The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-02-10
CONSOLIDATION.
Proposed Bill to Unite North
Hudson Raises an Ami
mated Discussion.
DEBTS OF MUNICIPALITIES
Each City and Town to Decide
Whether or Not It Will
Consolidate.

The labors of the Hudson County Con-
solidation Commission took a practical
shape at yesterday afternoons meeting.
when Mr.. Herman Walker moved the fol-
lowing Restitution
Resolved, That the Committee on Plan
and Scope be and the same is hereby Oh
reeted to present TO this Commission at
its next session, draft or copy OF a Diii
or contemplated act, to be introduced at
the present session of the LEGISLATURE
providing for the consolidation of all the
municipalities in the county OF HUDSON
situated north of Jersey City and Hobo
ken and east Of the Hackensach River,
such act to contain provision for the as
sumption of its own debt by each muni
cipality owing such debt, at the time of
consolidation. and further providing for
the ratification and consent of such con-
solidation by majority of the voters of
the respective towns and townships
included in the contemplated city,
Taking part in the discussion which fol-
lowed were these members:-Chiarman
Rudolph Rabe of Hoboken, Secretary
John J. Nevin, Col S. D. Dickinson, Coun-
sellor Charles L. Corbin, of Jersey City;
Aaron s. Baldwin and e. A. S. Lewis
of Hoheken; N. w. Trask of Bayonne,
Herman Walker and DR.. A V. Hill of
Gutenberg, William Schmidt of West
New York; Town Treasurer Grace ?.
McGlennon and William J. Davis of West
Hudson. John T. O'Brien of Union Hill,
Augustus Rich of West Hoboken, Chas-
Bruce of North Bergen and Mr.. Duer Of
Weehawlzen.
Mr. Rich of West Hoboken. thought
that Mr.. Walkers resolution should be
referred to a special committee on which
Commissioners from the municipalities af-
fected should sit. They would, he said.
handle the proposition more satisfactorily
than the entire Commission.
Mr.. Grace, of Harrison, rejoiced that his
beloved town wasn't included in the
scheme He hopes one day to wake up
and find himself in Greater Newark.
Mr. N. w. Trask, of Bayonne, and un-
compromising foe to consolidation, said he
was glad to see that Bayonne wasn't men
toned.
J. T. O'Brien of Union Hill, urged the
adoption of Mr.. Walkers resolution, be-
cause, he said
There is no doubt that there is a pre-
pondering sentiment in North Hudson in
favor of consolidating the towns in that
section The epople are clamoring for it.
For years the residents of these towns
have been discussing this proposed con-
solidation. They are convinced that it
would be of great benefit. We have had
citizens commissions discussing the pro-
Ject for years Some of US here have no
adequate conception of the steady growth
of this consolidation sentiment"
-
ing sentiment, ,, replied Mr.. Rich. "In 1869
the town of West Hoboken opposed the
scheme of consolidation and l am sure
the sentiment has not changed since
then Three or four years ago a. half
dozen citizens in North Hudson constitut-
ed themselves a commission to consider
this North Hudson consolidation project
The commission represened land owners
and spectators. 1t did not represent the
people and nothing came of it's scheme
81 happened to be chairman of one of
the citizens committees who favored this
consolidation, and 1 know that the SEN
tfrnent was then and is now strongly in
favor of consolidating the North Hudson
towns promptly rejoined Mr.. Walker.
81 believe Mr. Rich would be surprised
at the extent of this consolidation serlti-
mert if he took the trouble to make in
uuiries. The people up our way don't want
consolidation with Jersey City, but consol-
idation of the North Hudson municipali-
ties"
Mr.. E. A. S. Lewis of Hoboken, by
moving to lay the resolution on the table,
squelched all further debate. The next
subject of discussion was this
.sShan this Commission recommend in
any plan for consolidation adopted by it,
that the principal and interest of the
debt of each municipality, at the time of
consolidation, be borne and paid by such
municipality"
This proposition was adopted unani-
mously.
After that came up the main PROPOSE
tion. namely, whether the Commission
shall recommend the consolidation of all
the municipalities of Hudson county into
one city.
Mr.. VIM. ]. Davis of West Hudson sug-
gested that in view of the absence OF
complete statistical information, the vote
on this proposition be postponed This
motion to postpone was carried Messrs-
Hill. Rich, Duer and Schmidt voting
against postponement.
Mr.. Walker. though scotched, wasn't
killed, and he moved this resolution
Resolved, That any and every measure
to be presented by this Commission pro-
viding for consolidation of two or more
municipalities must contain aprovision re-
serving to every municipality the right to
determine whether 1t wishes to adopt such
a measure or not by a majority OF votes
cast at an election held for that purpose.
This was carried unanimously without
any discussion. The proposition means
that each city OF town shall decide for
ttself whether it shall consolidate or not.
All the statistical information needed by
the Commission to. make up their report
will it is expected, he ready 10y the next
meeting.