The sun., 1897-01-26
Hoboken IL in tho Right.

The proposition to create Greater Jersey
City by the annexation to Jersey City OF
the places adjacent thereto, has stirred
up Hoboken, which desires to procure
some information before 1t shall be
taken In. It would, no doubt, be Hnan-
cially advantageous for Brooklyn to be-
come part OF Greater New York; but
Hoboken is not so sure that its financial
condition would be improved IL it became q
part Of Greater Jersey City Before con-
senting TO be annexed. Hoboken wants to
know about the apportionment Of Jersey
City's tax burdens" We say that Hobo
ken Is in the right.
1t is troublesome question for Hoboken,
which Jersey City would like to annex for
the sake OF greatness. The indebtedness
and the taxation of Hobokcn are bearable; I;
but those OF Jersey City are too burden
some. I'VE have no DESIRE" said an af-
frighted citizen and taxpayer Of independ-
ent Hoboken, "to assume a debt Of
$l7,oo0,0OO." He spoke we'll. He ex-
pressed the sentiment Of the community In
which he lives. Hoboken insists that the
financial terms Of annexation shall be ar
ranged before II is consummated. Hoboken
Ia in the right.
There is another thing to be thought Of.
1t seems that the people OF Hoboken are
desirous that their city shall maintain the
prestige which it has acquired among the
cities Of New Jersey. Its name Is known
everywhere, and its ferriage is associ-
ated with that Of New York. It is
nearly 800 years old. It has important
institutions; it is haven for mariners; it
is a sportive place, and it possesses many OF
the characteristics Of n metropolis. Who
has not heard OF the Elysian Fields OF old,
where New York linked arms with ro-
nance, and where freedom revelled with
merriment by sunlight and by moonlight /,
Hoboken's prestige is unlike that OF Jersey
City; and, in seeking to sustain it, Hoboken
is in the right.
But this is not the main question. Ho-
boken's first thought relates to Jersey
City's debt and taxes. We think that IL is
too advanced ground which our impetuous
contemporary, the Hoboken Obscrrsr. takes
when 1t maintains that "Hoboken's only
safety from Jersey City's tax burdens is to
dictate the terms for annexation" That
word dictate " will never suit Jersey City.
1t contains a threat. 1t puts Hoboken in
the wrong for once.
1t is now suggested that Hoboken, in
stead Of quarrelling with Jersey City about
annexation, should itself annex a lot OF
places near to it, such AS Weehawken, Gut
tenburg, Union. and West Hoboken, thus
forming city with a population OF over
100000. and thus preparing to secure fair
play in finance from Jersey City in case that
place shall still he desirous OF annexing all
the territory within forty miles Of 1t. We are
disposed to believe that, in carrying out this
suggestion, Hoboken would be in the right
II single place like Hoboken were to stand
out against Jersey City. II would be over
powered; but II a lot Of places were con-
solidated with Hoboken so as to form
place more than half rs populous as Jersey
City, 1t would have an advantage in any
negotiations for annexation. The whole
matter could then be satisfactorily adjusted
at the election in the coming spring.
Hoboken, in seeking for the strength
needed tn bring Jersey City to it's senses
before it comes to be called the Greater
Jersey City, is in the right. We think,
moreover, that Hoboken would be far
better name than Jersey City for the whole
OF the component parts Of the consolidated
municipality. We go for the Greater Ho-
boken, with Jersey City as part of 1t.