The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-12-10
They DON'T CARE.
City Hall Commissioners
Affect to Have No Fear
of the Consequences
of the Indictments.
TALLMAN, STATES EVIDENCE
The Exact Nature Of the
Charges Not Yet
Revealed. Z
MAY HAVE TO PLEAD TOMORROW
Experts Report Showing Up the
Flaws in the Monstrosity-
Claim that the City Is
Fully Protected.
MAY HAVE TO PLEAD TOMORROW

Inc exclusive ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS III IAAS
News yesterday that the Grand Jury
had found an Indictment against the City
Hall Commissioners and others con-
nected with the scandals resulting from
the erection of that architectural mon
strosity known as the New City Hail.
created sensation in town. The mat
ter was discussed wherever two or three
or more people assembled together.
Everyone paid a compliment for the
enterprise of 'sThe News" in securing
the first information and giving it to the
public.
The indictment has created greater
sensation than the city has had for some
time. The general expression OF op1n-
ion was that if they are not actually dis
honest they ought to be punished for
criminal neglect. Some charitable people
ask: What could you expect? One OF
the Commissioners is a florist, another
botel keeper and the third manufactures
mineral, water. What do you think they ae
know about so important work as the
erection of a new City Hall WHICH, with
the site, will cost nearly a million dol
lars before it is completed?
just what the Commissioners are. in
dicted for could not be ascertained to-
day. Indictments are not made PUBLIC
until the persons indicted are arraigned
in Court. 1t is said, however, that the
Indictment is for malfeasance in office,
ana Il6rO may De d cOuilt 1OT COlSpl1 dNy :.
1t is also said that Architect l.. H.
Broome is indicted and that an 1ndict-
ment was found against Inspector Tah,
man, but that it was reconsidered and
that Mr.. Tallman will be used as wit
ness.
The Commissioners will probably be ar
raigned to plead some day this week.
Everybody is pleased or else pretends
to be pleased with the Indictment. In,
Secaase s they believe e the trial of the IN
dicted men viii unearth alleged crooked
6e Sgk potea II sxy eness saon e dRs
sioners are pleased for various reasons
but of those later The friends of the
indicted men claim to be pleased, as
they expect, they say. speedy yindica-
The Commissioners throw all the
blame upon Architect Broome. and that
very slippery individual casts as much
of the odium as possible upon Inspector
contractors John Herman. For reasons
best known to himself and which he
he s-l holds the mason CONTRACTOR John
English. guiltless. So. far as he
Broome) Is concerned: he declares he he
with the building with tears in his eyes
to do what was right and give the tax
payers something for their money.
Inspector Tallman is like a clam. and,
in fact, every man in any way interested
R BY senlan many N politicians it is eontended
It is quite well known that Sheriff. Toffey
arienda aae av0T aeTe IS even M hinted that the in
dictments may have been brought about
qs a thrust at the Msy1 fa was to havs hns
building. Sheriff Toffey's friends are
he wanted to name the custodian him
self, and retire Mr. Datz for year or
son ewo Mouid at ieas1 not sy hear esf Of such move
however, and the trouble began Now
the Indictment of MT. Datz may m destroy
berth created for him. but in the event
of an acquittal he is pretty sure to land
The Commissioners decline to discuss
their Indictment this morning. They were
not notified to appear in court today,
Wanser's office and formulate a plan of
action. They propose demanding speedy
trial.
In 1890 Orestess Cleveland, then Mayor,
appointed the Commissioners. Messrs.
Pearson and Burke are Democrats: and
began business with an appropriation of
$250000,, but by degrees it has been IN,
creased until new so dda the 9nstr9sity and
of the sum reaching $1+000,000 before 1t
is in a condition for occupancy. Ever
since work was begun, nearly two and
half years ago. there has been friction.
Broome's specifications first caused
trouble. Then his plans were found to be
off in some respects. In many instances
tors whose good judgment would not
permit them to do the work as the s17, ,00C
Specifications provided.
Inspector Tallman claimed that he
was kept in ignorance of how the work
was to be done because of Broome's re-
pg t9 rben foomed hm gh between
Rroome and Tallman. Readers of THE
News are familiar with the squabbles
Then John Herman was drawn into the
fight and he and Broome have been bad
friends for months 5nEn1aeg Fnaly tine cSm en-
graceful rows have occurred at every
meeting. Serious allegations were freely
sioners. The climax was reached when
a Grand Jury. recently. charged by. JUS
tice Lippinsott inyesslgaaed ,t,stae the ou11d o
made in that report were almost as
scandalous as those made in ''Tlle News
The indie bments are based on the ex.
pert's report to the Grand Jury; Il
Of plumb, that improperly constructed
ony icea 2n she fra shat Der e n e
roof leaks, that the specifications have
been departed from in innumerable In
stances, that the work is done in a ship
s5nod and unwo orlSmanlike manner and
that disgracefill condition of affairs
eoIefed eafs sdnegaS accSSrd s to tuapg spegrsa n ap
pearances, but more incomnlete struc--
ture, cannot be imagined. The glazed
bricks in the halls and corridors We're
They are all sizes and all colors and an
INTERESTING revelation is that Contractor
Ene.lissl Bought them through and laid
them upon the recommendation of
The Reconsideration of the indictment
Of Inspector Tallman puzzles the Com
,,,;sssanners. ~ They are of the opinion that
ilts',i he viii be a witness for the prosecution q
Tsroo,,sa The Commissioners claim that
they have not been indicted for con-
spiracy to defraud. How they We're IN.
3hem. They claim they have not ac-