The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-03-01
MR.. SMITHS FAREWELL.
lanes, Jr., Makes His Exit
From the Newark Street
and Water Board.
specia, to The Jersey city Nesos.

NEWARK, March l, 1S98.-James Smith,
Jr., resigned the position of President of
the Boark of Street and Water Commits
sioners last night. The meeting was
called in accordance with his expressed
desire, and during its session he bade
farewell to his colleagues.
Mr.. Smith shortly after the meeting be-
gan called DR.. Hendry to preside and
took the floor. He said:
s'The reason that asked to have these
matters laid over was that when con-
tracts are made, 1t is necessary TO have
the President of the Board sign them.
This will be the last meetlngat which
will be member of the Board. Before
leaving it, however. there are some state
ments which would like TO make in re-
gard to what the Board has done since
its formation.
81 desire to say that I became unwil-
lingly member of this Board. Not be-
cause believed it was not good thing
for the city, for knew that II properly
managed i5 would have better results
than the methods adopted by the COM
mon council in governing the city. le
was because owed duty to the city OF
Newark that l accepted the position.
Sometimes 1 have felt guilty because !
could not give the position the time and
attention that it requires.
"a man who holds position as menu
ber of this Boaro should give IL all his at
tention. Since the Board has been In
power il has done more for the cleanliness
of our streets than was ever done IN the
same time before. and without expendfng
any more money. 1t is true that the
streets are not as clean now as some OF
our citizens would like to see them, but
they have been kept in better condltion
than they ever were by the Street Com
mittee of the Common Council"
MR.. SMITH RESIGNS.
Mr.. Smith reviewed the work OF the
past year, and then concluded his re-
marks Rs follows:-
'1n leaving the Board l do SO with a
great deal of pleasure, owing to the fact
that l am about to assume the duties
of the high position to which l
have been elected. Still. with
Iuctant to leave the City of Newark
or its government. Iregret leaving the
Board, because each aud every one OF its
msnDers and employees has been SO con-
siderate, kind and respectful to me. 10
them is due largely the good results OBJ
tanned during my career as PRESIDENT.
I'm leaving the Board 1t affords me
pleasure to know that am leaving it in
such good bands. 1t is thoroughly sys-
tematiZed, and the work, am sure, Will
go on just as well as If were here.
In years to come I hope that can look
back with pleasure to the acquaintances
I have formed and the work That mas
been done by this Board.
81 hereby tender my resignation as
President"
Commissioner Harlan arose and said:
I'm moving that this resign alton be ac-
cepted I do SO with great deal OF reel
Ing and reluctance. as | feel that this
board is sustaining a severe loss." he
cont1au ued, spenHing of the amount of
good that Mr.. Smith had accomplished
while a member of the board, and said
that the loss was some ewhat tempered by
the fact that if his advice was needed
Mr.. Smith would always be found ready
and willing to give it.
Colonel Price made short address, ex-
pressing the sentiments of the general
officers of the Board. He said:-"The
Board has been looked upon as a child or
his creation, made necessary by the ex-
igencies of the municipal government"
The metien to accept the resignation
was carried unanimously.
After each member of the Board had
spoken his sentiments, a resolution pre-
sented by Commissioner Harlan was
adopted.
The resolution congratulated Mr.Smith
on his accession to the high Office, upon
the duties of which he is about TO enter,
and expressed the feeling of the members
of the board as to his resign alton.
DR.. HBNDRY ELECTED PRESIDENT.
Senator Smith then nominated DR..
Hendry for the presidency. He said that
he felt that the nomination would meet
with the approval OF the citizens, as DR..
Hendry has been practically Ia training
to succeed him for a year past He con-
tinued:-'No city of 100000 population in
the United States is as conservative as
the city of Newark. Whenever a change
OF any kind is made the people stand and
look on with considerable suspicion and
wonderment as to what the result will
be.
..The reason, think, for this is that
our citizens have earned their money in
small way and by degrees. There are
but few people who have become wealthy
In one night. This, in itself, is good
thing. for it will! keep public men from
going on in reckless and extravagant
manner.
..Some of our citizens have criticised
! us harshly, In fact too much so. The
newspapers have also been unkind to us
at times, but do not doubt that their
criticisms have been actuated by the very
best motives. and that they have but done
| what they thought best for the public
good.
s'It is question how the Board should
be made up, Whether the members
should be appointed or elected is mat
ter of public debate and one which will
probably not be settled until the Leoisla-
ture afjourns. In leaving this Board lido
not know who my successor will be, but l
feel sure that the Mayor will appoint
man who is equally capable with myself
of attending to my duties of the posi-
tion.''
Dr. Hendry was unanimously elected to
serve as President of the board. In ac-
cepting the office he thanked his fellow
Com nnissioners for the honor conferred
upon him. He said that he felt he would
not be able to, occupy the place as efficl-
emily AZ his predecessor as he WAS not as
thoroughly posted on municipal affairs as
Senator Smith.
The meeting then resumed rou tine
business.
AFTER TWENTY FIVE YEARS.
The divorce suit of Whtem Broeser
aoainst Catharjna Rroaser was ,-iled for