The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-04-28
VERY DARK Light.
True InWardness of the
Mayors Five Year
Gas Job.
FINANCIERS INDIGNANT.
MIR. Edelslein's Spirited Resolutions
and CleYeland's Cynical Com
ment on 1t.

Inc urSC CLASS IOr I'VE years ~ W oO ooSUcu'
Assemblyman J. Herbert Potts will make
the test, and the money Of the Farriers'
will pay all costs. hot fight is to be
made. and it is possible the f1ve-year con-
tracts made last Monday afternoon by the
Street and Water Commissioners, which
are the delight of Mayor Cleveland's
heart. will be broken.
Democratic leaders have been fully
posted, ever since Colonel Wanser's cleo
tion on Mayor Clsveland's deals and
dicker. They know that the making OF
the street lighting contracts is his work;
the operation hinges on one OF the episodes
of the recent session of the Legislature.
On March 16, last, under the headline
"This Gas Smells Bad" The JERSEY CITY
NEWS told the story of two infamous
bills, which We're introduced in the
Legislature, and one of which became
law because its true effect and intent
were not detected in time. These bllls
were known as Assembly bills Nos. l26
and 1853. No. 1853 is now law OF the
State, and If it is not unconstitutional on
technical grounds. it confirms and binds
upon the city Mayor Cleveland's mon
st;ous job, viz, the contract for illumin-
aUing streets, avenues. alleys, lanes for
i've years.
MlGdII GAfaoAlNs
These contracts are SO w0rded that any
quantity of light the company may
choose to furnish the city, by the grace of
the Street and Water Board must be paid
for. The Finance Board may appropri-
ate as much or as little as it pleases, but
once the lights are ordered and furnished,
the company can sue and get Judgment
for the price.
County Clerk Mclaughlin did all in his
power to prevent the making OF these
contracts, and for three mouths held the
matter in allegiance in the Board of Street
and Water Commissioners. Mayor Cleve-
land, it is said, demanded. in recognition
of certain services he would be called
upon to perform for the party. the pass
age of the contracts. Mr.. Mclaughlin
positively refused to dicker with him. and
then Mr.. Cleveland threw the party lead
ers overheard and went his own way,
The making of the contracts Is clean
knockout for the Jersey City Electric
Light Company, which is controlled by
the Farriers.
A BIT OF HISTORY.
There but two electric companies in the
city, and the Hudson County Electric
Com pany is a part and parcel of the
United Gas Improvement Company.
Originally, Mayor Cleveland was direc-
| tor in the old Consumers Gas Light Com
pany. He was made President of this
company and at his suggestion
the Jersey City Gas Light Com,
pany was Leased tsa psop. mhsa ds folowed
| Company. This gave Cleveland and his
associates a monopoly of the gas trade.
| Subsequently the United Gas Improve
ment Company was organized and that
| company now embodies all the companies
=, named, rs also the New York and New
| Jersey Globe Gas Light Company. which
| figures conspicuously in the recent con-
| tracts, having received the award for
| furnishing 1000 oil lamps at $1.68 per
| lamp per month.
The same officers control all of these
companies. as we'll as the Hudson Elec-
| trio light Company. and the revenue de-
| rived from the contracts with the city Is
| apportioned amongst but one set of stock
holders. Mayor Cleveland is not now a
director.
| QUEER BUSINESS.
The advertisement for street illuminat-
| ing as originally issued by the Street and
| Water Commissioners, called for esti-
mates extending over a term of one year.
Bids were received, but rejected, and a
new advertisement was issued,
which stated no definite time.
Under this advertisement the
Jersey City Electric Light Company sub
| mitted bid OF 30 cents per electric lamp
per night. while the Hudson Electric
Light Company's bid was but 33 cents
lamp per night. The latter bid Is down
to cost price and the company was enabled
to do this because of its monopoly of the
gas trade. What is lost on the
electric light CONTRACT is more
than doubled on tne gas
and oil contracts. The advertisement un-
/ der which the estimates of the successful
| companies were submitted were pub
lished ten months ago. and this fact alone
has caused considerable speculation as to
| the legality of the estimates, under which
i +ho fro or fhrpQ daVa
CONTRACTS NOT SIGNED.
Mayor Cleveland lost no time in signing
| the resolutions making the contracts
binding. but Corporation Attorney Hud-
| speth has not as yet drawn up the con-
| tracts, which require the signatures of
the Mayor and City Clerk Scott.
These may now never be signed. There
| is A serious hitch. The ignoring of the
| Board of Finance in the whole operation
has resulted disastrously for the Mayor,
as will be shown in the proceedings at a
| meeting of that body held this morning.
| President Edelstein. Commissioners
Allen and kedell were the only
members present. 1t was just
eleven O'Clock when President
Edelstein announced that he had resolu-
tion to offer. 1t is a rare thing for Mr..
| Edelstein to present resolutions, but
| open ones eyes is sure to follow. This
| mornings production was no exception.
| AN EYE OPENER.
| The resolution offered by Mr.. Edelstein
| read as follows:-
Whereas, this Board believes that it is mex
pedient for the city to enter into any contract for
the lighting of the streets for term of years at
| the present time; and
| whereas the Board of Street and Water Com
| missioners is reported to have voted for such
| contract for term of five years, and as there is
| serious doubt as to whether said contract was
1 properly advertised;
| Resolved, That under the circumstances this
| Board believes said contract to be not In accord
| with the best interests of the city, and his
| Honor the Mayor and the City Clerk be respect
/ fully requested not to sign said contract in be-
/ half of the city, and the Corporation Attorney
| be requested TO refuse to prepare sad contract.
| The resolution was unanimously
| adopted and copies were Immediately
| served upon Mayor Cleveland, City Clerk
| Scott and Corporation Attorney Huds-
| meth. That this action will terminate in
q fine row is conceded by all who know
| of the inside workings of the gas deal.
The news of the action of the Board of
| Finance spread like wild-tire about the
| City Hall and vicinity, and within five
| minutes after its passage, Robert Elliott
of the Electric Gas and Oil Lamp Com
panies, was eIoseted with Mayor Cleve-
land. Elliott was disturbed, but Mayor
Cleveland was as cool as the proyerbial
/ cucumber and smile that played about
his face seemed to say, "MY signature is
required Oh all the warrants passed by
my friends, the Finance Commissioners. y
| The Mayor, however, was reckoning