The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-06
The Newark Sunday Call" and the
Water Question.

For imbeeile ignorance and stupidity
commend us to the Newark Sunday
Cal.', If it was not such a holler-than-
thou publication, we would be inclined TO
think that the editor, the good DR.. Hunt,
selected the most incompetent and con-
scienceless man on his staff and then shut
him up in the dark to evolve articles
about the Jersey City supply out of his
inner consciousness. It is certain that no
reporter ever comes to Jersey City to in
auire about the facts, for nobody here,
not even Lebbeus B. Ward, would fill him
up with the opium dreams which the
ttCall' puts in print.
A sample article appeared in the issue
of the 2sd inst. which for wilful and
vicious mendacity has not been surpassed,
ever by the .'Call' itself. For the amuse-
ment of our readers we will print an ex-
tract from it,
The truth of the matter is. the water
supply question in Jersey City has be-
EOln6 So 1lNOIf6Q III pOllllcS ludt tltFc IL
little chance of any solution of it in a
way that will be helpful to public inter-
ests. Under Mayor Wanser. by whom the
it was Republican politics: now it is Dem
ocratic politics. Allan McDermott. the
Corporation Counsel of Jersey City, and
ex-Sheriff Bob" Davis are contending
for control in the letting of the contract.
AT present Davis is master of the situa-
ton. 1t was due to his influence that the
bids under the last Specifications were re-
7ectR6 Those bids were VprV hioI-at
least that Is true of the bid most favor
ably considered by the city. There were
legal obstacles in the way of the accept
ance of any bid. and the Corporation
Counsel had advised the authorities to
move slowly. Some progress had been
made, but through the influence of some
one all bids were rejected and the new
specifications were adopted.
Even the school children in Jersey City
Will have a good laugh at this. We be-
lieve there is not one true or even prob
able statement in it. The greater number
are simply idiotic.
1.-The water contract is not in politics.
PIT was not in politics under Mayor
Wanser.
are not contending for control of it, al
though they favored different bidders in
the latest competition. The proof that
they are not contending is that McDer-
mott urged the officials to make the award
to the bidder whom Davis favored, and
he has quarreled with them for not
doing so.
4-If Davis is master of the situation
it is unknown to Mayor Hoos. He was
master in the recent competition and the
responsibility for the result is his, sole
and undivided.
SIT was only due to Davis influence
that the bids were rejected when it was
found that the only one which Mayor
Hoos would approve was a notoriously
Impossible one, financially, legally and
engfneeringly-if the polished Mr.. Hunt
Will excuse the coinage of the word.
6-The bids were not high. The ones
considered were the lowest ever received.
The one which Davis favored and which
McDermott finally urged was only s4l5. ooo
higher than the lowest ever received and
only the same amount higher than the
price which Newark originally contracted
to pay to East Jersey for the Pequannosk
system.
There were no legal obstacles in the,
way OF the acceptance Of the bids. allan