The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-01-24
THEY SILVER IN FEAR
Street and Water Board
Now Face to Face With
the Grand Jury.
MANY WITNESSES SUMMONED
Rumors That More Than Commits
sioners Will Be Indicted at
an Early Day.

All yesterday afternoon and until long
after dark the corridor in the Court House
was filed with persons who have had deal
ings with the Street and Water Commission
ers. Some were city officials, some We're
contractors and others were supporters or
non-supporters of the policy OF the board,
which has made itself so notorious during
the last few years. All talked IN snbdued
voices on two subjects, and as far as observ-
alton could determine talked of nothing else.
The first, naturally, was the unexpected
action of Governor Werts in refusing to sus-
tain Mayor Wanser's recommendation that
the commissioners be removed from Office.
This action caused much favorable COM
ment from the employees of tile Street and
Water Commissioners, and was denomlnated
as a Especial plea of an able lawyer for
them" by people who believed the Street and
Water Commissioner were unfit to be trust
ed in their responsible positions.
INDICTMENTS EXPECTED.
The other subject was the pertinacity with
which the Grand Jury is investigating the
actions of these Commissioners. The beller
seemed TO be general that the decision of the
Governor would not affect, in the slightest
degree. the investigation or action of the
TIA IL III III G1hSA SANk AN@~N
ments would be found not only against the
Street and Water Commissioners, but also
against certain other officials and contractors
whose names have been connected with some
of the peculiar transactions OF the Commls-
sioners in an ~unenviable manner.
Among the more prominent or the persons
who had received subpoenas to appear before
the Grand Jury n who were waiting the
corridor to be called to testify were Reuben
Simpson, President of the Board of Alder
men: Chief Engineer W. w. Ruggles, Side
walk Inspector Philip Muldoon, Water Sur
veyor Robert Corr. Patrick FL. Condor, a
contractors: Frank Earle, a civil engineer,
and Gustav Blau. a surveyor When these
men were asked what the Grand jury ex-
pected them to testify to, all expressed lgnor-
ance and some much Indignation.
One city official said it was a shame that
city employees should be called from their
posts of duty TO waste their time lounglng
about the Court House corridors, simply be-
cause a Grand Jury wanted to interview
some one.
stIf we had gone to the races at Gutten-
berg or anywhere else" said the indignant
patriot, There would be a tremendous howl
about not being at the office attending to the
wants of the taxpayers. But it is different
when a Grand Jury demands that you shall
leave the office and work. and wander about
this corridor two or three days waiting for
the Grand Jury to find time to call you in.
The poor, suffering taxpayers are forgotten
in such cases as this, and it makes no differ
ence whether the business of the city is being
attended to or not
MAY BE IN 1T HIMSELF.
This official spoke bitterly. Perhaps he
has a reason for so talking because rumor
has it that when the indictments are found,
and it is generally believed that they will be
found, the person referred TO VIII De IN
cluded in the list.
The belief is growing stronger daily that
the Grand Jury will indict the Street and
Water Commissioners and that other per-
sons will be included in the list.
There are many persons who now believe
that indictments have already been found
for certain derelictions of duty and for con
spiracy. That the continuation OF the in
v~estigation is simply for the purpose of
finding additional indictments for specific
~offenses, and that when the Grand Jury pre-
sents the list of violations of the law, some
of the charges will be against Commissioners
agents and the recipients OF the benefits
of the Illegal actions of the Street and
Water Commissioners.
The impression prevails that these indict-
ments will be handed to the Court when
next the Grand Jury goes before it, and that
Judge L~ippincott will order the indictments
to be retained in the Court of Oyer and
Terminer so that he may preside at the
trials.
While the Street and Water Commission
ers are making the most capital possible out
of Governor Werts' refusal to remove them,
that they are greatly worried over the in
vestigations by the Grand Jury cannot be
disguised. Every one of the Commissioner
thoroughly realizes the fact that if he is
brought to trial there will be no childas play
about it. 1t will be business from beginning
to finish, and the most serious business that
any member of the Board of Street and
Water Commissioners ever engaged in.