Sign in the Sky

High over Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City last week circled an airplane trailing a sign: "Beat Hague--Vote American." Down on the ground, harsher words were being spoken: "Politically and morally our city has lost all semblance of democracy, having degenerated into America's first dictatorship. [After] years of misrule . . . Jersey City is tottering on the precipice of financial bankruptcy." Both skyborne and ground-gripping words came from Republicans who hoped--but scarcely expected--to pry Frank Hague loose from his 24-year-old seat as mayor of Jersey City. If facts were votes, they might have had a chance to vote him out.

For Jersey City's adjusted tax rate is higher than any other U.S. city of comparable size (200,000 to 500,000). Its 1940 rate: $52.98 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation. Assessments ran at least 100% of true valuation, sometimes more. A survey of 108 properties by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board showed that they were so over-assessed that their average effective tax rate was $74 on $1,000. On one of its houses, on which HOLC collects $75 a month rent, it sets a modest appraisal of $6,000. Jersey City's appraisal: $17,500.

But even Jersey City's sky-high taxes did not pay the breathtaking cost of supporting the city in the style to which Hague has accustomed his loyal followers. Among its sister cities of the U.S., not counting bonded debt for utilities. Jersey City has the highest per capita net bonded debt: $172.33. Average is $108.85.

People and businesses have moved out of Jersey City like the Israelites from the land of Egypt. Moaned the New Jersey Voter, taxpayers' watchdog: 50 to 60% of mortgaged private homes have been foreclosed. Population has dropped from 316,715 to 301,173 in ten years, while neighboring cities showed population spurts. Empty windows, deserted, ramshackle buildings, line Jersey City's tired streets.

None of these non-voting facts has shaken Mayor Frank ("I Am the Law") Hague. He was back and boss-busy last week after a winter vacation in Florida, where he hibernates annually in a Spanish villa on Biscayne Bay. There he occasionally visits with Neighbor Ed Kelly, boss-man of Chicago, occasionally drops in at the gambling rooms of the swanky Brook Club, watches the ponies from his box at Hialeah, and freshens up between times with Turkish baths and massages at the ocean-front Roman Pools. Mr. Hague's salary as mayor is $8,000 a year. Other sources of income: unknown.

Last week Boss Hague was Florida-fit and all set to go. He started the week by filing petitions nominating him for another four years on the City Commission. Jersey City will go to the polls on May 13 to elect five commissioners, who serve four-year terms and choose one of their own number to be mayor. Mr. Hague has been chosen uninterruptedly since 1917. From 160,000 registered voters in the city, Hague workers had collected 125,731 signatures to petitions. Only 766 were required. Said smiling Boss Hague, as truckmen lugged the petitions into City Hall: "It is very gratifying. . . . I can assure the people of Jersey City that our city will continue to enjoy the reputation it has earned. . . ."

The best the local Republicans could do against this Haguery was to put up a fusion ticket which included attractive Italian Welfare Worker Grace Billotti, in the hope of snaring the Italian vote. But the Italian vote was already in the Hague poke, tucked away by Michael ("Mike Scat") Scatuorchio, wealthy garbage contractor and politico.

Same day, busy Boss Hague dedicated Lafayette Gardens, low-rent housing project--built with $2,500,000 of Federal funds. There will be at least three more like it--all built with Federal funds. Said Mr. Hague: "I dedicate this project to a happier and healthier Jersey City." At mid-week he opened the baseball season at Roosevelt Stadium--built with $3,000,000 of WPA funds. The Boss sold tickets to 61,164 politicos and voters.* About half of them went to watch the minor-league Jersey Giants and Rochester Red Wings. Just as Mr. Hague threw out the first ball, the plane appeared overhead trailing its sign in the sky: "Beat Hague --Vote American." The crowd put its collective head back and laughed a horse laugh, cheered Mr. Hague more lustily than ever.

To his feeble critics and impotent opponents, natty, pink-faced, 65-year-old Boss Hague paid, as usual, no attention. As soon as the campaign is over and the mayoralty job is glued down for another four years, he will retire to the Jersey shore at Deal, to spend the summer in his $125,000 mansion.

* Paid attendance next day (same clubs): 718.

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