The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-06-01
GROVE STREET TROLLEY.
Mayor Hoos Sends His Veto
to the Street and
Water Board.
INSISTS ON COMPENSATION FOR CITY
Surprised at the Change of
Front on the Part of Many
Supporters Of the
Ordinance.
INSISTS ON COMPENSATION FOR CITY

Mayor Hoos has vetoed the Grove street
trolley ordinance. The message is an in
teresting one. 1t was sent to the Street
and Water Commissioners at their meet
ing this afternoon. 1t is as follows:-
June l. 1898.
To the Honorable Board of Street and
Water Commissioners.
Gentlemen-I herewith return to your
Honorable Board, without my approval,
the ordinance which was adopted by you
at your meeting held May .. 1879. ana
presented to me for my approval May ~,
1888, and of which the enclosed is a certi-
fed copy.
| have taken this action for the follow
ing reasons
The platforms upon which we were
elected to our respective offices, recog-
mixing the value and Importance OF Priv,
leges at the disposal of the city, declared
that privileges such as those that are con-
tained in this ordinance should not be
granted without compensation. and l tail
to see any argument which will make the
granting of privileges without compen-
sation square with a promise to refrain
from doing that very thing. The history
of Jersey City Is one long record OF puDhc
rights given away for the mere asking,
with no regard for the present nor pro-
vision for the future. Rights granted
without any or else with Inadequate re-
turns to the city should have brought
thousands of dollars to the pubic treas-
ury. Against the further presentation of
SuEQ GlILS an alarmed dllu QI6dltlLtQ pun
lie sentiment is beginning and ought to
exist, and l for one voice that sentiment
and am resolved to back it up to the last
ditch.
/ am surprised to find this ordinance as
adopted indorsed by many who have been
loudest in their declarations that privl-
1eges granted to corporations should be
paid for, but a merely superficial exami-
nation will show that self interest is their
guiding motive and should not be con-
sidered where the general welfare of the
city is concerned.
The right to use public streets is g.
valuable one and corporations seek 1t not
for the humor of the thing, but because
they believe and know it TO be profitable
I understand and realize perfectly that
there is a mutually of convenience ex-
tending to the corporation, its passengers
and those to whom they are carried for
business or, other purposes, but the CUES
zion of convenience is altogether foreign
to the problem of paymen for franchises
granted by municipalities 1t is for the
reason that the convenience can be at
forded that capital is invested, because
of the subtraction from individual use of
public streets that the investment of
capital Is made lucrative n for this very
reason those who made and own the
streets are entitled to compensation. and
the resultant tightening of the tax levy.
Furthermore, this principle is upheld by
advanced thought on municipal govern
men and the experience of cities in
which those privileged have been COM
PEELED to pay, and finally your solemn
pledges to the people at the polls.
But there are also other objections to
this ordinance as adopted by your Hon
orable Board, though the first in itself
is fatal The section referring to the
granting of transfers is so involved that
it is difficult, If not impossible. to ascer-
tain its limitations. 1t does not seem
susceptible of a construction that would
compel the company to carry a passenger
from Jersey City beyond the city limits
for a single fare. In fact it compels
nothing. II provides no penalties. It
does not limit the amount of the fare. It
should at least provide that a single fare
Of five cents shall entitle a passenger to
ride, when transferred to a connecting
line of the company, as far as though
that amount had been paid on such con-
Meeting line.
Again, the provisions concerning an ac-
eeptance fiavors of the provisions used IN
giving t~rrepealable contracts in matters of
taxation, whereas It Is to the city's in
tanned in the ordinance to prevent It's
future alteration or repeal.
Finally, the ordinance is drawn for all
time 1t is perpetual. A fixed .perleu,
enough for privileges of the nature men.
toned in his ordinance. This genera
ton generally, and this city in particular.
has experienced the inconvenience of
let the e generation regulate the use
of its public highways in the light of
conditions then found. These reasons
FOR my action in this matter must appeal
man Jealous of his rights. and to every
Official who would be Jealous in the per-
formanee of the duty which he owes his
city, and l trust your Honorable Board
viii sustain me in upholding the principle
of no perpetual franchise and no fran
chise at all without due compensation.
Respeotfully submitted,
EDWARD HOOS, Mayor.