davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-24
MUNICIPAL pI0KINas.

One of the most hypocritical act of this
Pharisaical Legislature was its grab of the
police justiceships of Jersey City and New
ark Even this grab, unwarranted as it was,
struck them as needing some excuse and so'
they resorted to their old cant about econ
omy. They attempted TO throw dust into
the peoples eyes by shouting from the house
tops that they would save the taxpayers
large amount of money annually by abolish
ing one police justice. All the time they
knew that there was work enough in each
city for the three justices and even now it is
whispered about that next year if they
secure control of the Legislature again, they
will provide for the third.
How much sincerity there is in all these
pretensions OF legislating to save the peoples
money is made manifest in the bill which
the Republicans passed creating a law de-
partment for Jersey City and Newark.
That bill provides for Corporation Coun-
fel at &C. 600 year, a Corporation Attorney
at 81, 600 and an Assistant Attorney at ST..
800. In vain did Mr.. McEwah raise his
voice IN protest against this measure, and
point out that it increased the expenditure of
Jersey City for law officers $4,000 There
were too many good Republicans starving
for public pap and they had to be provided
for. At first, the Reformers tried prevari-
cation, and said taat the bill was not man
dat0rv, and Jersey Cityis Mayor need not
But when some Of the Democratic leader S
pointed out that the bill left the Mayor no
discretion, the Republicans flung off the
mask of righteousness. aud rushed the
measure through without attempting TO ex-
cuse it,
Another unrighteous grab of this Reform
Legislature was taking the Police Depart
ments of Trenton. Camden and Paterson to-
gether with the police justices out of the
hands Of the Democrats and giving them to
the Republicans.
Ex-SheriT Thompson of Union county,
who is now Street Commissioner of Eliza
beth, is another democrat who, the republi-
cans in the Legislature think. needs reform
ing by giving his Office up TO republican.
The Excise Board of that city is also in the
line of the same kind of reform, and bill
has been passed legislating the commissioners
out Of Office
The hasely partisan bills to obtain control
Of the Boards OF Freeholders OF the first and
second class counties, and the bitter struggle
which they caused in both chambers are too
recent to need more than a passing notice
They were in the direct line of partisan leg
islation and intended to increase the power
and patronage of the Republican party in
those counties.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-24
TUE HAOKENsAOK NUISANCE.

Some hot sitting night this summer,
when the citizens of Jersey City Heights
strive to catch Whit of cool air on their
porches and the vile stencil from the Shan
ley manure heaps on the Hackensack
Meadows, waited over their section Of the
city by the western breeze, drives them into
their houses and compels them to close their
doors and windows, they will have ample
opportunity to ruminate upon the sincerity
of Republican pledges.
The fight which the County Board of
Health made in the courts to abate this
Stanley nuisance, and the defeat the board
met with, owing to the wording of the law
on the subject, is we'll known in Jersey City.
A bill was introduced in the Legislature to
Felnedy the defect in the law SO that the
nuisance could be reached by the Court of
Chancery.
It took fight oget that measure out of
committee also. When it finally came up on
final passage, it was opposed by the power
full railroad lobby which circulated the re
port that it was strike against the wealthy
Shanleys, while a prominent Jersey City
lawyer declared most emphatically that the
stenches complained of did not come from
the manure heaps, but from the hog abattoir
next to them.
BY such arguments as these the minds OF
many of the rural members were preJudiced
against the measure, and it barely squeezed
through the House 1t went over to the
Senate where it still remains, never to be-
come law, presumably.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-24
STEALING ASSEMBLY SEATS.

Where can there be found anything to
slrpass the iniquity of the Republicans de-
liberate. steal Of an Assemblynlan from
Hunterdon county, Members of their own
party condemn it and declare that it is with
out excuse.
In this Legislature Hunterdon has two
members, and, under the new system, when
Assemblyrlen are elected at large, it would
return two democrats. Camden, on the
other hand, is strongly Republican, and will
elect Republican members. In order to gain
one more sure Republican seat, the Legisla-
ture took an Assemblyman from Hunter don
and gave it to Camden
On a parallel with this grand larceny is
the attempt to gain another Assemblyman
for Essex at the expense of Hudson. Al
though all its advocates deny that there is
any politics in the Harrison and kearny an
nexation scheme, some of its most promi-
mont promoters privately declare that its
primary object is to throw more Republican
votes into Essex, and make mora sure the
ascendency of the party in that county and
to ultimately give the county ano ther AS
semblyman, who will have TO come from
Hudson
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-24
FOR PURE ELECTIONS.

Another angelic measure which the Re
publican Legislature passed in the interest
of good government and political morality is
a new charter for Atlantic City, which
strengthens the party's grip on the most
fourishing and enterprising seaside city of
South Jersey. If there is one thing above
another which the Republicans like to pirate
about it il their undying affection for pure
and undefiled elections. Experience has
shown that the election law passed in 1890,
and known as the Werts law, is one of the
best IN the country But it does not suit the
Republicans, and one of the first things the
Legislature did was to tinker its provisions
until rauch OF its usefulness is impaired.
They passed bill introduced by Senator
Ketcham. the s.reformer" from Newark
which aboishes the house to house canvass,
and provides that the courts shall not sit for
naturalization from October l to election
day. 1t confines the official ballots to the
polling place and anyone who carries one
outside of the booth is, upon conviction, to
be punished by 50, 900 fine and two years
ir1r1s-ispnTaeYt
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-24
ERIE ELEVATION.

The residents of the northern part of Jer-
sey City between the Erie Railroad Com
pany's tracks and the Hobolsen city line are
another section of the dear people who will
not bank much hereafter on the Republicans
protestations of love and regard for the
peoples rights. The struggle which those
men have been maintaining to compel the
Erie Railway to elevate its tracks through
this section Of the city is well known as are
also the very strong and urgent reasons why
the tracks should go up. MIR Carroll intro
duoed bill in the House to compel the COM
pany TO make the elevation aud it took the
course of all other measures introduced to
protect the peoples rights.
The Committee on Railways and Canals
attempted to smother it and only after a
hard fought battle Mr.. Carroll succeeded in
securing enough votes to get it out and
placed on the calendar This had the effect
of rallying the strong railroad lobby to the
help of the Erie. They attacked the bill
again and again with renewed vigor They
made common cause against the people and
found ready and willing allies in the self
appointed champions of popular rights. The
bill was defeated by Republican votes.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-24
crisy Of this highly moral band Of reform
ers and economists,
WHAT THEY DID.
A MORAL % sUBTERFUGE.

One of the first bills introduced into the
Senate, and which became law was No. o,
introduced by Mr.. Ketcham. Its simple
and harmless title represented it as an amend
ment to the State education act, and 1t was
SO connected with that section of the law,
which prohibits any other religious exer-
clses in the public schools than the reading
of the Scripture and the recital of the
Lords Prayer, that the good citizen who
casually glanced at the bill, supposed that
it was throwing another safeguard around
the public schools of the State.
But beneath this religious cloak was a
scheme to turn over the office of the Super
intendent of the State School Census to a
republican, and this measure is good il
lustration of the careful and ingenious man
ner in which the Republicans planned their
raid upon the offices even back in those days
when they were shouting the loudest about
the great and good things they were going
to do for the comnonweal The Superin-
tendent of the Census is appointed 10y the
Governor and If they abolished Mr.. Mat
thews the present incumbent, there was
good reason to believe that the Governor
would appoint another good democrat. 1t
was necessary, therefore, TO place the ap-
pointing power in some board controlled by
the Republicans. But there was no board
connected with the school system which the
party controlled and it was determined TO
steal one in the way the Awful Dodger
takes pocketbook or watch without at
tracing notice.
So in came this alleged religious bill,
which did nothing more nor less than make
the State Treasurer member of the Board
of Trustees of the school fund, and throw
that board into the hands of the Republican
party. When this was discovered Senator
Ketcham and his highly moral associates
explained that. as the Treasurer was the
disbursing officer of the State, it was only
right that he should be member of the
board which had charge of the school
moneys. This f1shy explanation deceived no
one, and when, some time after, the bill be-
came a law, another bill came in giving the
Trustees the appoint ment or the superinten-
dent, it did not occasion much surprise. 1t
might be said in passing that owing to quar-
rels among the Republicans over the office,
Mr. Matthews still remains superintendent
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-24
HARRIsoN-KEARNY TALK.
Speeches For and Against the Ans
nexatIsn Scheme.
SDeci0J to the .JeYseU Citp ]

Specialize the Jersey City NciCS.
TRENTON, May "a. 1894. 4.-Kearny was very
much in evidence here last evening. About
seventy-five of the inhabitants of the cat-tail
village journeyed down on a special train,
and resplendent in white silk badges bearing
in blue letters the legend ''Kearny for AM
nexation to Essex, made themselves con-
spicuous in every part of the State House.
A large delegation of gentlemen from Hud-
son county are also on hand and they wore
blue badges with the motto in gold letters,
Hudson Solid Forever"
At the conclusion of the evenings session
number of Senators gave the rival delega-
tions hearing on the question of passing
over the Governors veto the bill which pro-
vides for the annexation OF Harrison and
Kearny to Essex county. Senator Hluch-
life presided and Senators Daily and
Ketcham alone stayed to listen to the
speeches.
The arguments advanced were those which
have been brought forward at the previous
hearings on the bill, and nothing new was
said either for or against the annexation.
City Counsel Kenny of Kearnystcok charge or
the matter for the annexationists and intro
duced the speakers.
The first speaker was Isaac T. Bloodgood
Of Arlington, which is in the Township of
kearny he said he spoke as manufac-
turer Of Kearny. The growth of the tive
townships was from New York and Essex,
and not from Jersey City or Hudson. The
business men of the two places did all their
business and banking in Newark, and COM
Continued on Fourth Page.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-24
INDUSTRIAL INSURANCE.

There are in this state number of in
surance companies, all or which are wealthy.
One, the Prudential of Newark, is particu-
buildings in the State, and its assets run up
into the millions. One Of the chief sources
of profit of these companies arises from poll
cies which are forfeited for pon-payment of
premiums. The great majority of the policy.
holders are poor working men and women,
who pay these premiums in weekly install
lnents. 1t frequently happens that these
people pay regularly for two or three years,
often DENYING themselves the necessities of
life in order to keep up their insurance, and
then through sickness, loss of work or SINH
lar calamity they default in their payments.
Their policies are cancelled, and the money
they have paid in goes to the profit of the
companies.
Mr. Eisele who is an insurance man doing
business in Newark, introduced bill COM
pelling these companies to issue a paid up
policy in cases where the insured have
regularly paid up three years premiums
AS soon as the companies heard of it they
made concerted attack upon the measure.
They sent down to Trenton their most ex-
perience6 lobbyists, while the Shrewdest and
most skillful of those on the ground were en-
listed in their behalf. They attacked the
bill insidiously. Some of the smaller com
DAuleS announced FbDab4 II WUulQ Kill Uil6Ii
and drive them out of business. They
clamored for an amendment changing the
time from three to five years. Mr., Eiseles
fought them almost single handed, but it was
of no avail The best he could do was
secure four years. The companies pretended
to be satisfied with that and said they had no
objections to the measure so amended, but
nevertheless they continued their opposition
secretly and tried to bring about its defeat.
Mr.. Eisele, however, was a stubborn
fighter He never seemed to know when he
was defeated He kept hammering away
until he finally forced the bill through the
House.
But then there was the ordeal of the Sem
ate
1t went to the Senate and was referred to
the Committee on Banks and Insurance.
Days passed by, and bills which had been re-
ferred to the same committee after it began
to make their appearance, but nothing was
seen or heard of the peoples insurance
measuree 1t was currently rumored that
the companies. in one of which Franklin
Murphy, chairman of the Republican State
Committee, is deeply Interested had sue
ceeded in Hanging up'' the measure, as the
phrase goes in Legislative circles. Wilbur
Mott. secretary of the Republican Senate,
was one of the most active Of the bills en-
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-24
EQUAL TAXATION.

The same committee on. railroads and
canals put the quietus on another bill which
secured for the people justice at the expense
of the corporations. For years, one of the
scandals of this State has been the manner
in which the large railroad companies ac-
.quire possession of large tracts Of land, and
at once take therefrom the valuation of the
city or town where they are situated, there
by reducing the amount of taxable property
and necessarily increasing the taxes of the
non-corporate owners Of property Many
efforts have been made to secure the passage
OF a law which would remedy this ovil and
when this great reform Legislature, this
body that was called into existence to be a
sort Of modern Moses, and lead the people
of New Jersey out OF the POLITICAL corporate
and every other kind Of bondage under
which they groaned, the poor oppressed tax
payer thought his deliverance was at hand.
So. early in the session, a bill was intre-
duced providing that the property of rail-
road companies should be taxed at the same
rate and under the same conditions as that
Of individuals. The bill went to the Com
nlittee en- Railroad and Canals, and was
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-24
OHEAP GAs DESIRED.

Every householder will remember with
everything but pleasure this highly moral,
economical and reform Legislature as he
glances each month at his gas bill. 1t has
been demonstrated over aud over again to
the satisfaction of all reasonable people that
gas, such as is served to the cities of this
State can be manufactured and sold at 81 a
thousand feet, and yield the companies a
handsome profit. During the session, bill
was introduced fixing the price Of gas at
s125 per Thousand feet. There was some
opposition to the bill on the part of Messrs.
Storrs, Olcott and others ardent reformers
of that stripe but the measure managed to
make its way through the House.
Considerable surprised was expressed at
the time over the fact that apparently the
gas companies were making no effort to de-
feat the bill as mono of their prominent
agents were to be seen about during its pas
sage But when the bill reached the Senate
the mystery was explained. 1t went to a
committee, and there it is to this day as
harmless as the proyerbial dove. And there
it, will stay
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-24
BARNEY F0RD's HEAD.

One of the most iniquitous acts of this
shameless Legislature was the decapitation
of Bernard J. Ford, who for the past Ave
years has been the Superintendent of the
State House and Grounds. Under his ener-
getic management the grounds have been
Transformed from little better than bare
and stony patches to gardens of fragrant
and beautiful flowers, while the sandy waste
back of the Capitol which was covered with
pools of stagnant water from the Delaware
and used to be q common refuse dump, has
blossorned into pretty park, ornamented
with shade trees. The interior of the State
House was never in better shape and all,
irrespective of party, whose business takes
them to Trenton, praise the management of
Superintendent Ford. Last year his salary
was increased by bill which received the
votes of almost all the Republicans in both
Houses.
But Mr. Ford is democrat and that was
all the political accidents of this Legislature
wanted to know about him. In their eyes
that was enough to damn him, and besides
there were plenty of good republicans out in
the cold who, in their estimation, would
make just as good Superintendent as Mr..
Ford, and he would have to go
QUARRELING OVER THE SPoILs.
But quarrel sprung up over his success
sor Essex wanted the position and Mercer
declared that Essex was gobbling up every
thing, and she was going to have this office.
So bitter did the fight become that it was
agreed to appoint two officers TO succeed Mr..
Ford, one Of whom should go to Essex and
the other to Mercer-an in the interest of
economy But the howl of popular indig-
nation which this aroused gave the leaders
another spasHl and they compelled the spoiis
men to drop one office.
The original scheme provided for taking
the appointment from the Governor and Civ
ing it to the State Treasurer and Comptrol-
ler One is an Essex man and the other is
from Mercer. So determined were both
counties to secure the position that it was
apparent that the looping off of the Assist
ant Superintendent would renew the bitter
quarrel with disastrous results to the general
welfare of the party Accordingly the Gov
ernor was added to the appointing power SO
that the blame Of the appointment can be
placed on his shoulders.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-24

thought that as soon as it was made known
that Mr.. O'Neill had shed his blood for his
country and had undergone the prlvatons
of a Southern prison, the bill would be
promptly killed.
But they lost sight of one very important
aspect Of the case. Mr.. O'Neill is a demo-
crat and there are hungry Republican
mouths in Jersey City to be fed. The old
soldier is a glorious institution when he votes
the Republican ticket, bat when he has the
temeritv TO cast his ballot for the Demo-
cratic nominee. he forfeits all the consider
alton he was ever entitled to at the hands Of
the nation and puts himself on the same level
with the county jumper and the man who
hired a substitute.
f4When the bill ousting Mr.. O'Neill came
up on final passage, Notwithstanding that
the hypocrisy of the majority party was laid
bare to the scorn and ridicuie Of all fair
minded people, it went through with a rush
1t is among those measures upon which the
Governor has not yet taken action.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-24
.PILING UP 7HE VOTES.
Three New Candidates In the
Teachers Popularity
Contest.

The weather was too severe this morning
for voting in the Teachers Popularity Con-
test, and as there are many days remaining
in which votes may be cast of course many
did not brave the storm and push forward
their favorites However votes were re-
ceived for three new candidates, and Miss
Minnie v Shanley. the popular clerk in
Superintendent Snyder's office jumped into
third place. The friends of Miss Weyner
are resting on their oars, but tomorrow a
big vote is expected in her favor.
Though Miss Julia O'Toole shows no in
crease III her vote, many III Hoboken are
clipping for her, and she promises 10 be IN
the lead at the ena
The new candidates today are Miss r. Col
vim OF No. {, Miss. Davies of No. 3 and Miss
Hurlhey Of No. 4.
LIKES HIS TEACHER.
Accompanying Miss Hurlhey's votes was
the following
10 the Jersea G. tn News Co..
These are for Miss Hurlhey, No, School from
Master Cavanagh, her pupil knowing She will poll
big vote when she is started.
In answer to an inquiry we would say that
the teacher who wins the contest may go to
whatever part of Europe she desires, and
may do with the prize money whatever she
pleases, the only condition being that she
make the trip to Europe The supposition
case, that young lady may visit relatives
in one city in England, and only there,
spending the summer, is legitimate, and
within the lines Of the rules governing the
contest.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-24
THE WATER BILL.

No better proof that the present Legis-
lature is owned body and soul be the cor
porations could be wanted than the Senates
action on Mr.. Bradley's bill providing for
the appointment Of a State Water Board
Those who have given the matter serious
attention view with alarm the manner in
which private corporations are swiftly TAX
ing possession. of the available supplies of
potable water throughout the State and
holding them for private gain Experts de-
clare that this is one Of the most important
questions of the day. The rapid rate at
which the population Of the State is increas-
ing and the demand for potable water is
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-24

gently tucked in its little bed to sleep the
sleep that knows no waking.
But things did not go smoothly with the
committee
Inquiries began l De made about the bill
and Interested citizens came to Trenton ask
ing to be heard upon the measure. Finally
fhecommittee gave a hearing, A number
of gentlemen from Jersey City appeared and
spoke in favor of the bill, while the repre-
sentative of one railroad was the lone op
ponent.
His eloquence and arguments, however,
outweighed those of the Jersey City men,
for the bill has not been aroused from its
sI1,r1 l,erc vo+
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-24
THEY LOVE THE OLD SOLDIER.

One Of the largest items in the Republi-
can stock in trade is their love for the old
soldier. Nothing is so dear to their heart,
if you listen to them, than the old little
country and suffered untold misery in the
prison pens Of the Southern Confedelacy
The Republicans tell you that they made
the old soldiers the wards Of the nation; that
they passed laws for their benefit and they
alone saved them from the greed and ra-
pacity of the wicked Democrats. Among
the bills which came before this Legislature
was one legislating out of Office P. H. O'Neiu,
the City Collector of Jersey City. Mr.
slyNeiI is one of these old soldiers of whorn
the Republicans are so fond, and there were
those who in the light of ell the protesta5
tions Of regard and esteem for the veterans