The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-10-07
Mr.. W. D. Edwards Shows
the Advantage ofs Consoli-
dation Before Greater
]. G. Commission.
OPPOSITION FROM TOWNSHIPS
Arguments Of the Anti Expan,
sionists Refuted by a
Recital of Facts.

The members Of the commissions APP
pointed recently to consider the advisf-
bility Of consolidating the cities OF Hud-
son county met yesterday afternoon IN
the Mayors Office in the City Hall. and
while there were only few Commission
ers present yet the informal discussion
was animated and interesting.
It developed one thing, and that was
the bitter opposition of the outlying
townships to any plan to include them In
Jersey City. The representatives OF these
places said IN general that consolidation
70 them meant emasculation. and they
had no use for Belgium's motto when ap-
piled to consolidation
Mr.. William D. Edwards, when tbs
members came to an anchor around the
table urged the union of all the munici-
pafities. towns and townships, because
by doing so it would cut down expenses
and be a saving to taxpayers. Besides.
he added, uniformity Of governments
meant rapid progress for all the people In
the county.
Look at New York" said John ).
0Brien of Union Hill. an implaoable foe
to any plan which will diminish the glory
and Importance OF his bailiwick- why
do you know that over there they are
heartily sorry that they ever consolidat-
ed? They have now to pay a higher tax
as a result of their foolishness-"
THAT is scarcely accurate" replied MT
Edwards. saThe people in the borough Of
Brooklyn are paying less than they did
before consolidation, but not IN the case
Of the Borough of Manhattan. The fault
of that state of things lies with their
system of apportioning the State taxes
The State Board of Assessors Of New
York, just soaks New York City Why
do you know that until Mr. Leaycrafr
was put on the State Board, New York
city had no representation on that board
at all?''
This was a facer for the anti-expansion-
lists and they shifted ground by pointing
to malcontents in other boroughs Of
Greater New York.
Look at Staten Island" exclaimed ex-
Mayor John Newman OF Bayonne, the
people there are sick of the consolidation
craze and they are bitterly protesting
against it-v
Mr.. Edwards admitted that when Jersey
CITY abandoned the Passaic River as
source of water supply she practically
millions OF dollars That was the sum
represented by the good supply which had
be to be abandoned because of pollution
He laid emphasis on the fact that con-
solfdation would wipe out number OF
useless officers. 1t would also make uni
form the local Improvements. such as
streets and sewers. forming them into one
comprehensive system, instead of having
them. as at present split up into odd
patches.
Mr.. O'Brien was scepticaI about the
promises made by Jersey City to her
small sisters who would be emasculafed
and wiped out, and simply be the Tag end
of everything. They were something at
present. they would be nothing in the
future If consolidated. He said that u
merging cities into one were good why
hadn't Jersey Caty made progress sincs
her union with Bergen and Hudson Citiesz
.Just think of our townships in North
E4rdson.s concluded Mr.. 0Brien, why
we are walking. away from Jersey City.
CUP to i've years ago you were out or
the world. Rapid transit helped you ana
not any good government" retorted Mr.
Edwards.
.swhy Jersey City is far behind New
ark said Nr. O'Brien, avoiding the issue
and tacking on the comparison slae.
.sWhy YOU haven't street in Jersey CITY
to be compared with Broad street In that
CITY. Put your Grove street and NeWarA
avenue alongside of Newark stree1ss
You're streets are disgusting
ssBroad street, said DR.. John j. Nevlh,
shas been repaved several times at lne
expense of abutting owners. You don't
call that a public improvement, do your
Here in Jersey City block after block oh
streets have been repaved out OF the
liouor license monies without any expense
to the benefited property owners
TAKE your City Hail." said Mr.. OsBrien,
off on another tack, why 1t cost more TO
build it than 1t is worth No wonder II -
called monstroslty-"
This attack on Jersey City's Parthenon
brought Colonel S. D. Dickinson to his
feet. The Colonel is willing to admit that
other cities have town hail. but there's
only one City Hall, and that is right here
With proper indignation the Colonel re-
Piled
.You couldn't equal that building any
where for the sam it cost
Il guess not was the dry reply Of
OBrsen.
No. added Mr.. Edward. and You
couldn't build one like It for half as
much again IS it cost.
The talk tnen dwindIed back to the main
question. and an adjournment was taken
until next Friday.
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