The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-27
ALDERMEN WRANGLE
Permission to Build Frame
Buildings Opposite to the
City Hall Granted.
SCOTT BOLTS THE CAUCUS
Majority Attacked for Ignoring
q Petition Opposing Mr..
Baron's Buildings.
SCOTT BOLTS THE CAUCUS

the Board of Aldermen, to convert the
old Salvation Army barracks at Grove
and Montgomery streets. into six one
story plate glass front stores. This was
not obtained by the applicant without
trouble and opposition.
The ordinance was a Democratic meas
ure. Aldermen Scott and Weiss bolted
the caucus.
& When the ordinance was brought up for
passage. Alderman Scott ~announced that
as a member of the Committee on Laws
and Ordinances, he had been ignored in
the consideration of the application.
When the application for this valuable
privilege wa made said Mr. Scott. 81
made a personal investigation with Al
herman Weiss. According to the plans
there were to be six one-story frame
Stories. The application was to the eff
feet thai the present structure, an un-
slightly one, was to be reconstructed
There was, in my estimation, an apparent
Intention to deceive this Board. I know
of no reason why this Board should be
dealt with in such a The AL
dermen, I think. are honest men, and
there was no occasions to deceive any
one. What Mr.. Baron wanted to do he
Should have fully represented to this
Eoard. There is no question but what
this city has taken a1step forward, and
it seems an injustice to taxpayers for
his Board, supposed to be composed Of
their representatives, to s5grant a man
power to- erect six small stories on a
prominent corner directly across from
our 81, 900, 600 City Hail.
n.Mr. President interrupted Alderman
cafnon. 81 would like the Aldermen to
confine himself to the subject under dis
cussion. ,5saf5 $50 s ~ gssss0 81
5e"I will.'t retorted Alderman Scott, eff
Yea will remain in you seat and allow
me-,
sAlderman Scott has tthe floor" ruled
President Simpson; 29lp4s
The Chairs decision was appealed from,
hut Mr.. Simpson ignored the appeal.
3pFI want to SO on record as opposing
his thing continued Alderman Scott.
1T is In outrage to allow the erection
of the buildings contemplated"
Alderman Calnon again interrupted the
speaker. but was ruled out of order.
IL have some pride in the city's adj
xancementssands L felt that / would be
stultifying myself III voted for this or
dinance. Fifty people have asked me to
oppose it, eand six have asked me to
vote for it. I repeat, i have been ignored
in the consideration of the application,
and my colleagues, can continue to ig-
more me SO long as their are sufficient
Democrats here without me-"
lHIsthink the Alderman is talking to
the gaHeries,'f interposed Alderman
Tracey and he should be called to or
der.r ST. sEgzIs s.asFss I'd rsase
Undisturbed. Alderman Scott continued
remarking that if Baron: is allowed to
erect six small stories so close to the
City Hall the Board will be placed in an
unpleasant light if another application is
made to erect a half dozen shanties
o. the City Hall. sils aIss
So confident was this applicant that he
would get this privilege" he continued,
that / understand he has. rented all six
stores and not a nail has been driven
VET Ii merchants can sget stores one
story high in suefnKas desirable locality,
why it. wiilsbe useless for them to go on
other streets and rent. three story build
ings. pWithseheaper rents t~heyscould sell
cheaper articles and the public would de-
rive the benefit. But We are establish
ing a precedent that viii, II am sure. be
attended with damaging consequences"
Alderman lHeaveya explained to the
IN IN fha sd ~ rs, VAS as mucn interested
one. and commended that the Baron
stores would be. an Improvement to the
Alderman Weiss Said It was inconsist-
n with the neighborhood to allow the
erection sofl SUCH buildingsssasswere con-
templated.
why, / understand the owner, Mr..
BaroIH,shhe said, has been offered s2zz, 600
fors the Iproperty, but wants $40, COG, I
know q man who, if he could buy, would
erect q building on that corner that would
be d credit to the city, not q disgrace. It
Is said the buildingsxare to be only tenn
porary. We all .knowLthat to be non
sens ana buncomb They win remain
That a first class building on that corner
would pay is apparent from the demand
that there Is for stores, alls those to be
habit OF dfscouraging the erection Of fine
buildings that is injuring Jersey Cftv.1
fAlder1nana Scott asked the Aldermen if
reports had not been circulated to the
erect that the corner was wanted for a
livery stable and that the application had
been granted weeks ago.
Alderman Moran replied in the mega
tive. sSss s- 49,
Alderman Decker opposed the ordinance
on the ground that the buildings would
disgrace City Hall and deteriorate sur
rounding property. g7s
Alderman Henry commended that the
present structure is unsafe. He also re-
marked that Mr.. Baron had the privilege
Of using his property as ne wished TO
MS OWL duNdlttdSe- tie QelQ That the
time is not ripe for the erection of large
buildings In this city.
Alderman Vermilye too occasion to say
that If there had been less party caucus
Ing on the subject there would have been
no trouble. He reminded the majority
that in the disposition of public business
all the members of the Board should be
considered.
Mr.. Baron was heard and he declared
he could not afford to erect a building
of the dimensions some desired. What
I have / ave worked hard for. I haven't
$500 GOO to spend or a building that l do
not know will pay. When the time ar
riyes and / am convinced what kind. Of q
building on that corner will be profitable
4 will build. l cannot afford to before
hat time, He stated that business men
IN the neighborhood approved his present
plans.
The ordinance passed by the following
Vote
For-Aldermen Barr, Boldt, Burns. Cal
KnoeIIer. :Losel, Maxwell. M~oran,Tracey,
Against-Aldermen Bornemann, Decker,
Scott, Weiss and President Simpson.
Alderman Vermilye was excused from
Aldermen Scott and Weiss led an attack
against the granting OF an ordinance to
James Clark to erect a one-story brick
building at Nos. IS and go Newark avenue.
Alderman Calrlon Aexplaf1ed that the
board has no power to regulate the con-
struction of brick buildings.
erection bof small buildings on Newark
avenue. but having no power to prevent
# they granted the Clark ordinance by
For-Nlderfaens Bar, Beldt, Burns, Cal
non, Guiton, Hartman, Heayey, Henry,