The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-05-26

should have a more accurate Knowledge
Of their municipal finances. During the
recent campaign opposite assertions were
made Of the cond!tiea cf the city debt
increase ce4s t-.e Administration of my
predecessor being alleged, and decrease
being claimed. Justice to those who havs
had charge of the treasury demands that
an exact statement should be made,
recent administrator took charge and al
it exists today. The custom, al
most time honored, of presenting
net figures have been reached BY
subtracting the value Of the municipal
ity's property, but the real and personal
property devoted to municipal uses can
not be looked upon as assets. They could
not be turned into cash to pay the city
be sold to pay the bonds Of
Hudson county. Past due taxes and
assessments are the only assets that can
be properly credited in making deduc-
tions to reach the net debt of the city.
At an early date l shall endeavor to place
before the people a statement that will
the annual charge for interest and the
possibilities of reduction.
The most important problem we have
to deal with is that of securing a per-
I manent and ample supply of pure water.
For many years the question of securing
such a supply has been trided with, as
fering people was paid when their de-
mands were made the subject of a po-
litieal controversy, or a matter of agita-
ton for the advancement or detraction
of particular individuals. 1 believe that
this question should be settled, and set
tied at the earliest date allowed by law.
The city Should own its own water plant,
and the source of supply should be such
that they would not be stinted in its
use. There can be waste of water, but
-sextravagance in the use of water" is
an expression that does not go with civil
ization- While We are paying for water.
by the gallon, consumption must, of
4 III no knnf aG IO1T n0 nnaGfh1ns El1f
it Is to be hoped that the speculation
IN this necessity of life has not reached
a point that will preclude US from obtain
ing a plant from which the supply Will
be practically unlimited The Campaign
assertions that I favored a return to the
kind Of water formerly Supplied from
Believille were too ridiculous to call for
serious answer. Ny Judgment is that we
should proceed at once to the preparation
OF proper specifications, frankly and hon
can supply the city with pure water;
that those specifications should be pre-
pared in the light of theIexperience of
elsewhere; and that, after its worth has
been demonstrated, the city Should pur-
for a low interest earinggbond This IS
a suggestion, and it is open to every
Improvement shown to be IN the interest
derelict if / did not press for a final set
Element of this matter by insisting that
efficient steps be taken, and taken at
| OtlCC
The recent action of the Board of Fire
Commissioners, in taking steps to put the
Act of 1893 in foree,g exhibited awspirit
government. After waiting ever four
years.. this Board has undertaken, two
days before a change In the office Of
increases the cost of the department.
about $40, 000. What would be thought OF
this kind of procedure in dealing with
private interests? In my opinion, the
extra expense thus incurred is unneces-
sary. and the step was taken without
a belief that it would increase the eff
cheney of the department The true rule
in municipal government Demands tH
efficiency be sobtained latsthe least
sible expense to the people. and that pa
rolls should not be made instruments fot
plumber.
The appointments recently made to the
Board of Educauons are, ! am informed
appointed in 1895 expire today. I con-
slider it my duty to fill the vacancies and
shall decline to recognize, as city Off
Gals. thosG tho were appointed to this
The recent deals; by which offices were
pa~neled out as though they were pri,
yats property, do not require any WORD
of mine to secure the public condemna-
!. be ashamed to either give or a public
office in open defiance of the spirit OF
the people, expressed at the polls.
In assuming the duties of the Mayor
l atty, | have no thought that Is not feI
4 n &Gll6Idl ESOOdF lO -
; cation of which will not advance the best
!, interests of my fellow citizens, and l ask
I from them. Independent of party afilia-
: tions, their earnest cooperation IN ehe
I advancement of our city:
Respectfully submitted.
Alderman Mullins appeared and took
On motion of Alderman Burns tbs
/, Board took a recess for ten Qo) min
4 Iff0C
On reassembling the Board proceeded
with report of Starlding mmlt 49,
The Committee on Excise reported the
: following resolution on petitions re
ferred at this melting .
t Resolved. That a license be granted (
L. P. Vooz, to keel, a restaurant wners
5 spirituous, vinous. malt zHnd brewet
nue., in the sixth W'arda5 = nz,.
Resolved, That the following described
: restaurant licenses be transferred;- =,
. No. 81, Thomas Trotter- to IA and "a
5 Warren street, First Ward.
tFreyer, 6O6 Grand street Ninth Ward
No. 4ls. Charles &. sBernea to Patricl
Mcdonald 4t2la r.,,,,
: az Ne Saa d1za AVENUE, igeRathaWaraaa5
No. 4s6 c. R. Westling to William J
mo no. SO. Maggie Nicolay to Julius Hell
mann, s6s Palsade avenue, Eleventh
No. s21, George Dittmaar to Gusta'
No. IA, Isaac Abrafnson to Max G
No. sol, c. o. Driscon to James Me
s No. s2s. Andrew Gallagher to Philip. F
iGrant, 29 West Side avenue, Eight
! No 'ss1, Peter ]. Morris to James Gar
rlS Nol s72. Dennis F~ifg2zzgfpbon4 to 152 sixtl
! street, Fifth Wardo haAasS.n sglsH,
: The report was received. The resolution
was adopted by the following vote. tn
v yeas and nay having been ordered an
, Yeas-An the members present. twent,
(20) in number.
> The Committee on Laws and Ordinance
reported the following resolution on petl
tion referred at this meetingE
: Resolved, That the Building nspecto
is hereby authorized to issue permits 10
f the erection or extension2of the foHowin!
: described buildings, wiz -
and "a feet high, and to raise mai
building three feet, etc., at 1856 Fourtl
William Golden. frame extension, 12x2
Z and 20 feet high, at T6 First street.
f Mary Linke, 8 story frame building O.
: brick foundation, 25x10 and 30 feet high
at corner of First and Green streets.
> Samuel Meek and William Francis, t
: raise two frame buildings at S4 and S5fl
4 Fourth street, three feet above the pres
emit height, etc.
THE report was received. The resolution
was adopted by the following vote, tn
. yeas and nays having been ordered an
: Yeas-Aldermen Austin. Barr, Borne
q mann. Burns. Calnon, Decker, Fry, GU
: ton. Hartman, Heavey, Henry, Howell
= Kelly, Maxwell, Moran, Mullins, Tracy