The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-03-15

pora ton Counsel Record, Assistant eof-
poratio Attorney Carey, Engineer Gar
wood Ferris and some spectators.
When Mayor Pagan was ready, he ask
ed the Board of Street and Water Com
lnissioners if they had anything to say.
Col. Smith President of the Board re-
sponded. He said
SIN view Of the fact that any action OF
the Street and Water Board would have
to go for review and final action to HIS
Honor, the Mayor, we have decided tnat
present conditions should be acted upon
only after the Mayor tells us what action
should be taken to meet with his approv-
al IT would be waste of time for us to
present here a set of resolutions, or what-
ever form our views would take and then
have them set aside by the Mayor. from
whom there is no appeal We would hKe
to know his views first. Let the Mayor
send us a message telling US what would
be acceptable TO him and likely to meet
with his approval. and then we will act.
Send us such a message as the President
sends to Congress and the Governor to
the Legislature. The Mayor should do so
in all important matter such as this Is.
We feel satisfied with the original con-
tract It is good and has been ratified
by the people. 1t should not be broken
or altered but both parties held to its
provisions. If we can learn what would
he agreeable to the Board of Finance and
the Mayor we would be glad to act. But
# we do anything it goes to the Board of
Finance for concurrence and then to the
Mayor for approval. This takes time and
we should not waste time by making reso-
lutions after resolutions only to have
them rudely cast aside. The city needs
water and needs it badly. The contrac-
tors have undertakensto furnish water
and they should do So We have carried
out our part of the contract and will
continue to carry it out. But we wish
to know what action the Mayor wishes.
That is all we can Offer
Mayor Fagan-When we adjourned the
other day it was understood that the
Street and Waited Board would take some
action in the meantime and present their
views here tonight.
Commissioner Snnith-That is true. But
you are aware your ideas may not agree
with ours nor ours with yours. We
would like to have an expression of your
views before we act. We don't want to
do anything to be set aside by your
Honor
Mayor Fagan-would I have final ac-
ton?
Commissioner smith-Your veto would
set aside anything we might do.
Mayor Fagan-Wen you give me some
thing to consider and 1 will consider it.
want the Street and Water Board to take
the first step What they do will go to
the Board of Finance and then come to
me.
Commissioner Smith-Why should we
do something that would be brushed
aside by you? 1t would be a loss of time
and we should not lose time like this. Tell
US what you want and we will consider it
and be able to act intelligently, draw up
resolutions that will be accepted and have
this tangled question settled at once !,
Mr.. Records that your position. We
think the contract a good one. Now you
can take yonr cue from that ard act.
Mr. Record-A propositino was made
by the contractors. You should say yes
or put forth another proposition.
Commissioner Smith-The proposition by
the water people was made to the Mayor
We would like his opinion.
Mayor Fagan-Commissioner Heintze
said the other day his Board would be
ready to put forth a proposition.
Commissioner Heintze-Yes, we were to
do so, but we will not do anything that is
to be set aside.
Mayor Fagan-Have you ever taken this
stand before?
Commissioner Heintze-We never had
occasion before.
Mayor Fagan-I did not think I would
be called upon to give my views, and I
am not prepared. I made no preparation.
Assistant Corporation Attorney Carey
This course was not taken when the orig
inal contract was modified.
Commissioner Hauck-W4en the modi-
fications were made the Street and Water
Board and the Board of Finance could
pass over the Mayors veto, but they can
not do so in this case.
Commissioner Smith-We would request
the Mayor to tell US his views.
Mayor Fagan-Suppose I should make
that request of you?
Commissioner Smith-We would rather
not.
Mr.. Record-You are not acting properly.
Why don't you say what proposition you
favor?
tractors 10 live up to the agreement. we
think that if the city is damaged the dam
age should be collected. We don't know
why the contractor should be excused
from paying damage.
Mr.. Record at this moment drew his
chair up to Mayor Pagan and they whls-
pered for a minute. They were interrupt
ed by President Ringle saying he wished
to make some remarks. He was given
the floor and said
Mayor, have you anything to say?"
Mayor Fagan--Absolutely nothing.
This ready reply in the stereotyped form
as given to most interviews caused a
smile to spread over the faces of most of
those present.
Then Mr.. Ringle said
"Gentlemen. 1 don't know what your
plans are. But for me / will say that l
will vote for nothing but to leave the
contract as il is. And we should not al
low the contractors to go ahead until we
get their plans and specifications for the
rest of the work and pass on them mere.
Neither. the Mayor, the Street and Water
Board nor any of you know what you are
going to get First we were told that we
were to have a retaining wall at the res
ervoir S5 feel high, 11S feet at the base and
ST feet at the top. / would like to know
where the foundation is to come from for
this great wall When I asked the con-
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