The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-08-07
The "JournaI,s" FraMis Water
Water

Jobbery
In commenting yesterday upon the
a..Journal's', extraordinary conduct in the
water contract matter, we threw out the
suggestion that general obstruction was
the real object of that unscrupulous
sheet. and that it's plan was to create a
reign of terror among the city officials
by ferocious attacks upon character and
reputation. backed up by threats OF per-
s~ecutfon continued for months If not
years. This Interpretation OF tine jour
naPs'' course was. Of course, a mere
speculation on our part; but the EDITION
of the journal which was published
simultaneously with it. showed conclu-
sfvely that our idea was, at least in part
correct.
The journal last evening, deliberately
took the water question out of the
hands of the authorities of the city, and
arrogated the settlement to itself IL
served notice upon the Mayor. the mem
bers of the Street and Water Board and
the Finance Commissioners that any
exercise of personal judgment by them
must not be thought of. The "Journar
had awarded the water contract and II
they dared to disagree with 1T, lndict-
ment by the Grand Jury would be the
least of the penalties it would invoke
against them.
" - 1e-k1,x, ~ SOIIr1Q ism mas
anything quite so indecent been seen
as the frantic ~bulldozing thus resorted
10 ostenssbly in the interest OF the
and Hudson Water Company.
Tt passed all ordinary records of un-
~scrrpulous advocacy. Not the greediest
promoter, with a contingent bonus dang
ling before his eyes, ever dared resort to
such methods to prejudice and warp the
Judgment of the sworn servants of the
public, and to hamper and misd.rect their
action through fear of personal conse-
cuences.
TIL methods of a h-igttwaymtan who
stops you on the road and claps a pistol
10 XOuE UIGdSLs d1C dAOA0 AAP
those of a newspaper which tholds UP"
a municipal board and demands a fat
contract from it under penalty of indict-
ment, not to speak of the further griev-
GUS penalty, of endless newspaper
abuse.
What is the animus of the journal
In this whole affair? Has it gone clean
/. daft? Or has 1t been convinced" that
the Rookaway and Hudson is the true
and only water supply? Or has 1t be-
come the tool of somebody who does
not want my contract made-of some
body who wants a new competition so
as to come in with the benefit OF the
revelation of the present bidders plans?
The answer to these questions will no
Doubt be Forthcoming at the proper
time. Meanwhile, nobody will for a
ome imagine that the expert" in
CURRY was a result of any proper news
paper impulse. The public well know
that the journal is not going to n
expense when the profit is not in sight.
Another remarkable feature of the
affair is the apparent usurpation by Mr..
Joseph A. Dear of editorial control of
the paper i'm respect to this water ques-
ton. In the past, when a water agi-
tation was on foot. the question has
always been "Where does the Major
stand?' This time the Major isn't in
it. We learn from the Journals own
columns that it was Mr.. Dear who in
wted expert Kent to prepare his al
legged report. Mr.. Dear has been haunt
Ding the rooms of the Street and Water
Board whenever the water contract was
under discussion. and the editorials
which nave been published the last two
days nave been simply embodiments of
the remarks made by Mr. Dear in his
very profuse water talk to- everyone
whom he has met.
There is something very queer, very
ugly in this whole affair. 1t looks as
If the motives when fully revealed would
be fully as d~isreputable as the methods
of the present crusade.