The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-02-26
TALKING ABOUT PARKS.
Mr.. Kelly Opposes Them,
But Mr.. Heppenheimer
Carries His Point.
Special to the Jersey city Ne,us.

TRENTON, Feb. 25. 1890.-Hudson has
every reason to be proud of the oratorical
ability Of it's delegation in the Assembly.
occurred this morning and was partici-
pated in entirely by Hudson men. The
The Speakers bill giving the Board of
Park Commissioners the power to con-
denim lands came before the House on final
passage. The Speaker called Mr.. Marsh
to the chair and stated the object of the
bill.
Mr.. Kelly opposed the measure because
he is opposed to the entire scheme of
parks. Mr.. Kelly speaks easily and
fiuently; he resorts to no tricks of rhetoric
but says what he has to say in plain
straightforward manner which carries
conviction with it. He said the Park
Commissioners was scheme of the rail-
roads. He thought that the streets and
sewers should be put in better condition
before any more money is spent for parks.
He graphically described the condition of
the city with from eight to ten inches of
mud in the streets on q level and the
children dying from diseases bred by the
choked up sewers. He wanted these evils
remedied, and school houses built and
the children attending them, supplied
with books before any parks are located.
A SCHEME FOR THE RICH.
The entire scheme he declared was one
for the rich, and the poor would be called
upon to help to pay the 100000 which it
is estimated the park will cost. Mr..
Kelly also read statement to show that
Jersey City was running behind imam
cially every year. His remarks brought
the Speaker to his feet and he made a
rafting speech for parks. He said that
he was in favor OF them as a tax payer and
claimed that the amount spent for
parks would be a good Investment
for Jersey City. He spoke Of the great
benefit which Central Park had been to
New York, and showed how the agita-
tion for parks had already carried flood
of New Workers into Jersey City. He de-
nounced the opposition to the parks as a
part of the penny wise and pound foolish
policy which has kept Jersey City down.
PROSPEROUS IN SPITE OF ALL.
Mr. Potts also delivered strong
speech in favor of the bill. He denied
that the statement of Mr.. Kelly regarding
the financial condition OF Jersey City.
He wondered that Jersey City existed in
the face of the hbels which are hurled
against her on the floor OF the house and
in her own press.
Birds should not foul their own nests,
he declared. and he denounced the Jour
nal for its screeds against the city. He
showed how the parks were surrounded
by small householders, and how they
would benefit the poor rather than the
wealthy Jersey City's share Of the in
terest on the bonds for the parks would
amount to about SIG, 900 year, and this
Mr.. Potts said could be easily saved if
some of the many pavement jobs OF the
city were done properly.
:. FREEHoLDERS AT THE BOTTOM OF IT.
I Every citizens' association in Hudson
county, he declared, favored the parks
and no opposition was heard to them un-
til the present. Board of Freeholders were
elected, and they were hardly sworn in
before they began TO parcel out the Bou-
levard and other patronage. There was
not enough to go around, so the parks
s,were tackled"
Mr. Heppenheimer said that the oppo-
s ition to the commission had sprung up
because they could not be used.
This brought Mr.. Kelly to his feet for
an explanation. The Speaker said that
he did not mean Mr.. Kelly.
Mr.. Erwin closed the debate with a
terse logical speech. He spoke of the loss
TO Jersey City of its water front through
Just such opposition as this and appealed
TO the House TO help rescue Jersey City
from the slough in which it now is
The eloquence of these gentlemen car
ried the bill through by large majority,
as reported yesterday. The vote was Il
to 5.
This vote is taken as a forecast Of the