The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-01-20
TO PAY FOR ASPHALT
Hoboken and Camden Off
Gals Consulting About
the Bond Muddle'
NEW LEGISLATION TO BE SOUGHT
Cordial Relations Between the
Cities Concerned-W. D.
Edwards Plan.
NEW LEGISLATION TO BE SOUGHT

Five city officials of Camden waited
Upon the members of the Common Coun-
ell of Hoboken last night for the pur-
pose of comforting with them in regard
to the best method of Strengthening out
the asphalt pond middle. Like Hobo
ken and Paterson, Camden took advan-
tage of the street repaving act OF lo1o,
and authorized a bond issue of 100000 to
repave her streets with asphalt or other
approved material. When the act under
which the improvement was authorized
was declared unconstitutional, her OIL
Gals were left in the same absurd pre-
dicament as that in which the members
of the Hoboken Common Council were
at the time of the decisiona
The Councilmen gathered in Mayor Fa-
gan's private office about 7:30 p. M. All
the Counciimen were present, besides
the Mayor, Corporation Attorney Min
turn and Senator w. D.. Edwards.
suit at the instance of Mayor Pagan and
Mr.. Michael Foley. He was present last
night in the role of legal adviser. The
Camden visitors included Councnmen II.
C. Sharp, Lewis Norman, William q.
Gibson and Charles P. Sayrs, comprising
the legislative committee of her Com
mon Council of nineteen members, and
Street Commissioner John Blowe.
A pleasant half hour was spent in COM
pairing notes and discussing the proposed
legislation. 1t was finally decided that
Senator Edwards draft a bill, which will
be sent to the Camden officials for APP
prevail, and be presented to the Legisla-
ture next Monday. The legislative COM
mittees of both cities will be on land to
push it along, though there is little doubt
that any considerable effort will be re-
quired, so deeply concerned in the matter
are the people of nearly every section of
the State.
The bill will be general in its nature. ap-
plicable in any city desiring its provisions.
1t will authorize bond issues for street re-
paving, Upon lines which will meet all the
objections raised by the Supreme Court to
the act of 1895, and to the general, sweep
ing a~rraignment of legislation for particu-
lar cities or towns under the classification
act.
This will be accomplished upon the plan
outlined by Senator Edwards several
weeks ago, by making the bono issue cor
lCopClidiiiS Will IL PoPaiotioA u SNSAi
cities, without regard to their classical
ton. Hoboken, for instance, with a popu-
lation of 5000, in round figures, wants
500, 600; Camden, with $1,000 population,
wants a larger sum-. The act will specify
that it shall be legal for any city, town,
ETC., of the State, to issue bonds for
street repaving to an amount not exceed
ing say 81 per capita. The exact sum has
not yet been determined, but it will prob
ably be 81.
In addition. the act will set forth that
the entire proceeds of such bonds, which
shall be of the 30-year class. issued at 4
per cent and sold at not less h par,
may be so used. A sinking fund shall
be created for their redemption, and such
annual appropriation shall be made
about 2s per cent.-as will enable the re-
tirement of the entire block at maturity.
In order that the bill may not be OPP
posed by the Newark and Jersey City
contingents at Trenton, it will contain a
proviso that the act shall not apply to
cities where other provision for street
repaving, such as the license Moneys, al
ready exist. In the two cities of the first
class, all the money wanted for street
improvements is provided by the license
per year on such works, that amount be-
ing one-half her license receipts. The re-
mainder is divided equally between the
schools and sinking funds.
Camden's and Hoboken's interests in
the matter are alike, and it was agreed
that their desires and needs are also
similar. Both require the authority such
an act will confer, and it was agreed
that a proyiso shall be inserted enabling
the %refunding of bonds actually issued
under the original act.
The ak during the conference was
largely a comparison of notes. The Cam
den men were very frank in describing
existing conditions about affairs here.
The license question attracted their at
~tention, by a natural transition. They
had heard Of M L oxen beer and the
money in street repaving turned the sub
ject to saloons.
How many drink places have you
here?' inquired one of the delegation.
State" answered Mr.. Edwards. we've
got about 400 saloons here, but for all
that Hoboken is the best governed city
in the State. The saloons are a source of
yer rather thai a trouble"
Good Lord, I should think sou re-
marked another of the Camden men.
-Four hundred saloons in one town of
$4,000 people. How much license do you
charger"
we take the minimum. $780," was the
reply. 1T all goes to the police fund
about 500, 600 a year.
we charge $500 a license fee" re-
marked Councilman Norman. But then
we've got only 10 Saloons" he added,
re%gretfully. w think that's a lot.
IllDu2l, lOI d lOWH Vi OJ.VUU people,. IlOW
do you do here about the Sunday observ-
ance?"
I'VE are very strict here answered
Mr.. Edwards, solemnly.
Just like Camden" sadly commented
Councilman Sayrs. "You can only get
into a place in our town on a Sunday by
lodging through a side door. I always
heard though that Hoboken was wide
OPEN
"That's a gross libel on a well-ordered
city, said Mr.. Edwards.
Towards eight o'clock the Couneilmen
asked to be excused while they held a
brief meeting in thesCouncil Chamber. AS
chair appointed Messrs. Steurwald and
Londrigan a committee of two to invite
the visitors to see how things were done.
The Camdenites were duly presented by
Mr.. Steurwald and welcomed in Chair
man Weinthals most Chesterfieldian
we gladly welcome you, gentlemen"
the chairman said, in concluding a brief
happy little speech, and hope to send
you back to your homes well pleased
with us all, and in a condition of salts
faction characteristic of Hoboken's hos
pitality."
Counsellor S. A. Besson notified the
Board that William Barry, of Second
street, would hold the city liable for any
damages dom his property through the
street sewer, by Contractor Farrell. The
matter was referred to the Sewer Com
mittee.
George Sim~nlermacher put in q bill for
$50 for a horse killed because of injuries
received on one of the torn-up streets. Re-
ferred.
Mr.. Londrigan introduced a resolution
setting forth thai the present condition of
the streets is due to an abSurdly made
quate street cleaning appropriation made