The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-05-05
KELSEY TO LENTz
Former Park Commissioner
Of Newark Replies to the
Major -Subvay's In
ilaence on Jersey
flaence on Jersey

can County Committee. ar. Kelsey has
replied to the Major. What he says fol-
lows in par:
The impression upon the public mind
BY the effusions Of Major Lentz before
the Republican County Committee Mon
day evening win, believe be something
like the following:
First That the prssentment Of the
real conditions in this county and State
BY those ayerse to his peculiar methods
and tactics, has struck deep, and that
either from the workings Of a troubled
conscience or lack of appreciation on his
part Of these conditions, he vainly i'm
AGNES that the facts and the truth can
be perverted BY setting forth such spe-
cious claims and profusion Of person
alities.
Second That in order to befog the
public he makes the usual misleading
statements incident to those attempting
this method Of dealing with public ques-
tons.
Third That the inveetive indulged
in throughout his TRADE must with the
electorate tend to accentuate the very
causes he seeks to destroy.
"Fourth-The innuendo attack on pub
lie officials of the high character and
standing Of Mayor Pagan and his official
associates cannot fail to strengthen and
enlarge the influence such men have all
ready gained IN the confidence Of the
people
@FifthSuch statements are as undig
nifed from one holding position Of pub
lie trust as they are distorted, and indi-
cate what kind Of Judicial mind is now
at the head Of one Of the most important
commissions in the State
For the most part do not consider
the statement worthy Of notice. So much
publicity has, however, been given to the
matter, there are two or three specific
points / think may properly be referred
to here.
The suggestions and efforts made in
1894 to amend the State railway fran
chise law, making it necessary to have
the consent of a majority Of the owners
on street before a franchise could be
granted. originated with. and the bill re-.
ceived its principal support from citizens
Of the Oranges; and if I'VE went down
and had the law passed, as Lentz now
claims, we were not in evidence at the
time TO those actively interested in se-
curing this legislation. In this connec-
ton the interesting question arises wheth-
er we is intended as claim of propri-
etorship with the Legislature, in these
legislative proceedings; and does Major
Lentz thus assume to be part Of the
law-making power of the State?
''rhe plant over the non-passage Of
the Morris Canal bill, and pleadings that
the Mercer County Grand Jury deal
lightly with the reported bribery charges,
might be passed By were not the real is.
sues involved of such serious import to
all the people Of the State.
Very naturally the Major and his
friends in the corporation interests be-
moan the fate of the bill But why
should the people of the State mainly IN
terested in good government and honest
representation, other than rejoice that
this high-handed scheme of handing over
to private monopoly valuable water
rights and surrendering for all the future
all interest in. and all State control of, a
subway railway privilege Of inestirnable
value, collapsed in the final consuming
ton.
"On completion of the Hudson River
tunnels the Morris Canal bed win pro-
vide subway all made and graded, and
as soon as the wafer is out, mainly ready
for the ties and rails. And this great
right Of way will have FOR one terminus
thS entire population of greater New
York on the one side, with the great
population Of Hudson, Essex ane Passaic
Counties or the other including the rap
idly growing cities Of Hoboken, Jersey
City, Newark. the Oranges and Paterson,
with all The surrounding suburban towns
and the beautiful lake and mountain
regions of New Jersey. only forty OF fifty
niles distant for the other terminus.
When the prodigions financial success
Or the new snbways in New Yoi9s, I.ons
don, Paris and other cities eonstrucod at
the fabulous cost Of one Or two million
dollars per mile Is considered. the des-
peration Of those back Of the Morris
canaI Dill to put through that Measure
af tie last session can be readily uader-
stood