The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-02-20
The Freeholders Flat1y Re-
fuse to Raise Money
to Buy Lands.
WANT A FINGER IN THE PIE
Resolutions Asking Information
What Mr.. Thurston Says
of 1t.
PROGRESS OF THE PARK WORK

himself on record as holding Judge
Knapp responsible for the delay in issu-
ing the Park bonds. This is how it
happened
Freeholder Ellis asked that the
resolution awarding the bonds to the
State and the Vanderbilts be taken from
the table and acted on. This formality
ended, Mr.. Pflnesten said he believed
there we're things of more Importance to
the county than parks.
"More than one year ago." said he.
''the Legislature passed q bill enabling
Hudson county to build an asylum, but.
thus far, nothing has been done towards
its construction. The present asylum is
In such condition that it would be con-
demned by experts. The building now
used is overcrowded, and the members of
this Board are liable to Indictment for
permitting such a condition to exist, Yet
we are powerless, for under the law we
can do nothing until a Supreme Court
Judge sitting in this circuit appoints an
architect"
,Mr. Director, the Freeholder is not
talking on the question; / call him TO
order" interjected Freeholder kimmerly.
II think he isl decided Director Brug-
gemann, and Mr.. Phngsten thus backed
up by the Director, continued:-"rhe
parks are not nearly so important to this
county as an asylum. Look at the present
over crowded one. We are compelled
now to keep some demented people IN the
Aims House because there is no room in
the asylum for them, and this you all
know IS unlawful, although you have no
alternative. Why does not Judge Knapp
appoint an architect so that under the
law we may build the asylum. 1t is
year at least since he was asked to do so.
10 ma m oavif1p1 tVhfrh
need see no reason, MIR. Director, why
we should have parks that we do not re-
quire.
"Then, too, there Is another matter
more important TO Hudson county than
parks and that is the new County road.
As you all know, the Freeholders have
been repeatedly accused of unjust ex-
penditure of the county's money. This
being the case, it is but proper that the
Freeholders should know where all the
money goes, but they do not. The Park
Commissioners want us to sit here and
do nothing while they say Give us
money / will never by my vote perr8it
one dollar TO be expended unless know
where the money goes and that the ex-
penditure is proper This we do not
know in regard to the parks"
Mr.. CoYLR's OBJECTIONS.
Freeholder Coyle also objected to
awarding the park bonds. "There are to
be six parks, the latest addition being five
acres at the end of the Boulevard" said
he. "and If you lake that area OF land
from the tax levy it certainly affects the
taxpayers of the county. Twill never vote
for these park bonds to be awarded until
/ know the amount of money to be ex-
pended, the amount of land to be pur-
chased and the other purposes to which
the money shall be devoted. These facts
we have never been able to ascertain, al
though we are compelled to provide the
money. In my opinion the Park Commits
sioners should have an act passed by the
Legislature which would enable them to
raise the money and remove the response
bility for the money expended on parks
to where it belongs. As the law now Is
we are responsible without the right or
knowing what is done with the money.
Every new spaper that is today harping
on the parks will later accuse us of not
properly issuing the park money"
SENSIBLE MR.. ELLIS.
"As the law now stands it is law" said
Freeholder Ellis, "and do not see how
we can avoid obeying 1t. In regard to
judge Knapp not having appointed an
architect for new asylum, in my opin-
ion, the Judge exercised very good Judg-
ment. He declined TO appoint an arehi-
tect until site was selected. for he did
not deem it proper to have an official
drawing 50, 500 year salary with nothing
at all to do. He said. Select your site
and will appoint the architect. 1t was
Tile lAulL u LnC Ludl
no asylum had been built. In regard TO
the park bonds think this matter ought
10 be settled now"
NO BONDS
After several other speeches for and
against the awarding of the bonds as bid
for the resolution TO award them was
lost by a tie vote as tollows:-
AYEs-Perry, Nelson, Kimmerly, Ellis,
NAYs-Hennessey, Pfngsten, Tierney, Coyle,
Director Bruggemann, 8.
Mr.. Nelson later in the meeting offered
resolution that WAS adopted that the
Park Commissioners furnish the Free
holders with complete facts appertaining
TO the parks, number, amount OF acre
age, costs, etc, in fact, putting the Free
holders in possession of all the knowledge
possessed by the Park Commissioners.
A communication from the citizens of
Harrison and kearny was then read
urging the Board of Freeholders TO award
the bonds.
Mr.. Charles B. Thurston, President of
the Board of Park Commissioners, was in
his office when called today. He had
been informed of the action of the Free
holders last night, but was not in posi-
lion to say definitely what action the
Commissioners would take in the matter.
.'ihis can only be determined at a meet
ing OF the Commissioners" said he.
when Will this meeting take placer"
Il do not know. We may wait for the
return of General Heppenheimer from
Texas. 1t is more than probable that the
Commissioners will want to confer with
Judge Knapp, who appointed them, be-
fore they take any steps. You may say
that whatever course we shall pursue
Will be under advice of counsel / want
ed TO consult ex-Judge Garretson today
but he had gone TO Trenton D
do you suppose that mandamus
against the Freeholders will be applied
for?"
Il cannot say what course we will take
am only one of the Board. Should a
n.andamus be asked for it would Involve
the county in curious suit by making
the county both complainant and de-
fendant, and no matter what result
would be reached the county would he in
golved in great expense for the litigation.
HE Commissioners believe that they
have been very successful in getting the
parks for the prices agreed on.
u believe the county is under contract
10 AXE all the land selected for parks"
No. that is incorrect. The Commits
sioners only have options on the park
lands, excepting of course Highwood.
The park the county must pay for at the
PRICE agreed on, for contract 10 purchase |
Fas made in proper form by the county. |
No action Of the Freehoiders can prevent