The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-14
MAYORS WATER POLICY.
His Letter to the Commits
sioners Has Caused
a Stir.
WHOLESALE REDUCTIONS FEARED.
Who Would Have to Go if His
Plan is Carried Out.

=
Mayor Hoos letter to the Street and
Water Board in relation to the management
of the water department has caused stir
among city officials and politicians 1t was
not until today that His Honor's recon-
mendations were digested. The officials
have learned too that the Mayor is very
much in earnest They know that the
Finance Board has pledged its support to
him and changes, which will be made by
conlpulsion are looked for.
One Of TIE 1aost portant suggestions
made by the Mayorsis that the department
which imposes the regular taxes should also
make the water tax assessment. The de-
partment, the new burden is intended for is
the tax, which is undar the supervision Of
the Tax Commissioners. The Mayor has
gone over the field very carefully and has
found that very little additional labor would
be imposed upon the Tax Commissioners it
they should make the water assessment.
Not many months ago the Tax Commis
sioners purchased, at considerable expense
insurance and other maps which show ex-
actly what size and style of building is on
every lot in the city. The Tax Commits
sioners keep a record of every new building
erected, every extension and alteration, and
every transfer of realty Vita such records
at their disposal the Mayor declares that the
water assessment could be levied with just
as much accuracy, if not more, by their de
partment, than by the Water Assessors
bureau.
Should the work be transferred to the Tax
Board the Street and Water Commissioners
would be enabled to dispense with the SER
vices of eight reassessors and several other
employees who are attached to the water
assessors Office.
About the only officers who would have to
be retained would be the water assessor and
water purveyor, which offices are now held
by James McGrath and Robert Coar, respec-
lively. The Tax Commissioners do not take
kindly to the proposition to add work to
their office, but If the Mayor insists upon it
they will offer no great resistance.
Another point to be gained the Mayor
holds, by having the Tax Commissioners
handle the water assessment, would be the
return of such assessment in July of each
year. That would enable the collection of
| water rents in December or January at the
same time other taxes become payable.
Accompanying this proposition is another
which would mean the abolition of the
Water Registrars department. Some years
ago when p H. O'Neill was City Collector, a
movement was inaugurated to have him
collect water rents as well as taxes, The
object then. as it is now was to do away
with the Water Registrars bureau as a col
lecting department.
It has been suggested too that the city
would doubtless fare better and collect
greater percentage of its water rents, if the
rents were placed on the regular tax bill.
Mayor Hoos has ascertained that the City
Collectors office is sufficiently well equipped
to handle the collection of taxes, water rents
and assessments. The addition of the water
rents would impose little or no extra work.
The passage of the city's money through
the City Collectors office would also result,
it is claimed, in a better check being kept
upon it than at present.
By reason Of the suggested changes the
employees of the Water Registrars office
are in state of mind.
The Street and Water Commissioners are
puzzleds The changes would bring about
great reduction of the city's expense. The
members of the board are anxious to do all
in their power toadminister affairs econolnl-
cally, but they question, they say, whether
the new system would operate as smoothly
as the one now in use. The commissioners
are to confer with the Mayor on the subject.
| The worst blow to the Street and Water
Board is the recommendation that the high
service pumping station be abandoned. The
station affords the board extensive patron
age The water department has always
been the city's chief patronage bureau me
| abolition of the high service plant Will cut
| away many appointments.
/ The Mayor claims the station is an un-
/ necessary expense and be will leave no stone
! unturned to force its abandonment, ahd
! secure the dismissal OF the men employed
| there.
His suggestion to have the old reservoir,
completed meets with the approval OF the
/ Street and Water Board. he work pro-
/ posed will involve the expenditure OF S2Uu,-
/ 100 It has been estimated. The Mayor will
/ not consent to the work being done, now
/ ever until his other recommendations nave
| been adopted The final blow OF the Mayor
| is aimed at the appointment OF clerks by one
| branch OF the government and their subse-
quent detail in another
The water department is carrying on It's
| payrolls at least dozen clerks who are DO
| Inc duty in other departments. The Mayor
| also asserts that men have been appointer
| for a specific duty and detailed to do some
/ thing entirely different.
/ When the budget is made up TINS year
/ each Department is to be compelled to make
provisions for lis employees The Mayor
| will not countenance TIE retention OF men
| in one office while their names appear on the
pay roll of totally independent branch.
There is alarm among the employ ees and
! it is predicted all along the line that When
! found that the Mayor has chopped OF the
| salaries of many employees.