The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-09-30
Board Has Decided That q
Will Not Advertise the
Specifications.
ECONOMY IS THE EXCUSE
Say Their Action is Owing to ths
Crippled Condition Of the
Water Accouat-Tax-
payers Protest.

There were more taxpayers In tbs
City Hall today than there have beeu
at any one time since May last, whom
the water rents became payable. About
the corridor politicians and property
owners were discussing the action OF the
Street and Water Board In determining
not to advertise the water specifications
which have just been completed By
Messrs. Vermeule and Ferris.
1t is the intention of the Commissioners
merely to advertise for proposals for a
new supply of water under specifications
which will be kept on file In the Office of
the Board. The Commissioners. when
questioned about their purpose, explained
that the plan suggested itself only be-
cause of the crippled condition OF the
water account.
I'VE would like to advertise the speci-
fications,'' said one of the members, ssbut
we really have no money to pay for it
We realize that in such an important
matter the public should be permitted to
see the specifications. study them and see
if they can offer any suggestion which
will be of benefit and protection to the
city,
The only time the whole specifications
were not advertised was under the Du-
gan-Somers regime, and officials will
doubtless recollect what a heated discus
sion their action caused and how much
criticism of an uncomplimentary nature
followed.
Should the Street and Water Commis-
sioners fail to advertise these specifica-
tions they will be inviting criticism"
said a prominent taxpayer today. 'I APP
preciate their motive, and it would per-
haps be good one under ordinary cir
cumstances. But in a case of this kind
it would be false economy. The water
question is one of vital importance to
every owner of property, and our officials
should give all the information concern
ing their movements that is possiblet We
all know that the water account Is IN q
bad shape, but economy should be prsc-
ticed somewhere else. The specifications
should be advertised in full, not once,
but several times, to show that our offi-
cials are not afraid to have them tn
spected. 1 think every property owner
in the city has confidence In the Street
and Water Board. The members. in
more ways than one, have shown that
they are trying to correct abuses and
give US an economical, business like adj
ministration. The Commissioners gay
that the specifications this time are
longer than heretofore, and will conse-
quently cost more to publish. That
should not deter them from advertising
them. Merely calling for bids would put
the Commissioners in the very false hight
of practising economy on the E. w.
Woolley plan, when he arranged for an
election and then positively refused to
tell the public by an Official publication
where they would have to go to vote.
mot to advertise the specifications
would be a great error and ons which
would have a tendency to in1ure tbs
partys chances this fall. helisvs, and
so do all the property owners have met.
that the specifications have bean pre-
pared with great care and in such q man
ner that the city will be amply protected
There are others. however, who will
want to see the specifications, aad for
their benefit there should be an offieial
publication. It would be unwiss net 70
have everything connected with this ef-
fort to get a new supply of water done
openly and above board, SO that the pub
lie may know just what is going on and
satisfy themselves that the city is gstEing.
value received for every dollar It exc
pends."
The Commissioners have heard that
there is opposition to the plan of not pub
fishing the specifications, and there Is
possibility that some arrangement may
sufficient money to pay for the puDfica-
tfon