The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-17
JOSEPH DEAR SPEAKS FOR THE PLAN
Many Prominent Property Owners
Follow His Good
Example.

The public meeting called by the Board
of Finance to gain an expression OF publle
opinion on the water contract with p. ID.
Flynn. which is now awaiting the con-
currence of the Board of Finance and the
signature of Mayor Hoos. was held last
night in the Assembly Chamber of the
City HALL Every seat in the large room
was occupied and many persons were
obliged to stand. The meeting was a
complete success. Representative citizens
attended it and gave free expression to
their opinions. The result Of the meeting
will probably be the speedy signing Of the
contract, as majority of the taxpayers
and representative men of the city ap-
pear to be in favor of it. The expression
of the majority is aptly summarized in
the words of man who, late in the dis
cussion, gained an audience and intro
ducing himself as Thomas Brown, "a
plain citizen said
I don't care what you gentlemen do, ]
am with you. The matter is up to you. Z
have perfect confidence in you. Use your
own judgment and whatever you do / viii
be satisfied
His little speech, the shortest made dur
ing the hearing, which lasted over three
hours, seemed to be the keynote of the
sentiments of the more sober minded mer
present. Mr.. Brown was loudly applaud
ed for his utterances and was frequently
quoted by the speakers who followed him
The meeting was not altogether a peace
ful one A disgraceful scene near the close
marred it and threatened to end it in a
general row The trouble was brought
about by George McEwan, the little
brother of the Congressman. The meet
ing had been drawing near to it's close
when George McEwan. who had pre-.
viously kept silent and contented himself
with listening to the arguments advanced
by Honest Tom stepped out in front OF
the assemblage and walking up and down
waving his arms like a windmill caught
by q gale. began to express his views or
the matter. He declared that it was moi
merely question of getting good water
It was a question of getting it in the righ
manner. He asserted that the contrae
J with Flynn could be neither lawful nof
just to the people of Jersey City as ther.
had been no competition. The law, he de
clared, provided that the city should ac
Acept the contract most advantageous t.
it.
Most advantageous" he contended
had been held in law to be that which
could be proven by. comparison. There
could be no comparison where there was
but one bid, therefore the awarding OF
the Flynn contract would be contrary tc
law. AS Mr.. McEwan was taking his
seat after his burst of eloquence, Cor
poration Counsel McDermott called him
to a sudden halt
rs it your opinion, then," he asked
s'that the courts will set the contract
aside if it is awarded?"
sIt is" replied Mr. McEwan
'sWell tf1en.'' said Mr.. McDermott, "you
will be satisfied
This badinage seemed to afford the
crowd considerable amusement and ii
yelled itself floarse at Mr.. McDermott's
sally. The applause had scarcely sub.
sided when Mr.. McEwar began to reply
to the Corporation Counsel He had ut
tered scarcely three words when his voic,
was completely drowned by such a tumul
as was probably never before heard il
the Assembly Chamber. He was hootet
and derided. Cat calls, hand clapping an(
stamping of feet made such a din tha
nothing that he said could be heard above
the noise. He kept on talking. Hi.
mouth moved in unison with his arms
which continued to beat the air. He pres
ented a. laughaIble spectacle. Twice h,
snbsided, then attempted to take advant
age Of lull in the disorder to make him
self heard only to be hushed up again
Finally Mr.. Midlige President of tn,
Board of Aldermen who presided in tn,
absence Of Finance Commissioner Hep
penheimer, managed to restore order
When he did so Lawyer Joseph Andersen
jumped to his feet and said
ssMr. McEwan, please repeat what yo'
were saying when you were interrupted
ssdr. Anderson" interrupted Mr. Mid
1ige, Il am running this meeting. 81
down.
Mr. Anderson sat down and when cain
again reigned Mr.. McEwan continues
where ne had been Interrupted. He sal
that he had pride in his city and di'
not care to see any agreement, which It
OFFICERS might make. set aside by tn
courts. He preferred that things shoul'
be done right In the fret place. Whel
lie had taken his seat Congressman Nc
EVAN arose and said:
Mr.. Chairman, after the recent dem
onstration Of the pseudo taxpayers here