The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-08-19

The Consolidated o rdinance.
The Newark Eoening NeDs heads a
Geographic report Of the hearing be-
fore Acting Mayor Simpson in refer
nee to the Consolidated Traction
Company's ordinance with the words
"0bject to the Trolley" This is a
serious misunderstanding. There is
no objection in this city to the troll
ley. Neither is there any objection
Or hostility to the Consolidated Trac-
ton Company. There is no objection
TO the extension of the Jersey City
and Bergen lines. On the contrary,
there is a general eager demand in
this city for fast transit and more of
it; there is a general recognition of
The fact that the trolley is the most
available system for general use here
at-this time, and it is further gener-
ally granted that the Jersey City and
Bergen, with its allies, are in good
shape to give the city a fine service
when a few more concessions are
granted TO them. The people are
therefore willing to have those con-
sessions made.
But what the people object to is
The extraordinary extent OF the con-
sessions made to the company by the
Street and Water Board, and the ex
:raordinary way in which they have
been made.
First OF all, the people object to the
wholesale surrender of all the streets
n the city to the company. They
believe that the company has no
present intention Of using them. and
hat many of them could not, at this
lime. be used with profit by the COM
pany. The people believe that the
purpose of the company in securing
control of them now is to exclude all
other traction or transit companies
rom the streets of the city. In other
words, the people see that the Con-
Iolidated Traction Company's de-
Tign is to obtain an i~mpregnabi6 mo
aopoly of the street railway business
IF this city, and to this there is an
objection SO strong that no words are
,quaI to representing it in all its
Energy. II this grant be really made
oy the city authorities. We believe
he people will never rest until every
,ne connected with it is lodged in
State Prison.
This is the first and broadest objee-
ion to the Consolidated ordinance.
The second is the purposelY vague
Ind elusive manners in which the Ques-
ion OF compensation to the city is
iealt with. In plain English, the
public regard the famous five per
,ent. clause as a deception and a
fraud. Taken at its full par value,
he people believe it would afford the
aty a ridiculouslY insufficient COM
pensation for the vast grants and
franchises awarded to the company.
But nobody believes that the city
iould really gain under it even such
payments as 1t pT2f2G tGele pretends
20 provide for. Every one regards it
IS a mere juggle which would enable
he company to pay just what it
pleased, and in the long run force the
ity to make a new agreement and ac-
,ept some stated annual sum instead
If a percentage of the company's earn
ngs.
There r other minor points; but
'hese are the main grounds of objec-
ion to the ordinance wickedly and
,orruptly passed by the Board OF
Public Planderers. commonly known
Is the Street and Water Board. The
people of this city are inclined to be
fery liberal with the Consolidated
Fraction Company; but they do not
propose to surrender all their rights to
hat corporation.