The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-11-29
CITY FACES
GREAT PERIL
Administration Blocks the
Way for an Award Of
Street Cleaning
Contract.
OLD ONE EXPIRES DEC. /
Overlooking Ash Barrels Will
Remain Undisturbed and
Thoroughfarss Can't
Be Swept.
OLD ONE EXPIRES DEC.

An unfortunate condition confronts
the city as result of the failure of the
Republican, end of the administration
to do its share Of the work in preparing
the way for awarding the street clean
ing contract, and the streets of the city
may go dirty for some time.
The contract for the fiscal year ex-
pires tomorrow at midnight. That prac-
tically means that the final work on the
contract will be done by Henry Byrne's
men tonight
Realizing the urgent necessity for hay;
ing aanew contract in readiness by the
beginning of the new fiscal year the.
Board of Street and Water Commission
ers long ago approved specifications for
the cleaning of streets and the removal
of ashes and garbage and sent them to
the Board of Finance for confirmation
The specifications We're similar to the
specifications of last year, except that it
was provided that $4,000, instead of
100000, should be spent for removing
ashes and garbage. The amount for this
work has remained unchanged for years,
although the amount of material removed
has increased greatly in consequence of
the increase III buildings and the over
flowing ash bs.:- el.
liz. Board of Flrance held up the spe-
ci6cations because, the Commissioners
objected 70 the expenditure of an addi-
tional $4,000 for removing ashes.
The apprupIlatio for sclea ming streets
and removing ashes is a joint one, and
the Street and Water Boards plans sim
ply meant $1,000 less for sweeping the
public thoroughfareS.
ba d., i G
red in the specifications. The Street and
Water Board. in order to facilitate mat
ters, approved the specifications again,
al fer recDnsideriHg its former action in
approving and forwarded the specifica-s
tons to Mayor Pagan for his approval
his, Honor refused to approwe, although
be didn't object to the Street and Water
boards plans of ignoring the Finance
Board. He indicated his offieial sane
ton to this proceeding by approving the
street lighting specifca tions
Mr.. Fagan's refusal to approve has
put the city in a hole. No advertise
melits for proposals for bids can be au-
Ythorized and the awarding of a contract
is temporarily blocked.
In. the meantime the city officials are
wondering what can be done to keep the
streets clean. Contractor Byrne will
not continue sending his men out to
sweep the streets and carry off the con-
tents of the thousands of ash barrels in
the city after the expiration of his con-
tract.
The Street and Water Board will de-
ylse some method to prevent the city
from being converted into pest hole
Mayor Fagan said this morning that
he is still opposed to an extra expendi-
fure Of $4,000. as contemplated by the
Street and Water Board for removing
ashes and garbage.
The blame. for the present condition
Or affairs cannot rest on me-" he said.
At conference of the Street and Wa
ter Board, Finance Board and myself
last Thursday it was agreed all around
that the specifications should remain the
same a.; last year. That agreement has
net heea kept"
Ih. Democrstic officials say that the
Republican end Of the administration is
r.'sr"saihe for the, unpleasans ta,rg,e by
trssr Gi;iy-,tallyiEg tactics and successful
e:tsfs~ IN delaying the work of approving
t;l- speciGcsticn SO that the contract
C, ui1 be advertised