The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-10-30
How He Fought Assembly for the Washington Street
Bridge and State Water Board Bills.
HIS USEFUL CAREER AS A COUNTY JUDGE
The Candidate Endeavor to Do in the
Senate for

was found that he had carried the dis
trict. This is all the more remarkable
when it is taken into consideration that
Ar. Heck carried the district at the
previous election by SEQ plurality. The
session of the Assembly for 1886 had no
sooner settled down to business when Mr..
Hudspeth Immediately took a position in
the front rank and was at once recog-
nized as a man of ability and integrity.
He served faithfully upon the Committee
on Revision of Laws and was always
found advocating and voting for those
bills which were recognized as measures
for the best interests of the people.
He made remarkable fight for the
Washington street bridge bill, which was
then the paramount measure to the people
of Jersey City. Foryears the citizens of this
city had been endeavoring te get through
the Legislature bill which would permit
the construction of a bridge over the gap
at the foot of Washington street. 1t was
recognized as a dire necessity and there
was a general popular demand for such a
bridge. The people for many years had
keenly felt the necessity of span across
the gap. Every time anyone desired to
Railroad he was obliged to cross the ferry
to New York and then take another ferry
back to this city again A few industries
had located on that side of the gap, and
were the proper facilities including this
bridge, provided many more were ready
to come and establish themselves there.
All of this anyone can plainly see would
be of immense value and benefit to the
city and would increase the value of
property and the general prosperity of
the municipality. 1t was generally under
stood that a street railroad company was
ready to extend its tracks over the bridge
as soon as it was built, down to the Cen
trail Station. 1t is therefore apparent that
this movement was of great interest to
the city and that there was an almost
unanimous popular demand for the bridge,
the few exceptions being some lawyers
and others who opposed the scheme from
motives not necessary to mention here.
When the bill came up in the House it
met with fierce opposition. The various
railroad corporations who would suffer in
their passenger and freight receipts il
the people of Jersey City were thus af-
forded access to the Central road made
most determined fight against the mea-
sure They masqueraded behind the sugar
house, which appeared in the light of
the sole opponent of the bill. Their plea
was that a bridge would impede the pro-
gress of the various vessels which came
up to their wharves and would greatly
interfere with their business. This trans
parent device deceived none but the enc
mics of the bill, who were all powerful,
and in spite of all Mr.. Hudspeth's efforts
the measure was defeated He, however,
came nearer to getting the measure
through than any of his predecessors who
had fought this fight for the people.
So much did the people of the Sixth
District appreciate Mr.. Hudspeth's efforts
in their behalf that they returned him to
the Assembly the next fall by a hand
some plurality over Colonel Charles W.
Fuller. The House that year was con-
trolled by the Democrats, and the superior
abilities which Mr.. Hudspeth had shown
during the former session made him
prominent candidate for the Speakership
This was the famous year of the Baird
episode, when j. Herbert Potts of this
city distinguished himself by climbing
up a ladder to a second story window
to be sworn in as clerk. The Democratic
majority was not over large. In the eau
Gus Mr.. Hudspeth received the nomination
for Speaker and everything went along
until the position of sergeant-at-arms was
reached. Then DR.. William M. Baird. of
Warren, "Chet" Wolverton and John C.
Arnwine. of Hunterdon wanted the posi-
tion for a certain man. The majority of
the caucus wanted someone else and re-
fused the office to these men. This pre-
4