The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-04-07
RATE WAR.
Mayor and Street and
Water Board at Outs
Over That Veto.
NOTHING TOSAY" AS USUAL
Mayor Pagan Thinks a Great
Deal But Gives No Hints
as to His Ideas.

The Board of Street and Water Conn
missioners win meet tomorrow afternoon
at the City Hail. The chief business win
be the receiving and consideration OF
Mayor Fagan's veto of that resolution
the Board passed increasing the water
rates SO that sum OF $4,000 viii be ad-
ded to the yearly income Of the water de-
partment
and was sent to Mayor Pagan. Heheid it
until last week. when he vetoed it. set
ting forth as his reasons that there was
no necessity whatever for the increase.
and on reason for the method proposed
to increase the revenue.
That veto caused a great deal Of sur
prise among the Street and Water Com
missioners. They fully expected that the
resolution would be approved Now it is
very likely that the Board viii pass the
resolution over the Mayors veto tomor-
row The Board takes the stand that the
water department lacks $4,000 a year to
be self-sustaining, and thar the Board OF
Finance and the Mayor haveeb cen con-
stantly urging them to make up this
sum- Now. when the Board has attempt
ed to do as urged they are reproaehed.
They asked that $4,000 be put in the tax
levy, but they were refused.
The cause Of the failure to make the
water department self-sustaining is the
free use of water in public institutions.
Some time before the Street and Water
Commissioners passed the resolution in
question they told the city officials that
the city departments would have to pay
for the water they used or the Commis-
sioners would have to give up all hope Of
making the department self-sustaining.
Commissioner Heintze, at that time, even
threatened to shut on the water in these
departments, unless it was paid for
Commissioner Heintze said this morn-
ing
I'VE cannot understand why Mayor Fa-
gan vetoed the resolution. He and the
Board Of Finance asked US to make the
department self-sustaining. We have done
so and now they refuse TO approve Of
our method We will take up the veto
tomorrow I do not know what action
will be taken. The Board has not yet
talked over the matter. But know what
will do
9The Mayor ought to know that we are.
even more anxious than he to get things
running smoothly here. We havesto stand
the brunt of all criticism. The Mayor
does not seem at all anxious to help rs
carry out his ideas. The increase is abs0-
lutely necessary. The situation is now
reaching the point where it will be neces-
sary to turn off the water used by all
public departments unless it is paid for.
This will extend to every department save
the Fire Department
Mayor Pagan was asked
what is the situation as regards the
increase in water rates?"
About the same as when vetoed the
Street and Water Boards resolution
doesn't the increase meet with the
idea of your Honor and the Financs
Board that the income of the Water De-
partment should be such as to make it
self-sustaining?
I'VE want the department to be self
sustaining"
THE Street and Water Board say this
IS their method of meeting your Idea
rs it their only method?" asked the
Mayor.
do you mean that they should taks
some other means?''
yes"
What means would you suggest2"
Il am not repaired to discuss that
matter now. They ought to know better
than II