The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-04-04


THE SAME OLD GANG.
"If sharper had come along and said;
Il propose TO grab 25 per cent. mort
gage upon the city, he would have been
watched. The debt was piled up, and
yet there was no uprising. and not until
the financial condition attracted the at
tention of political economists through
out the nation who filed the various
magazines columns with articles upon
the subject did the people of this city
wake up to the fact we had such bur-
den resting upon us. Applause. That
same gang is now trying to get back its
grip upon the City Treasury. That gang
issued more bonds. incurred more debt in
one year than the party to which belong
has piled up in eighteen years." Tire
mendOus applause.
"PaDgborn says am theorist; say
that ali finance is theoretical. Yet the
rules of finance are as simple as a, b q.
First. see that the outgo is not greater
than the income. Second, if the necessi-
ties are greater than the income then cut
down the necessities or make greater
effort for better income. Let our
maxim be Pay as we go.' [Applausel
This will 90 in municipal affairs towards
prosperity as surely as if it We're placed
over the door of any business house In
the world. The debt can be reduced.
The mortgage can be retired. lContinu-
Gus applause.]
II hold in my hand statement from
ex-Comptroller George p. Hall, to the
effect that from Decem ber l, 1888, to April
l, 1885 (Mr. McDermott's term as Presi-
dent of the Finance Board) the debt of
the city was reduced $740.2O0."
PLEDGES RENEWED.
Mr.. McDermott reiterated his pledge to
remove every unfit man from office; also
his promises concerning public schools.
He knew there were many children de-
prived of 'those Intellectual tools"
necessary for them to successfully wage
the battle of life. He could not for mo-
ment tolerate the idea, the humiliation of
being OBLIGED to turn his back upon a
single bright. rosy-faced child VINO came
tapping at the doors OF the public schools
with the request, "Giye me the jewels of
education that may intelligenlly battle
with the problems of life" [Applause.]
In support of his position upon this
ground Mr.. McDermott read from the
minutes of the Finance Board, when he
was President, O communication of his
own to the effect that all other question
Of government sank into insignificance
when compared to the Importance Of pro-
viding school accommodations for every
child in the city. sWe can get along"
said the speaker, closing the minute book,
'far better without new City Hall than
school houses" Wild cheering and cop-
tinuous applause.l
"There has BEEN" continued the
speaker further on, mo more attempt to
properly assess this city during the last
twenty years than if there had been no
assessors or assessment books. The idea
of appointing assessors every year is
ridiculous. They simply copy the books
of their predecessors. The books are a
mass of guess work aud farce. The as
sessments would not be upheld in any
court. The secret of finding out the fair
and equitable valuation of property is to
burn every assessors book in the City
Hall and make new assessment. APP
plauseI Let us place the various prop
critics at their full value or sixty per cent.
of it. or whatever figure may be fixed
upon: but let the burden fall upon all
equally. [Applause.] / will say. how
ever. that were it not for adjoining towns
forcing upon us their internally unjust
valuations, this city's tax levy would be
promise you there shall be Il new and
equitable assessment from the Hudson to
the Hackensack and from West Hoboken
to the Bayonne line. or I'll remove the
Board of Assessors. [Applause.]
sLANDERERS ANSWERED.
Replying to the lying charge of a New
York paper concerning his religious be-
lief, Mr.. McDermott said he would not
forfeit his right to believe that every man
should be allowed to worship God accord
ing to his own conscience If he thought he
could be elected by every vote cast in the
city. 1t is the grandest privilege OF
American citizenship, and the flag above
us guarantees the protection that every
man shall believe as he sees fit
This declaration of the speaker was re-
ceived with the widest shouts of ap-
proval that greeted the speakers utter
ances, except his answer to Major
Pangborn's question as to what his opin-
to, Ofo nri fron
His answer was, '1t should be met with
the law" ana yet he knew of no greater
crime against the franchise of the State
than that of the eleven Senators sworn to
do their duty who unseated Edward T.
Mcdonald.
Mr.. McDermott closed his biggest
speech of the campaign with graphic
word picture of the sanity" MCGEE
standing up in the Republican Mayoralty
Convention with Tom Potter's check for
5000 for the "Glorious Cause" in one hand
and the 4-11-44 Farrier check of $50 in the
other. He further explained the we'll
known animus of Potter's attempt to de-
feat him, because he had shown in
public court how Potter. as Republi-
can member of the Board of Education
had bounded female school teacher be-
cause she refused to be his mistress. He
followed her as no hound ever followed
runaway slave through the cane
cluded the eloquent speaker, pm unfit
for mayor. but | promise you. if elected
I'll appoint neither Tom Potter nor Mr..
Farrier to the Finance Board" laugh
ter, drowned by a tumulJ of applause
GOVERNOR ABBETT's SPEECH.
Governor Albeit was next introduced
and received with enthusiastic cheers.
He said he wished TO say word for Mr..
McDermott and the Democratic party.
He had known Mr.. McDermott from boy
hood. Mr.. McDermott studied law in his
office. In every public office he had held
Mr.. McDermott had done honor to those
who elected him. He had shown the
traits OF honesty and integrity "His
political opponents" said the Governor,
'do not question his pers onal character.
They do not question his ability, mis- irou
will. In every office he has held he has
shown fidelity to the people who elected
him, energy and honesty. His enemies
say when he takes upon himself the
duties of the Office OF Mayor he will be
controlled by a ring. l ask you TO look
at his past record of political manhood.
Where is the record of this man Wan
ser. his opponent? Can you point to any
single act he ever did to especially benefit
Jersey Cityp No. Every politician will
be attacked by those who are opposed to
him. But the American people will try
him by his record, no matter what his
enemies may say against him. lap
plause] For the benefits of the Railroad
Tax Act you are much indebted to Allan
l.. McDermott. [Applausel. That act
was passed during my first term as Gov
ernor. The fight with the railroad cor