The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-01-27
PAVING HIS WAY
McEwan Tells His Followers
Party Should Not Enter
Municipal Affairs.
BOOSTING HIS BOOM FOR MAYOR
Commissioner Nolan Rehear-
ses What He Has Done for
the Hill Section.
BOOSTING HIS BOOM FOR MAYOR

were the star attractions at last night >
meeting of the Twelfth Ward Public linz
provement Association, at SpitznageFs
Hall. Boulevard and Lincoln street.
There was an unusually large attendance
when President George Hoehl raped for
order.
Secretary John H. Gable of the Boule-
ward Commission wrote, acknowledging
the receipt of the associations complaint
about the electric lights on the Boule-
ward being extinguished too early, and
said he would lay the matter before the
Commission.
On motion of Secretary Bugasch, Con-
gresham McEwan was then granted the
privilege of the floor and delivered an in
teresting address, the keynote of which
was thai municipal affairs should be di-
vorced from partisan politics. He spoke
of the old Taxpayers Association of the
Old Fourth District, and said that there
was a time when the northern section of
the Heights could get no more considera-
ton from the municipal authorities than
the law compelled them to give.
When a man joins a taxpayers asso-
ciation," Mr.. McEwan continued, sit
shows that he is unselfish and wants to
have his neighbors as well as himself
benefit by the improvements for which
he agitates. Back of a taxpayers asso-
citation we see love of home and cleanli-
ness. I look for the day when we will
AVE such an association in every ward
of the city, and when they will have a
central organization for concerted action.
The crying evil of which we complain
is the enormous rate of taxation. All
this is for municipal and county govern
ments. The State and nation exacts no
direct tribute from us. If we would carry
the remedy TO its utmost length there
would be no Democratic or Republican
party in municipal affairs. There ought
to be -partisanship politics in national
matters, where people necessarily differ
on questions of policy, but when we come
down to local matters partisan politics
should have no abiding place.
My mission is to say that if you can
only get tax payers associations in every
section of the city instilled with this idea
you will nave less taxes to pay and will
derive greater benefits. I do not reflect
on either party in the matter of mis-
management of municipal affairs. Both
are equally guilty. Partisan politics, I
say, in municipal and county affairs is
foolish. 1t is to your interest to have
public improvements brought about as
well and cheaply as possible, it is to the
politicians interest to employ as many
men to do as little work as possible.
Partisan politics in municipal affairs
means patronage for party workers.
is why your taxes are so high. Those of
us who favor the divorcing of politics
from city affairs represent the progressive
element of the day."
The Congressman then referred at
length to the matter of municipal owner
ship of street railway and electric light
monopolies. He told of the success of
this plan in Berlin, Glasgow and Birming-
ham, and now, only a few days ago,
old conservative London had taken
twenty-one miles of street railroad under
her control. He said that as a result of
this system people in those cities paid
about one-third as much for car fare,
ferriage, etc., as we paid here.
"AT these things have been brought
about there by men gathering in little
tax payers associations such as this"
the speaker declared. He referred to the
municipal ownerhip of the electric light
plant at Chambersburg. Pa, and said
that the people there were benefited
by it.
IL you Keep lOSelueI anu WIN y INC
sole purpose of bringing your taxes down
they will be brought down."
ssThe theory of taxation is that every
dollar, no matter in what invested, should
bear the same burden as any other dol
lar. In this State real estate bears nine
tenths of all municipal taxes, and our
Judges have said that a dollar put into
railroad stock should never pay more
than one per cent.
Trolley and electric light companies
are making vast amounts which could not
be if it were not for the government, and
If that government had not granted them
franchises. They water stock so that
they pay over 100 per cent. We say where
there is no competition there should only
be a fair return. Taxpayers associations
when they realize these things will band
together to overthrow them.
..There is one trolley company in this
State whose plant and equipment cost ST.
900. 900. That road was transferred for
$1,000, 900. and bonded for sl5,OOO,Oo0 That
means that you, as citizens, in travelling
on this road must pay interest on this
latter amount"
The speaker was greeted with applause
as he resumed his seat.
AOlIllll0olOlt NoiAA M go
greeted as he arose to speak in response
to President Hoehls invitation. He said
in part
when I was elected I said that I would
do everything possible for the betterment
of this section of the city which greatly
needed it. and 1 think I have kept my
word. When became a city official I
found that there were many things which
the people here wanted which they could
not get on account of lack of funds. Out
of the license fund l obtained $4,000 for
the New York avenue sewer for which the
people had been ciamoring for thirty
wears. and I nave also paved the RHvine
Road. On the back of the Hill where
there are no improvements you can't get
them until you petition for the improve
ment Of your streets. You all know what
/ have done in the matter of obtaining
additional electric lights for this matter
OF the city"
The Commissioner then spoke OF the
matter of a public park for the section
and said that there was no avallapie
funds for the same. He characterized the
site bought by the city on Ogden avenue
as sutterly unfit for the purpose"
President Hoehl asked what condition
the netition for a lateral sewer on Man
haitian avenue now was, and MI. Nolan