The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-03-24
M'DE:RMOTT
READY.
He Proves Himself Equal to
Pitney in Another
Smart Tilt.
FIGHTS FOR JERSEY CITY
Reconsideration of Indefinite
Postponement Lost By
Purely Party Vote.

.
constrained to declare "of the passing of
bills there is no end" The rapidity with
| which measures are being put through
! this morning so that final adjournment
| can be had this afternoon takes ones
| breath away.
The Senate passed the bill providing
for renovation of the Senate chamber
| For years the Senators have been jealous
| of the Assemblymen, with their new,
modern, up-to-date chambers, and have
been trying to get their courage up to the
point of making an appropriation for fix
| ing up their own hall.
Jersey Citys bill to pay for cleaning
| the snow that fell during this years
blizzard; the new bill for the erection of
School No. 20; Benny bill providing foi
| a commission to consider the advisability
iiof consolidating the towns and cities of
| Hudson into one municipality; Mr. Walk
| ley's bill making the kissing of the Bible
| unnecessary when taking an oath; Mr.
Marnells bill for the pensioning the
| families of policemen who are Injured or
| KILLED in the discharge of their duty; the
House bill authorizing a yiaduct from
Eight street, Hoboken, to Jersey City
| Heights; Mr.. Murphy's bill providing
sidewalks on the Hudson Boulevard and
the manner of paying for them We're all
passed by the Senate,
George Mccarthy, president of the Hud-
son County S. P c. A.. has been here for
| the last two days looking after a bill
which provides that the money received
from the licensing or taxing of dogs shall
be paid to the S. P. C. A. In return for
this the society is to capture all stray
dogs and dispatch them by a process of
asphyxiation The license fee for dogs is
fixed at one dollar per annum. The bill
has passed the House and is now in the
Senate.
In the House. among a large number of
bills, these went through :-Senate, au-
thorizing State Treasurer to invest school
funds in school district bonds issued for
new buildings; Mr.. Bennys bill compell-
ing the county to bear the entire cost Of
laying the Boulevard sidewalks in Bay
onne; House bill giving Superintendent
amended by the Senate by striking out
the clause giving Mr.. Snyder the same
power as the County Superintendent;
hsss thH Senate for bill prGgdng gx udees for taf of
Court of Errors House compelling boys
between the ages of IA and 16 years work
ing in factories to attend night school
three months, year; House excluding
drivers of polio patrol wagons and vans
from the benefits of the police pension
act; Senate providing that banks and
trust companies hereafter organized
shall be Incorporated under general bank
ing act; Senate aDpropriat ting $4,000 for
repairs to women's wing Of State Prison.
measured arms this morning over the
bill which gives contractor power to
condemn rights, water sheds, etc, for a
hat nrapu 1ad nv
Mr. McDermott with a motion to recon-
slider the vote by which the bill was in
definitely postponed yesterday. He pro-
ceeaed to SHOW. that Mr.. Pitney was mis-
taken in his opinion that the bill conveyed
dangerous power, when Mr.. Pitney raised
the point of order that Mr.. McDermott
voted against indefinite postponement
Mr.. McDermott called for the reading
of the record as to his vote.
Mr.. Ptney replied that no AYE" and
mo- vote was taken, but Mr.. McDermott
would not deny which side he had es-
poused.
Mr. McDermott said: 81 stand on the
record
Mr. Pitney first offered to leave it
question of fact to the Chair to decide,
but later decided to withdraw the point,
Dermott desired to continue in his atti-
tude maintained during the winter of
talking on one side of a question and
voting on the other.
Mr.. McDermott said
.tThe gentleman acts wisely in with
drawing from position that he finds un-
tena ble.''
He read the records of certain court
cases to show that the contractor for
Jersey City water was being constantly
hampered by clients of the Senator from
manding many times the price of their
lands necessary to be taken. He was be-
ing taken into court and tedious itiga-
ton set on foot, all of which resulted to
the detriment of the people of Jersey
City, who are clamoring for the better
supply Of water that is now offered them;
be resented at the polls in Jersey City,
and while the speaker had little hope of
passing the bill bill hers here he ;e felt e it. his duty
it now failed it would be introduced next
year.
Mr.. Pitney resented Mr.. McDermott's
insinuation as to his Pintney's) connec-
tion privately with the condemnation of
lands in Morris county.
Mr.. McDermott said that nisinuated
nothing He mentioned Mr.. Pitneys con-
nection with the cases only to show that
he must be familiar with the entire ma
ter Notwithstanding his disclaimer that he
could not understand the pending bill.
Mr.. Pitney claimed that while it was
easy to read bill its consequences We're
not as easy to understand. There was
connection between it and the Morris
Canal bill in the House and both were
held back till the last hour of the ses-
sion. Suspicion was excited by the very
act with respect to so important mea-
sures. Mr.. Pitney claimed THAT there
was an African in the wood pile in both
bills They were dangerous measures and
should not be railroaded.
Mr. Pitney made a lengthy and vigorous
speech in which he reviewed the history
of the water contract in Jersey City, OBJ
tanned, he said without fair competition,
and attended with other scandals. He also
referred to the Newark water contract
and alleged scandals connected with it.
He alluded to the fact that the day after
awarded avn the the contract, "a gem gn-
tleman connected with the matter
deposited $3.50 and in a New York bank.
Mr. MeDermott charged that Mr.. Pitney
was retailing an old slander, the writer
of which had been indicted and plead non
vult to the charge. He asked what the
Senate thought of such conduct in giving
out such statement on the floor of the
Senate without mentioning till the infor-
nation was drawn from him that the au-
thor of 1t was guilty of a crime. He said
|sthat if he (AIcDermotD desired to attack
bill he would not go to a convict for
facts.
Mr.. w H. Johnson said that inas-nucn
as the bill conferred powers affecting I'M
portant public and private interests and
as it was not an absolute necessity on the
word Of the introducer he would vote nos
Mr.. Ketcham would like Jersey City to