improvements to which
there were no objections were:-Final Of
the assessment map for Sussex
street Improvement; filing of the
preliminary map for the Mon
mouth street Improvement = contract
awarded to z. Z. Condor; twenty-four
inch brick sewer in Hancock avenue,
Charles street sewer, Hopkins avenue
sewer, Improvement of Sherman place
contract awarded to Thomas CavRnagh,
Emery street Improvement; main sewer
in Duncan avenue, and the final man for
the Neptune avenue Improvement.