The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-10-08
A Water slanderer Exposed.

Some time ago, we d SNcSAO -
draw attention to the remark of ex-
AssembIyman Thomas T. Lane, in MS
paper. the Orange Herald" touching
the alleged water conspiracy in this city.
We suggested to the Grand Jury of TINS
county that it subpoena Mr.. Lane and
ascertain from him the grounds on which
he made his charges. 1t was hardly TO
be assumed that any man INDUCED IN
the extremes of language to which Mr..
Lane resorted, without definite informa-
ton. This is what the Grand Jury and
the public wa~nted-positive proof of the
conspiracy if one existed-and it seemed
rather a godsend to find a man who had
1t appears we paid Mr.. Lane too high
a compliment. We attributed to him a
discretion and scrupulousness which he
does not possess. He stands. today, self
confessed, as a reckless slanderer. He
has no facts to present. He has never
had any. If he were summoned before
int TAI jury al lit SOhAh III -
would be his own fetid imaginings. Here
is the confession of Mr.. Lane himself,
taken from his own paper of September
22:- :
THE News" surmises of course, that
the editor of the Herald" has no speci-
fe data concerning the workings of the
conspiracy in which 1.-The News is such
an active participant, and in this sur
mise he is in a large measure correct,
as our assertions are, in a large meas
ure, based on conditions that need no
data to emphasize or yindieate their
cheerfuily accept an invitation, by sub
poena or otherwise, to appear before the
Hudson County Grand Jury, but in order
in advance as to the substance of our
evidence, if it is ever called for, we may
say that it would consist principally
of suggestions, as to the line of investiga-
ton that the Grand Jury might profit
ably follow.
Really, Mr.. Lanes modesty is as re-
markable as his moral sense. But Hud-
son is net so poor in brains that it has
to send to Mr.. Lane for suggestions,
as to how to conduct a Grand Jury in
y~estigation. No doubt Mr.. Lane would
smost cheerfully accept any opportun-
ity for a little cheap notoriety. All who
ave watched his career are well aware
Of that. But if he has only ''sugges-
lions" to offer "as to the line of ~investi-
CATION hat the Grand Jury might pro-
ftably follow" it is hardly likely our
officials will indulge him. If he had
facts to tell, it would be another story.
EE EVEL-L H
But can Mr.. Lane wriggle out of his
position as libeller and falsifer in this
way. We have not at hand, this mo-
ment. the full text of his previous on
slaught; but this passage, which we be-
fore culled from It. seems emphatic
enough
The charge of Judge Lippincott in the
Hudson County Court, concerning the
manner in which the official tricksters
of that city have been tampering with
the water supply, fully bears out what
was said in these columns several weeks
ago. AS we said then a conspiracy
exists between the officials in charge
of the water supply and a number of
corporations, to awaken public hostility
to the existing supply by defiling it in
every possible way.
If this means anything,it surely means
the writer knows whereof he speaks.
1t conveys the impression of being back
ed up by solid information. 1t was. no
doubt, intended to create that impress
sion. Mr.. Lane did not realize that his
bluff might be called.
But put this paragraph in contrast
with the quotation of later date given
above. n it surely places the writer.
in a very miserable light.
Among the suggestions which Mr.
Lane would give to the Grand Jury, is
this
Among other things it might compel
the editor or business manager or pro-
prietor OF .4The News, TO tell the price
paid for the publication of. two column
water article headed Zone Great Sewer.
that appeared on the same page with
the demand that we be subpoenaed. They
might also endeavor to learn what price
was paid for similar articles that have
appeared in 1.-THE News" almost daily,
since the present conspiracy was hatch
ed, and to complete the investigation.
to divulge the source in which all such
articles are inspired, as well as the
names of the gentlemen to whose inspec-
ton they are submitted before publ
cation.
Mr.. Lane made a similar suggestion
before. We have only to repeat now
what We said then that every person
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