The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-07-15
TWO GOOD ORDINANCES.
To Require Fire Escapes and Pre-
vent Short Weight-A Brief
Aldermauic Session.

1t was too hot by far last night for the
Aldermen to do much talking, and as a
result the meeting was an unusually
quiet one. An uncalled for attack upon
Alderman Salinger concerning a certain
fire escape presented last January in
Joseph A Dear's Afternoon scold.'; had
a tendency to rile the representative from
the Fifth District, and previous to the
meeting. 1t is said. he displayed his ora
torical powers to a number Of friends,
and in choice language expressed his
opinion of the journal. the editors and
everybody connected with the institu-
tion.
Under the head of miscellaneous busi-
ness Alderman Simeon Smith moved that
Alderman SaliDRer's fire escape oruinrpce
be taken from the table aud put on It's
final passage.
"That ordinance Is not on the table, !"
said President Allen, "but in the hands Of
the Committee on Ordinances, OF which
Alderman Salinger Is a member"
whats thatP asked Alderman Salin-
ger in an excited manner.
A whispered conversation between
President Allen and City Clerk Scott fol-
lowed. and In moment President Allen
declared that the ordinance was last re-
ferred to the Ordinance Committee, con-
sisting OF Aldermen Keogh, Norton and
Salinger.
All sorts of explanations were offered,
and then the Alderman from the Fifth
announced that he was ready TO report
the ordinance which had been lying
dormant for months. Alderman keogh
was absent and Alderman Norton re-
fused to sign the report, and once more
the.passage of the ordinance was baked.
Sol m n
ance In compliance with a bill presented
by Assem- blyman Murphy, which IL now
a law, requiring that fire escapes be
placed on all buildings where fifty or
more persons congregate on the first floor.
and on all brick or frame tenement or
dwelling houses.
The ordinaoce was first opposed by sew
eral Of the City Fathers because Of the
sweeping power 1t gave the Building In
spector This was the ground taken by
nearly all OF the opposing Aldermen, and
the late Alderman Schermerhorn was in
strumental in keeping it from coming mp
for final passage. Bor months Alderman
Salinger argued to have tue ordinance re-
ferred to his committee, aud once there II
was never heard Of, apparently having
been forgotten. The ordinance viii un-
doubtedly be passed at the next meeting
of the Board. as the majority OK the
members are In favor Of its passage.
Fifty-six restaurant or liquor licenses,
/ inn license, 3 grocers'. bottler's, 1855
peddiers', 20 junk, Is porters', q mu-
sicians', auctioneers' and four pawn
brokers' Licenses were granted.
A communication was received from
Secretary Taft of the Merchants Protec-
tive Association 10 the effect that the as
sociation was heartily in favor of the ordi-
mace presented BY Alderman Saliuger, in
tended TO pTsvent merchants Of all de-
scriptions from swind!ing customers by
giving scant measure or short weight.
The ordinances applies to all classes of
merchants, and even authorizes the In
spector Of Weights and Measures to stop
any cart loaded with coal, ascertain the
amount of coal on the cart. get ii weighed,
and II discrepancy Of weight Is found,
to cause the arrest Of the driver. Convic-
tion subjects the company or dealer to a
fine of $50 for the first offence.
The ordinance was laid over under the
rules, and will probably be passed at th Q
next meeting OF the Board.