The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-12-29
IN UNION IS CAIN
Mr.. W. D. Edwards Shows
That Consolidation Will
Lessen County Tax
Rate.
WHAT The KIGKERS SAY
Statistical Reports Discussed
Advantages of Large
Towns.
WHAT THE KICKERS SAY


The Commission appointed to inquire
into the advisability Of consolidating tne
cities of Hudson county met again yester-
dav afternoon in the City Halt Inc
statistical reports from the munlclpaiieieS
ana townships, which were recently
printed In 1.-The News, were discussed
and again the opponents to consolaatloii
reiterated their opinion that it was not u
their advantage to join with Jersey oles Z.
The Commissioners present wers.-7hA-
Senator Rudolph Rake, of HoooAeh, "no
presided; Secretary John j. Nevln. ". =.
Edwards. Joseph A. Dear, or Jersey clts ;
N. Tras., Bayonne; Z. F. 5. Lewis no
boken: Msssrs. Hill and Walker, Gutlsn-
berg: r. Bruce, New Durham; w Grace
Harrison: J. T. O'Brien, Union Hill; r
Frambaca and A. Rich. West Hopohen'
Mr.. Schmidt, of West New York.
Mr. Edwards, who has compiled all ths
statistical reports from the various CIVIC
bodies. opened the discussion by pointing
out the increase in the county rate VITA
the object of showing the extrayagance
always resulting from board "aleh
makes its own appropriations and spenas
them. He said that the tax rate hao n
creased from $3.50 in 1884 to S5Sl IN 1888.
Such a condition of affairs Mr. Edw
said. could never exist if all the munlcl-
palities in Hudson were Joined in one CITY.
In New York, where consolidation hao
been effected, already great saving hao
been felt The present Board Of Free
holders was in no wise better nor worse
than its predecessors; it was the pad
principle OF government in which there
was no responsibility.
II am speaking of an ideal municipal
government, of course" said Mr. Ed
wards
II don't think youn have any Utopia
in Hudson county," interposed h4r. n ".
Trask of Bayonne.
but Wen try to get as near to Utopia
as possible, said Chairman Rabe. ana
there was a laugh.
Mr.. O'Brlen, bitter foe to consolida-
ton, defended the present county govern
ment by saying that although It had been
denounced as extravagant, yet the county
eeu4s show something for every dollar
of bonded debt
"Oh yes,p chimed in Mr.. Trask, "a
Boulevard always QUITO forder and
lunatic asylum dear at the money"
Continuing, Mr.. O'Brien claimed for
Union Hill all the virtues. Its schools
were better than those of any other city
and as a proof, he said, these schools had
taken first prize at the Worlds Fair.
$50 did ours muttered Mr.. Trask and
a grin spread over the face of the Com
missioners.
eDon,t you Think asked Mr.
Edwards chat consolidation would
ensure you parks in North Hudson and
surely that would be a welcome addi-
tion; because with consolidation the
parks would necessarily be located in
your section
I'VE have in our section replied Mr..
OBrien, public spirited citizens who
have provided US with breathing places"
Mr.. Dear gave Mr.. Grace of Harrison,
a sly dig when in reply to remark by
the gentleman from Harrison that all the
what dreadful thing; you would be
united, he said
what a dreadful thing you would be
consolidating then Naughter.)
I'VE want consolidation up our way, but
not with Jersey City" said Mr.. Grace,
who favsrs union with Newark.
.HThere are a number of towns up your
way without any natural boundary" said
Mr. oBrien. "You might say their inter-
ests are identical. Try consolidation there
and see how it works"
s.If the people Of North Hudson believe
consolidation is a good thing in itself,
and if they favor union among them
selves, isn't it true that their opposition
to general consolidation of all the cities
of Hudson county is due to some super
etitious fear?v queried Mr.. Dear.
There is a feeling in favor of con-
solidafing the North Hudson towns" re-
piled Mr. O'Brien, because their inter-
ests are identical"
eff we can't have one great city In
Hudson County" said Mr.. Edwards, Tets
have several big towns. I'd be glad TO
help any towns to consolidate. even If
they didn't ali join in one large Hudson
County city
There is a sentiment in favor of con-
solidating Hoboken, West Hoboken and
Weehawken. The people in West Hobo
ken would be glad to get a viaduct that
would connect them with the Fourteenth
street ferry at Hoboken, and thus afford
better and quicker communication with
New York" remarked Mr.. Frederick
Frambach.
'.speaking for West New York. said
Mr. Schmidt, I'VE are not in favor of con-
solidating for the next twenty-five years.
We are opposed to it. We are getting
along all right. What I believe is that
pretty soon a fine large city will be built
up around West New York, where the
view is fine and good view can be OBJ
tained of New York directly opposite,
and when such big city does spring up
! think it should be known as West
New York People all over the country
would know where such place was
located. What better name could we
give the big city than West New York;
"our people in West Hoboken." said
Mr. Rich, sdo not favor consolidation
with Jersey City. We believe in better
communication with New York City, but
do not think this would be insured by
union with Jersey City" He argued that
viaduct from West Hoboken to the
Fourteenth street ferry would be popu-
lar. The proposed viaduct that is to lead
from Hoboken to Jersey City Heights,
near Congress street, he did not think
would prove much advantage to West
Hoboken,
Mr.. Edwards pointed out that consoli-
dalton for the smaller towns with Jersey
City meant a better sewer system
"xeso added Mr. Dear. Fand better