The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-02-26
MR.. M'DERMOTT SPEAKS.
Reform His Object and He Must
Have Fair Field to Effect 1t.

Mr.. McDermott has settled the question
whether he will accept the Mayoralty or
not out of hand. He does not care for
the office particularly, but will accept if
the nomination be rendered him. All this
he told THE NEWS. which conveyed the
information to the public, fully week
ago. But in an interview last night Mr..
McDermott made a fuller statement of
his position. with references to his official
conduct, based upon his action while
member of the Board of Fin ance. In the
course of the Interview he said:
'There has been some adverse criticism
of a bill introduced by Assemblyman
H eany making the term of the Mayors
office five years. l drew the bill and Mr.
Heaney introduced it at my request.
There are certain problems connected
with the financial condition of this city
which should be worke out by the next
Mayor. If the present funded debt of
the city, bearing over per cent. interest,
could be retired by ~ or per cent.
onds, having length of time to run
that would make their present value
equal to that of the issues now outstand-
ing and bearing and per cent. interest,
it would be the greatest blessing that has
fallen to the lot of this municipality
since the passage of the Railroad Tax
law.
"Then there is the taxation of property
The present assessment of properly for
taxation is wrong in principle and prac-
tice. The Mayor can and should reform
it. The time has come to decide and ex-
ecute-to put this town where it belongs,
where it is entitled to be by reason of its
property, its natural advanta ges and it's
citizenship. or to let it drift do not
want any room left for mistake in this
matter. l am not satisfied with the lines
upon which the present municipal govern
ment of Jersey City is conducted. be-
lieve that better can be done, and that
the tax-rate can be lowered from a
standard which is uncomfortably close to
confiscation.
"REMINISCENCES OF 1Ss4-S5.
"You may ask what all this has to do
with the bill which | gave Mr.. Heaney,
and my explanation will have to take a
reminiscent turn. In 1SS4-S5 had the
honor of being President of the Board of
Finance and Taxation of this city, and IN
that position devoted considerable time
to our municipal questions. 1t may not
have been productive, but it was hard
work. The Board then had the appoint
ment of the members of the Board or City
Assess ors. composed of Que from each
district. The Board of Finance was ap-
pointed by the Mayor, and as Mr.. Collins,
then Mayor, without solicitation on my
part, informed me that he intended to
reappoint me, formed plans which
might have been Of some benefit to the
city.
':The courts declared the law giving the
Mayor the power to appoint the board un-
constitutional, and this left the appoint
ing power in the Board of Aldermen. A
majority of that Board were Democrats,
unt trIrn a mn n n nd ah q 70
publican in my place, and 1t came about
in this way
"An Alderman was ambitious to be ap-
pointed as an Assessor, and his candidacy
did not present itself to me with that
roseate hue which won for it the admira-
ton of his friends. So the issue was
formed. l could vote for that Alderman
for assessor, or some one would be put in
my place who would do it. / think my
answer had tinge of profanity IN it,aud.
to shorten the story. was bounced and
the Alderman was appointed assessor by
the vote of the gentlemen who succeeded
me. | have never entertained the slight
est animoslty against that Board of AL
dermen. for while was willing to stay
was glad to get out.
NOT LOOKING FOR OFFICE.
''Now, the man who Is elected Mayor of
this town on April IL will take his Office
in May, after the assessment of property
for next years taxes will have been al
most completed. He VIII have small oD-
portunities TO do more than study for sew
eral months, and if he is going to form
any plans that are worth forming he
should do so with the knowledge that he
is going to occupy the office long enough
to carry them TO fruition and without be-
ing bothered about IL reelection.
II know the answer To this. 1t will be
said that the people will recognize and
reward public services, and that the
Mayor should be above considering poll
tics and all that sort of rot which is the
stock in trade of takers who talk and
talk and are entirely too full of theories
to listen to the voice of experience. Any
Democrat elected next April for term
of two years could be reelected in 1894
All he would have to do would be to ar
range for reelection.
II am not going into that business; in
other words, would not accept a nomi-
nation for the office if the term of Two
years is continued. When l concluded
that l would accept nomination for tho
office, prepared the bill, gave it to Mr.
Heaney, aud haven't any doubt that it
will become a law. II l am mistaken in
this and the Legislature rejects the meas
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