The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-25

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chaser at as low prices as they can be
obtained at the cars or in the yards or
on the docks in this city. But it IS urged
that the consumer will not stop at that.
that he will go into other departments of
these stores and make purchases Of goods
and staples? II the present order Of
affairs were in existence, he would not
take the time or have the occasion to
leave the city to procure. / think that
it must be clear to your Board that you
have not only enacted a measure no cal
euiated to work for the public good, but
have, l will not say Intentionally, aimed
a blow at the various trade interests of
this city. / think that you and those i'll
terests which you may have imagined you
were attempting to protect will agree
with me that the operation OF your Or
dinance will be, detrimental ever to them
selves. 1t appears to me that by your
action, if persisted in, you have opened
the door to a sort of class legislation not
only harmful to the interests you would
apparently protect, but which Is so Tar
reaching in its possibilities of danger TO
the consumer and to the local merchant
that it would appear to have been done
in behalf of a few and to the loss of
those who can i'll afford it. / will not
sanction the enactment of any municipal
legislation that improperly interferes with
the sale of commodities | believe it to
be dangerous and injurious to the inter
ests of the Individual and OF the city.
/ am opposed to legislation that directly
or indirectly furnishes individuals or cor
porations with a pretext for increasing
the cost of commodities to the consumer.
/ believe that your ordinance is a step
in hat direction and l therefore return
it without my approval.
Respectfully submitted.
PETER T. WANSER, Mayor.
After the veto had been read and laid
over under the rules unit the next meet
ing, the band began to play.
On a question of privilege Alderman
Scott was allowed to speak. He went at
the Evening Journal without gloves,
--T---- 4LAa +I~t ~ hnd anG+ caE1nTTC
reflection upon the Board by asserting
that money had been used to secure the
passage of the ordinance.
THE Democratic members of this
Board" he said, ARE homes men, and this
ordinance was passed at the request of
reputable business men who thought it
would be beneficial to them.
The ordinance, was not a caucus
measure as has been published and the
Republican members of his Board seemed
to favor the ordinance up to a certain
point. Sc far as l am concerned no money
was used to influence me, and ] think I
am speaking for all my Democratic coll
leagues when ] say that they saw no
money nor ever heard of any being used
that statement.
For my part I think an apology is due
the Board from the Journal
Alderman Hauck declared that the Re
publican members were in favor of the
ordinance until the time to pass it ar
rived, and then they objected only on
the ground that the fee Of 5000 was high
and might better have been made SO. He
said he was prepared to stand by the
veto inasmuch as the men who had re-
quested the passage of the ordinance had
now denied wanting it.
AS for the Evening Journal asserting
that money was used to pass the ordin-
ance, that is all nonsense. l do not be-
lieve any member of this Board wants
or expects money for doing what he
thinks Is his duty, particularly where they
n pa lad tn ha1inyyo fnof thnxr :, ~ rarnfoa+dro
the interests Of local business men and
merchants. I cared nothing about the
ordinance and voted for it only because
our business men said they wanted it. If
they don't want it I will vote to sustain
the Mayors veto, but l object and want
to enter my protest against the Evening
Journal for asserting that money was
used. Personally / never heard that
money had been used until the Journal
said so. I did not believe it when l read
it and I do not now"
President Simpson e~ndeavored to check
further discussion on the ground that
there was nothing before the meeting.
Aldermen Calnon, Henry, Heavey and
Moran objected, however, and declared
that the Board had been assailed and they
demanded the right to be heard.
Alderman Moran was red hot and in
plain language stamped the attacks of
the Journal on the Board as a tissue
of lies.
his ordnance was passed IN the best
of faith" he asserted. I'VE acted Upon
it at the request of men interested in
the various lines of business which the
ordinance affected. After passing the or
dinance the men who wanted it suddenly
dropped out of sight because the Journal
attacked 1t. The attacks of the Journal
upon this Board were slanderous. So far
as | am concerned / never heard of any
money being used. nor was / aware h
an alleged syndicate desired the ordi-
nance. The Journal said a trust had
been formed and a scheme was on foot
for local dealers to get around the or
finance to the detriment of outside deal
ers- Those phases of the question never
occurred to me until / read them in the
Journal That paper has assaulted US
without cause. L do not believe any mem
Der of this Board accepted. asked for or
knew Of any none being used to pass
this ordinance. As a Board we have
been slandered. and / think an apology
is due us from the Journal That paper
has contained lies about this matter and
we should demand an apology"
Although President Simpson remons-
trated. Aldermen Calnon. Heavey and
Henry spoke in the same strain, each in
turn denying the use of money in the
Board by any alleged syndicate or trust.
and declaring that they had voted for
the ordinance. believing that they were
protecting local dealers.
When the veto comes up for DISPOSE
ton, the Aldermen will be given ample
opportunity to explain why they voted
for the ordinance, at whose request it was
introduced and so IN.