The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-03-15
NOTHING To SAY
Street and Water Board
Turns the Tables on
Mayor Pagan to
His Great An-
noyance.
WON'T RISK 4 VETO
His Honor Asked to Send
q Message Defining
His Views on
Water.
PROLONGED FENCING MATCH
An Hours Talk in Which
the Time Extension
Issue Was Practically
Not Touched.
PROLONGED FENCING MATCH


Mayor Fagan's office for the purpose of
considering the application of Contractor
Flynn. the East Jersey Water Company
and the Jersey City Water Supply Com
pany for an extension of time to Decem-
Der 25, 1893. to complete the water works,
which should have been completed on
February IS of this year. The conference
lasted something more than an hour and
everything was talked of but the question
which was the cause of the conference
There was much said about the necessity
of the city receiving water, about the
manner in which the contractors are doing
the work, their intentions, their identity
and faith with the city. but nothing about
whether the time should be extended or
not.
When the conference of Wednesday af-
ternoop was adjourned, it was agreed, so
Mayor Pagan said last night that the
Street and Water Board would prepare
itse.f to submit a proposition to the city
authorities for consideration. When this
was brought to the attention of the
Street and Water Board last night they
admitted the truth of the statement, but
said that they had since considered the
matter and had come to the conclusion
that they would do nothing until they
wero in possession of the views of His
Honor the Mayor. They would act in ac-
corGance with his views so far as the
same were reeoncilable with their sensa
Of daty. They also said that they would
do nothing until Mayor Pagan told them
MS ideas. because they said. II their ac-
tion was taken along Zines that proved
to be at variance with the Mayors ideas
a.
sition would take and their labors would
be .ost and so much time wasted. They
objected to placing themselves In the po-
Sition Of body working in the dark
doing things that would not be accepted
and forced 10 change and change again
uHtif they Should strike the responsive
cord.
The Mayor did not like the stand taken
oy the Street and Water Commissioners
and refused to express his ideas, pleading
lack of preparation. because he had not
been warned that he would be required to
express views of his own. The Mayor
took The stand that those about him
should exchange ideas and he would take
them all in and then at his leisure con-
slider them and thus arrive at a con-
clusion. The Mayor was supported by
advice constantly in whispers.
Mr.. Record, seeing the trend of affairs
began counter move to force the stree.
and Water Commissioners individually,
to show their hands and he succeeded
somewhat but not enough to show what
he and the Mayor wanted to see. This
failure of his Corporation Counsel to
bring light to him annoyed Mayor Fagan
1,
ties sticking out all over the position OF
the Democratic Board of Street and Water
Commissioners and showed his thoughts
by demanding if the Board had ever tax
en- a similar stand. When told that they
had rot he looked 81 thought So" but waj
soon thrown out of sorts again when
Commissioner Heintze said that the rea-
son that his Board had never acted 50
before was that they had never been
called upon before to act under the same
conditions that they were in then. re-
mark dropped by President Robert G.
Smith about his views on the original
contract between the city and Flynn had
the effect of turning the discussion from
the original channel into a line of pref
ty play at cross purposes in which the
Mayor, through Mr.. Record, attempted to
NAslofSA tHc VIEWS VI tlc clFeeL ana w a.
ter Commissioners On the original con-
tract; but the scheme failed. Whenever
one of the Street and Water Commission
ers began tc talk he found himself at the
close being questioned by Mr.. Record with
What are your personal views on the or
:ginal contraet?'' but 1t was no good No
one was caught unawares.
The crisis came when President Ringla
spoke for the first time. He was very
much excited and accused the contractors
of being unfaithful and even went so far
as to charge Engineer Garwood Ferris
xith permitting the continuance Of "con-
demned pipe IN some Of the work already
completed. This stirred Up hornet 5
rest for a while but the unpleasant fea-
ture ended with President Ringle routed.
Having failed TO force a statement from
the Street and Water commissioners about
their views about the original contract
Mayor Fagan said he would adjourn the
meeting for further consideration and
would call upon those present again
.when he did not say.
The Street and Water Commissioners
asked the Mayor to send them a 1nessag &c
embodying his views. "as the President
does to Congress and the Governor to the
Legislature "
Those at the conference were Mayor
10 CURE GRIP IN TWO DAYS