The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-09-18
Board Of Finance Majority Orders an
Election on the Single Head
Street and Water Com
mission.
aher, Mr.. Brock arose and with much
earnestness spoke against its adoption.
MAJORITY WARNED.

earnestness spoke against its adoption.
MAJORITY WARNED.
The Commissioner said-"Before a
vote is taken on this resolution, which 1
suppose will pass, would like to state
my objections. This resolution is bad
policy. 1t is contrary to the rights of
the people and the will of the people.
This Board by passing this resolution
refers the matter to the people, who will
determine by their votes if they want to
continue electing their Street and Water
Commissioners or want the Mayor to ap-
point one man. don't fear the results
for one minute. l warn the majority
members of this Board that this is
political measure. The responsibility for
it will rest your shoulders You have
decided whether or not you want to as
sumo it. You are responsible and the
people will come back at you and show
by their ballots the displeasure they feel
at your action.
1.-THE law was passed to take from the
Democratic party the Street and Water,
Board. The operations of that Board
people Last. spring when you elected
your Mayor by large majority the
people elected a Democratic Street and
Water Commissioner by handsome ma
jority. If this is not evidence of confi-
dence which the people have in the Street
and Water Board, l don't know how to
more strongly impress upon you the.
point l mean to make.
.sThe point may be made,that it is left
TO the discretion of the people as to
whether they want the Mayor to select
a Commissioner or elect a Board. But
again l say l don't fear the result of a
ballot on this question. Doesn't it strike
you that you are hurting yourself as
Republican Commissioners and members
of your party"
Mr.. Brock said that history had a
habit of repeating itself. He referred to
the passage of law by Democrats ex-
tending the term of Jersey City's chief
executive and told how Republican
Mayor was elected.
PEOPLE SATISFIED.
Continuing, he said:-"The people
don't want their rights disturbed. They
are satisfied with the Street and Water
Board. Call to mind the condition of af-
fairs during the Wanser administration
when this Board, then Republican,
bought 100000 worth of material, some
of which is still in the Pipe Yard and
NAV be never used. They bought mater
ial that was not needed by the city. They
nut the city in debt for an enormous
amount of money when they were going
out of office.
st don't assume that this resolution is
a Republican act or is desired by the
Republican party in Jersey City or that
the Republican people of the city want
it. | have never, in my conversations
with Republicans, heard them express
desire for this act. / have never heard
that the managers or so called active peo-
pie in the party wanted.
BLAAIES REPUBLICAN PRESS.
sThis is an act of the Republican
Press of this city. This act was promot-
ed by the Republican press. Your Mayor
didn't pledge himself in favor of such
an act. / understand that it was stated
at dinner that the Mayor favored it,
but | don't believe it. / believe it was
passed through the influence of the Re
publican press. They certainly ought
to know that the people wouldn't stand
for it.
ssYou may say that the people can de-
- IL I<,x 40 10 70,
here. By voting on this resolution you
cast to the winds the reputation you
hold as a public servant. You throw
away all that grand and splendid reputa-
ton you have acquired as an official
of this city Undressing President Ringle).
| I want to tell you, Mr.. President, that
this is a political measure and is not de-
sired by Republicans or Democrats. You
know in your own mind that they don't
want it.
CHANCE FOR ROGUERY.
"The possibilities under this act for
roguery and thievery are so large that
| it can be measured. If you elect a
Mayor who would sacrifice his honor he
could under the act appoint man with
out honor who. could plunge the city in
| debt from which it might never recover.
! This act puts no check on an official. He
may order certain things done. The
Mayor may veto it. The act says the
Commissioner has all the powers Of the
present Street and Water Board. He
| could go to his clerk after the Mayor
| vetoed an act and say that he had over
ridden the veto.
II believe it would be good thing il
Nz1zE1fS OF FACE