The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-03-21

water commissioner act of 1902 shall ne
found to be for the acceptance OF TINS
act. it shall then, but not OTHERWISE 50
into effect or be binding upon such cl's
wherein such vote shall have been takel',
& When a resolution, submitting TINS
act to the voters shall be passed ana ap-
proved in any city as provided IN section
four of this act it shall be the DUTY Oh
the county clerk of the county IN wnlch
any such city is situate, on receiving
copy of the said. resolution, to cause the
question of the adoption or rejection OF
tais act to be printed upon the official bal-
lots to be used at the ensuing election IN
the manner provided by this act and by
the laws Of this state in relation TO elec-
tions.
6. All acts and parts of acts, general or
special inconsistent with the provisions
Of this act be and the same are hereby
repealed. and this act Shall take effect
Immediately.
When Senator AcCarter had declined to
let the bill lie over he explained that the
bill was in the interest of good government
and was intended to give cities of the
first class in this State great benefits,
which New York had derived from
similar form of government. He called
attention to the referendum clause when
it contained and said that no people need
take advantage of the act unless they
wanted TO.
Mr.. Hudspeth asked if the Senator
from Essex believed that it would ever
come before the people of Newark for
their consideration.
OF that Mr.. McCarter said ne could not
say, but if it ever did he would vote for
it, as he considered the plan a step in
the right direction.
ssI hope this Senate will maintain its
high standard, said Mr.. Hudspeth, ''and
partisan measures. Now here is bill
which is meant for Jersey City
"And Newark" broke in Mr.. McCarter.
"oh. yes, for the purposes of legislation
the bill is made general act, but no one
knows better than the Essex Senator
himself that this bill is for Jersey City
alone. 1t was introduced over the head
of the Senator from that county. but OF
that I do not complain. Newark has a
Board of Works with which she is satls-
fed and it is not to be disturbed. Last
fail we had an election in Jersey City.
For the first time municipal and state
officers were elected together and a full
vote was brought out. The Republicans
Nominated for members of the Street and
Water Board representative men, men OF
affairs. of property, and men in whom the
people had fun confidence. The Demo-
Gratis did the same, and what was the
result? There was a very large vote OF
the people and while owing to some dis
satisfaction with the Democratic candl-
date for Mayor the Republicans elected
their nominee by over 5000, the Demo-
cratic candidates for Street and Water
Board were elected by $500.
sWhat does that mean? 1t means that
the people have confidence in the present
Street and Water Board and are satisfied
with its members and do not want to dis
turb them. In this Board we have Colonel
Robert G. Smith of the Fourth Regiment
and superintendent of the Gunard steam
ship wharves in New York; ex-Sherin
Heintze. a prominent German citizen;
Mr.. Sullivan, an officialsof the Erie Rail-
road, and John Nolan, a prominent pusl-
ness man of New York. Why should we
have this Board, in whom the people nave
EXPRESSED their confidence, changed sim
ply because the politicians of Jersey CITY
demand it? / appeal to the Senate to let
As alone and not pass this partisan mea-
sure. which the people do not want
.erhe Jersey City Board was not en-
dorsed by the people at last falls cleo
ton retorted Mr.. McCarter. Only one
member was elected and his election was
not an endorsement of the entire Board.
This bill simply offers to the people OF
Jersey City an opportunity to say whether
thew viii have one man who can give all
his time to their affairs instead of five
who can only devote an hour or two day
to the city's business. The people can
have this change if they want it, 1t is
in the line of that which has worked so
well in New York There is no politics in
this bill. but it is simply in the line of
better municipal government"
Mr. Hudspeth said that the bill pro-
yides no supervising power over the
single headed commission and makes MN
responsible to no one. 1t made him COM
plete boss and dictator, and to say that it
was in the in the interest Of good gov
ernment was preposterous.
1.-The bill will change an lrrespohslple
boss for one responsible to the people"
remarked Mr.. MeCarter.
.who is that boss?" demanded Mr..
Hudspeth.'
~oh. everybody knows who runs Jersey
citv., retorted Mr.. McCarter, "and he
wont do SO any longer if this bill be-
comes law.
eyes, and everyone knows who runs
Newark drily remarked Mr.. Hudspeth,
.and in the interests of both we should
unite and kill the bill.
Mr.. EIudspeth made another earnest ap-
neal to the Senate not to infiict this piece
of rank partisanship upon Jersey City,
but he might as well have saved his
breath. The Republicans all voted for the
bill and it passed.