The Jersey City news., 1892-03-16
THIS GAS SMELLS BAD
Neat Scheme to Place Jer-
sey City at the Mercy
of the Monopoly.
KAIJSCU'S LITTLE AMENDNENT
KALISCH'S LITTLE AMENDMENT,
How 1t Was To Help Mayor Cleve.
land-NOthing Known About
Those Gas Debts.
Special to tie Lerseu citu Mems.


through almost at the rate Of bill a
minute, and, no one was paying atten-
tion to any bill except his own particular
measures, a scheme was quietly put
through which materially affects the tax
payers of jersey City. Early in the ses-
sion Mr. Leonard Kalisch, young man of
some ability from Essex, introduced bill
which provided that whenever commit
tee of the Street and Water
Board should have occasion to investi-
gate any contract or other matter
in connection with that department, the
committee should have the authority to
administer oaths and send for books
and papers. 70 all appearances
that was a harmless bill to which
no one could take advantage and which
on its face sought to accomplish d bene-
ficial result. So no one Questioned Mr..
Kalisch's bill and it took its place upon
the calendar without attracting more
than passing notice.
THE LITTLE JOKER APPEARS.
One day during Lhe week before the
last of the session, when the rapidly with
which Speaker Bergen was disposlng of
business made 1t impossible for anyone to
carefully examine bills before they had
passed, Mr.. kalisch's bill came up on sec
ond reading. Mr.. Kalisch had an amend-
ment which he sent to the clerks desk
to pe read. Assistant Clerk Stagg went
over the amendment and gave the House
an indistinct idea of something about
a ten years contract. Before any one
could inquire what it meant, Speaker
Bergen had put the question on the ADOPT
ton of the amendment, and a viva voce
amendment adopted. Subsequently the
bill came up on final passage and went
through both Houses
Upon looking up the amendment and
reading it over carefully, it was fonnd
that it authorized the Street and Water
Board to make contracts with the gas
company for a period OF ten years. In
quiry of Mr.. KaIisch and other members
of the Newark delegation were rewarded
with the usual story. They said that
Newark was at the mercy of grinding
gas monopoly, just as jersey City was,
which dictated whatever terms 1t chose,
however unfair and onerous, leaving the
consumer with no alternative but compll-
ance Herewith or darkness. The city's
contract had run out, and 1t was striving
to make another upon more favorable
terms, but the company persisted in its
old exorbitant prices and somehow or
other this amendment was to help New
ark out of the life crushing grasp of the
gas monopoly. But just how no one
StSlucu AUlS W CAdSeiJ tCtl-
THE SAME OLD GAMES.
Notwithstanding this explain alton so
highly satisfactory to Mr.. Kalisch and the
Newark delegation, those who have given
the matter their attention, declare it is
the same old game of Newark helping Jer-
sey City to get the plums and vice versa,
which is continually being played in the
Legislature. If the Hudson county mem
bers wish to foister some Objectionable
scheme upon the county, at which,
they know, the people will kick
most vigorously, they have a bill
for that pose introduced by an Essex
man. Then the Jersey City men tell
their constituents they did not favor any
such scheme. but that Newark insisted
upon it and forced it through, and as it is
mandatory and applies TO both cities
alike, they are obliged, in spite of them
selves, to put i5 into operation. Then
when the Newark men wish to saddle one
of their little schemes on the Essex cities.
Hudson returns the favor
Mr.. kalisch'S amendment was looked
upon as such a scheme and one gotten up
| for the benefit Of the gas monopoly of Jer-
sew City, which accounts for the will-the-
| boat-come misunderstanding goes look
which Mr.. Bob Elliott carried around the
| lobbies with him during most of the ses-
sion. Taken in connection with No. 1876,
which Mr. Bob Elliott killed by too bald
| neadedly debating to Assemblyman
| O'Neill the course he should pursue in re-
| gard to the measure. the entire scheme
\ becomes as plain as day. No, 126 en-
| powers the Board of Finance to issue
! bonds to pay any debts which the city
might now owe for gas or might here
| after owe. Mr.. Kalisch's amendment
| empowered the Street and Water Board
to mako contract with the gas company
| for period of ten years.
| MAYOR CLEVELAND'S s INTEREST.
| 1t is well known fact that Mayor
| Cleveland is interested, more directly
| that most people would imagine, in the
| Gas Monopoly of Jersey CITY. He was
| the head and one of the prime movers in
| the old Consumers Gas Company which
was going to do so much for the suffer
| ing community which had been so long
| writing in the clutches of the old Jersey
| City Gas Light Company. but which
| benefited only that portion of the COM
| munity represented by himself aud his
| associates by forcing the purchasers OF
| the old company to BUY them out at a
| handsome advance on their original in
| vestment. That Mr.. Cleveland is inter
| ested largely in the present Gas Monopoly
| is evidenced by more than one abuse OF
| his powers as the Chief Mags srate
Of Jersey City haa and hdsr it is Swell well
| for some time to have the Street
and Water Board make long contract
| with the gas monopoly. The rapidly ap-
| nroacbipg end of his hold on the city and
| any branch of its government has renewed
| mis- anxiety to secure the contract. Hence
| Mr.. Kalisch's amendment and No. 1876
| Under Mr.. Kalisch's amendment the
| Board could make contract, one OF
| those contracts which are known as un-
balanced contracts. That is the Board OF
| Street and Water Commissioners would
contract with the gas monopoly for sc
many lights at so much q
| wear In order to make the arrangement
as profitable as possible good round
sum would be charged for each light
| The Board of Finance in order to aliay
| public clamor and keep down the tax
| budget would not appropriate sum suffi
| cient to meet the amount due the com
pany, and balance would accumulate
! each year.
| Then No. 1876 would have its innings
Under the thereafter" clause of the bill
the Board OF Finance would issue ~ pei
cent, bonds for the deficiency, and thus
would the gas monopoly not only secure
| a monopoly of the city's lighting for
| long term of years. but it would find {
| gilt edge investment for some of its sur
plus funds.
| WHERE ARE THOSE GAS BILLS?
| No One Seems to Know Anything Abou
Them.
1t is somewhat OF mystery just wha
bills the city owes Mr.. Bob Elliort's gal