The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-31
The Time for Action on the Water
Award.

Hoos can do is act quickly. He owes inns
to the contractor, he ives it to the cry
IA owes # to the Democratic party and
he owes 1t to himself.
Already the bid Of the Flynn syndicate
mas been hung up for several months.
and the bidder, If he were SO mindeo'
would be quite justified in withdrawing
his proposal and demanding the return
Of his guarantee deposit. It is not reason
able or businesslike to subject a bidder TO
such delay. Not only is he losing the
interest on his deposit. but also the con-
ditions under which he framed his esti-
males may nave changed radically The
priees of materials may have gone up,
labor may have grown scarce and dear,
and il money is not very tight just now,
there may be great s~tringency or great
demand in a month or two, making II
harder TO procure. For these reasons, ana
Others. which will occur to everyone, the
contractor is entitled to demand that the
award be made or refused within a
reasonable time.
The Mayor also owes it to the city to
act speedily. If his decision is favorable,
1t cannot come too soon, for the sooner
the works are completed and the supply
delivered, the sooner will we be rid of
proftless payments to the East Jersey
Water Company. On the other hand, If
the Mayor is going to veto the award,
the quicker he does so the sooner can
steps be taken to obtain new proposals.
Only axe grinders or cranks can argue
that delay is of advantage. Even if the
contract is TO be upset by litigation. the
sooner the fight is made and settled, the
better.
OF course the bearing of the situation
upon the prospects of the Democratic
party and upon Mayor Hoos' own chances
of reelection is of secondary consequence.
This is what might be called the selfish
aspect of the case, and as such must give
way to considerations of the general
public good. But it win be well for Mayor
Hoos to consider the question whether
his denomination and reelection would
be possible if he carried this problem, in
an unsettled state. down into the next
campaign.
It is quite certain that the Republican
papers and the crank element will abuse
the Mayor and the Democracy If the
award is made. But they will do so
equally if the award is vetoed, and they
VIII do it most of all if the Mayor holds
the question unsettled in his hands for
three months.
But if the Mayor approves the award,
he will rave the support of his own party
solidly. and of all the fair-minded and
progressive elements Of the population re7
CARELESS Of party. Whether Republican
partnership and the crank contingent can
master enough votes to beat him, every
one Judge for himself. But if he
acts d~eeisively the Mayor win at least
have a strung and solid backing, whereas
by vaeillation and delay he will please
nobody and estrange all.
just why Mr.. Hoos should open his ears
10 Lebbeus B. Ward is not clear. Who is
Mr.. Ward? What gives his opinions or
utterances any controlling weight? Above
all people, he has an axe to grind. His
personal ambitions are all embarked on
the State water supply mirage. His po-
sitlon in the controversy is exactly similar
to that Of the hired attorneys of the. COM
pany. He opposes The plan for what there
Is in beating it for him.
The Mayor is right in insisting that all
covenants with the contractor should be
definite and framed in precise language.
But the idea that anything is to be gained
by another talking bee is simply weari-
some nonsense. Tn subject is talked to
death and the hour for action has arrived
Mr.. Davis on Republican Scheme
In an Interview in the Evening Jour
NAL yesterday. Robert Davis, the Demo-
efdLic te@ueF IN THIS county, MADE some
very shrewd and very moderate comments
upon the Republican scheme TO hold pos
session Of the Police and Fire Depart
menfs of this city by the erection through
new laws of Bipartisan boards. Mr..
Davis did not absolutely coademn the
creation of sueh boards. He simply drew
attention to the fact that the Republican
party had controlled the Legislature for
five years, and It was therefore a little
remarkable that they should take up the
bipartisan idea only when they were on
the point Of losing control themselves
through the operation of a POPULAR vote.
Mr.. Davis suggestion that the proposed
change be submitted to a popular vote is
8 fair one. 1t is hard to see how the Re-
pubieans dodge It. To DO 50 ii to confess
tina the people DO not want Inc change.
AS a matter Dc fact, we DO not think the
people desire the change. It IS expensive
because 1t involves two new tdices. ii IS
Instrumental because ii weakeh rs RESPONSE
bll:tys 1t Is Obstructive because il is sure
IL lend to deadlocks every lime an I'M
poFtant appointment i 70 be made.