The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-27
CI7Y'S PROGRESS.
President Simpson Con-
graduates the Alder
men on Their New
Chamber
MUNICIPAL DEBT DECREASED
Hopes That the Ancient Powers
Of the City Fathers Will Be
Restored to Them.

NtStUEtu ~ lutuls
The Aldermen held a brief session last
night. AS soon as Clerk OsDonnell had
finished calling the roll President Simp-
perfume time for him to address the
Board. He said
Fellow Members-It is with pleasure
that We meet tonight in this beautiful
chamber so different from our old quar-
tiers. When we compare this assembly
room. in this grand and imposing build
ing, with Our former meeting place in the
old City Hall, we can appreciate an AL
derman feeling that a dignity is at
tached to his Office, and that the new
spirit infused into us by our new sur
roundings will rebound to the benefit Of
the public and ourselves
We congratulate ourselves, the chief
executive Of the city. and the City Hall
Commissioners. and all the boards and
city departments on the change for the
better, and the evidence that in this
chamber and building our citizens and
our fellow officials have al last a tangi-
BILE evidence that Jersey City is prosper
ing and progressing. She has now a
City Hall where we and the other boards
have a meeting place, where we can greet
with pride citizens of our own and other
communities.
I'm the four years of my term of office
as President of his Board, much has
been lone that we have participated in,
as one of the coordinate branches of
the city government. The high water
mark Of our city debt has been passed,
and reduced from eighteen millions to
about sixteen million dollars. An ex-
cellent system of public roads has been
built. and yet more are to follow. We
have built a splendid school house every
year. great improvements nave been
brought about our streets, our drinking
water. our public buildings, our sewerage
system. We are agitating now and
should continue to do 50 for public parks,
more school houses and a better and per-
manent water supply.
The spirit of local pride is awake 10
make our city like our sister across the
Hudson, "a Greater Jersey City, All
this has been done without increasing Inc
tax rate. Four years ago it was S2.75,
now it is $2.H. We have and ought TO
continue to cooperate periodically with
all other departments of our city govern
ment for the future advancement and
welfare of our city.
This Board Should be restored to some
of its former powers, especially those gen
eral matters which a board like ours COM
ing direct from the people should pos
sess. While it's number has been in
creased from the unlucky thirteen to
twenty-five as at present, its powers in
official action have been decreased. There
are number of matters which should be
restored to the control Of this Board, es-
pecially those In relation Ito ordinances
ana the control of our public streets,
iquitous legislation Of 1889 and 1891, should
DC elnveStsd IN our Board. We are the
peePPle sbo direcf t. rep r,spre ser adVea. and as
with those powers and duties now vest
ca IN other boards but which more prop
eriy n formerly belonged to ours.
ism let US lay aside partisan feelings IN
the discharge of our public duties, Inc
40 al IN our power consistent with our
more effective by our actions, and thus
make Jersey City prosper,
An invitation was received from the
honor of the Alderman of that name. to
attend Its annual ball to be he'd in
Woods Hail. February 8 The invitation
in a body.
A communication was received from
the City Hall Commission to the effect
that a suitable room has been set aside
for the use of the Building Inspector. who
now p cranped quarters on the
top floor of Police HEADQUARTERS.
AT this stage of the proceedings Presi-
dent Simpson noticed that several Of the
Aldermen and men In the lobby were
smoking He suggested that in future
ing be allowed either by the members or
spectators. The rule will prevail in fu-
ture. =
It was decided to provide the Inspector
of Scales, Weights and Measures with
new implements.
A petition from Building Inspector KEEL
~ asking for a new set of maps was re-
Terred to the Committee on Supplies
room NO. II was set aside as a caucus
room Ior minority and a recess of
nIteen minutes was taken and the Demo-
cratic members held 3 caucus.
Wnen the Board ~reconvened the Excise
a liquor license to Philip Tambori 10
ana Joseph Kind to open a saloon at Nd
l8O Thirteenth street. The report was
approved by the Board.
An to the present building
orolnance was introduced. 1t allows
frame buildings to be made 81 feet hish
IN tne ire limits when proper permits
ave been procured. Outside fire limits
dne height has been increased to Is feet
"a cnange Is to be made to accommo-
uale puiiders of cottages and dwellings o.,
tns heights. In some instances the old
Qaainance prevented people from erecting
towers on their houses. The
VIII be PASSED Ef+atI