The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-08-09
OVER FAGAN'S VETO
Hoboken Common Council
Passes Asphalt 0rdin-
ance.

The agitation aroused in Hoboken over
the proposed repaving of Washington
street, the principal business thorough
fare in the city, with asphalt caused some
excitement at a meeting of the Common
Council yesterday afternoon when an or
dinance providing for the work was
passed by a vote of to 2 over Mayor
Fagan's veto. A score of members of the
Taxpayers Association appeared at the
meeting. Five of them spoke, but neither
their protestationS nor the Mayors veto
could move the controlling element in the
council.
The ordinance provided for the improve
ment of Washington street, Bloomfield
street and sections of several other
streets all with asphalt. The only objec-
ton to it was that it included Washington
street. Mayor Pagan returned the ordin-
ance together with the resolution provid-
ing for the advertising for bids, with his
disapproval. He explained in his veto
that he did not approve of paving Wash
ington street with asphalt and advised
that only specification block pavement on
concrete bed should be used. The five
members of the Taxpayers Association
who expressed their views did not want
the street repaved at all, but repaired.
1t was expected that there would be more
of the taxpayers at the meeting and that
they would take the same stand as the
Mayor.
Councilmen Steil and Frommel were the
only members of the board who opposed
the ordinance. Mr.. Steil made vigorous
protest and was applauded by the tax
payers. He said that he was ga repre-
sentative of the people"
The taxpayers were represented by
Counsellor John I. Weller. Mr. Weller
said that there would be no objection to
laying asphalt on the streets around the
City Hail. as it would drown the noise
of wagons and give the Councilmen
chance to hear themselves speak. Just
then heavy truck thundered along New
ark street and Mr.. Weller stopped talking
until it had passed. To pave the entire
length of Washington street with asphalt,
he said. would be useless expense to the
city He declared that the street was
good enough.
Councilman Frommel denounced the
ordinance on the grounds that the police
would prevent truckmen from using the
street if it were asphalted. The tax
PAYERS voiced his sentiments and said
that it would be nonsense to keep trucks
off the busiest street in the city.
Councilman Gretten explained that the
passage of the ordinance over the Mayors
veto did not imply that Washington
street must be paved with asphalt. He
said that the work on the other streets
could be going on unil it was decided
what kind of pavement the people want
ed on Washington street. Councilman
ssteil did not see how this ceglds be done.
He asked that new ordinance be drawn
leaving Washington street out.
Chairman Schultze called for a vote as
soon as the discussion was over and
when the result was announced the tax
payers filed out of the chamber grumIbling
over their defeat.
After recess the Council passed reso-
luton which prohibited heavy vehicles on
asphalted streets.
A veto was received from Mayor Pagan
on resolution providing for advertising
the city tax budget in Hoboken paper.
The paper is unfavorable to the admins
tration and is unofficial. The Council
passed the resolution over the Mayors
veto and then adopted another, ter
minating, the designation of the only Off
cial paper. Both papers were then made
official, but the Mayors signature will be
necessary before the resolution becomes
effective.