The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-04-10
JOURNAL ON HO0LLEY
Another Horrible Roasting
for the Bumptlous
City Clerk,
JOHN 9. FISHER TAKES 4 HAND
Blame for the New Idea in
Disfranehising Voters
Placed Where It
Belongs.
A TIME HoNoRED CUSTOM
State Of Affairs When the Election
Lines We're Suppressed
People Against Him.
A TIME HoNoRED CUSTOM

The Assembly districts in this county
were hxed for a number of years and
the citizens were familiar with the
boundaries of the voting precincts. In
1881 the Democratic Legislature, by no.
toriously inequitable gerrymander. chang
ed the district and precinct lines. This
law remained in operation until the last
general election. Then, in conformity TO
a decision of the Supreme Court, Assem-
Dly district lines were abolished. The pri-
maries were held under the Democratic
gerrymander lines and the result was
some confusion. Last spring this city
was subdivided into wards, with new pre-
cinct lines. This introduced a new ele-
ment of confusion. The primary cleo
tions held since were held under the old
Assembly district and precinct lines, and
this produced more confusion. The COM
ing election will be held under the law
creating ward lines, and the voters who
az the primary elections for delegates
last month voted under the district lines
are now TO vote under the ward lines
:. The voters were confused. Tney wanted
to know where the ward and precinct
llnes We're located. They wanted to regis
ter. but did not know where they were
to register. Even the election officers
We're IN doubt about the lines. 1t has been
customary for the City Clerk to adver-
eioV tue 10 uiiudfy lines OF the Young pre-
cIncts. This Gus tom has never been called
IN question. The people who pay the ex-
pense attached to it have not found fault
during the quarter of a century in which
the advertisements have been made. At
no time during this long period have there
Deen so many changes in the precinct
lines IN so short a time There never was
SO much confusion in the minds of the
people. There never was so much need
for an official announcement of the
boundary lines.
At this time when every citizen was
expecting and waiting for the official ad-
Vt,ertlsement, City Clerk WeoIley decided
that he would not make it. He says he
was moved to this decision by a desire
to save the city $780, which he says was
tine cost of the advertisements last year
II IS probable that Mr. Woelley would
recall that statement for amendment il
his attention was called to the fact that
IL was not true. The total cost of the adj
vertlsement was $780, but the statement
OF the election precinct lines was only a
part OF t1at advertisement, and did not
cost 81, ZOO.
The manner in which Mr.. woolley,s
decision was received by the people re-
gardless of their political affinity, shows
that Mr.. Woolley's decision was a nrfs-
take His action in having posters print
ed and hung in all the wards and pre-
clncts, was a partial admission that he
too had discovered his blunder. 1t is
proba bic that the cost of printing and
posting these large bills will amount to
nearly as much as the sum Mr. Woellev
says ne saved by refusing to publish the
information in the ordinary way, and the
From the Evening Journal" Saturday.
October S 12Q5 - -@-S'