The New York herald., 1877-08-24
WAR IN HOBOKEN.

CONTEST AMONG THE AUTHORITIES OVER THE
DEPosIr OF THE CITY MoNEis-wHAr THE
MAYOR, THE TREASURER AND THE COUNCIL
MEN HAVE TO SAY.
There is wild commoton among the good people Of
the nourishing city OF Hoboken, N. J. There
there VINO regard II something OF a tempest in a
teapot but tho average Hoboken official Is not one
these Tor he has too nigh regard for the dgnites OF
the rising city. The commotion concerns the handling
OF The city moneys Ever Hoboken was ncorpo-
rated city has been the practice OF Treasurer
the city's money, subject call for the
OF claims upon the corporation. OF late there haa
arisen party which demands that these funds shall
rest In the hands OF the Treasurer but shall be de-
posted in the First National Bank the only bank In
the place, outside OF one savings institution II Is
said by that there only hali-dozen citizens
who desire the change In this part oi the fiscal sys-
Of the city, and It ID further the part
of those who are being fought by these stubborn
moro than oil the directors OF the bank are
really the inst gators of the raid made by the
members OF the Common Council against the peace
and quiet OF tho Treasurer and his many friends and
in plain contempt of written and unwritten traditions
OF the city. These bank directors 1t is affirmed
to control the money themselves. The question came
up In a rather savage way at the late meeting Of the
Common Council aud the light Is expected to DO re.
newed al the regular meeting week. At the for
mer meeting Mayor Joseph Russell returned to the
Council two remarkable resolutions which they had
sent to him, one directing the City Treasurer to
deposit all the city moneys in the First National
Bank, aud the other directing him not to deposit
than $40 900 there until the bank gave security
for the safe keeping of the c,ys money In votoing
these resolutios which squint both ways the Mayor
gently hntei that they illogical absurd and
that the council had better adopt moro
inielligble Thereupon the council, with quite show
OF anger, sent the Mayors communication back TO
him way suggesting that they had been grossly
insulted.
RUssELL's STATEMENT.
Mayor Russell said yesterday to HERALD
portsr-"With regard to tho two vetoes sent to the
Council at the last meeting Of them certainly
could object to--that is the directing tho de-
posting ol funds In the First National Bank They
had right vote such deposit But
when the other resolution up. in di-
rect contraventon OF the preceding one,
had right 10 ask the Council to
review the matter and make the directions In regard
to the ctys funds explicit and not contradictory" 7"
"What Is the real cause o this controversy concern
.sIn the first place." was the Mayors reply, tat
the last session Of the Legislature D was
passed empowering the council to ax the salary
oi the City Treasurer not to exceed s., 500, and
number Of citizens aud taxpayers consider tnat as the
salary has been raised from $500 he should comply
wah the law compelling him TO deposit The money as
directed by the Council When l schalrman
OF the Council u resolution passed d.
recting tho Treasurer to deposit all the moneys
belonging TO tho city in the FIRST National Bank
Since that resolution was adopted the FIRST National
sS.o sso' co., " N'" '"''' ~ way " N'p''''' y ''''
REpoRrKR-Mr. Kamena, the Treasurer is regarded as
uprght man, is he not?
MAyoR-i have always found him to be straghttor.
ward upright and honest, and don't believe that the
city will ever lose one dollar through his adminstra
| ton.
WHAT TREASURER SAYS
John Kamena, the Treasurer, Is native OF Bremen.
He Is about fifty OF age He came to this
| try in 1852, and has lived Hoboken most OF the
time, having been coal merchant there Tor about six
teen years. He made The following statement 10 tha
reporter:'l was first elected Treasurer OF Hoboken
salary Of the Treasurer was only $500. This year 1t
increased to s. 900. In consequence Of the small
OF the salary heretofore has been the custom
TO allow the treasurer the OF the clty's money
subject to call at any time. Some OF the Council now
think that the salary has been Increased TO 600 the
city's money should be deposited In the First Ma
tional Bank. Last spring this question came twice
in the meetings Of the Council. Two Councllmen pro-
posed the Treasurer should deposit the funds In
| the First National Bank. The otner Counclmen did
not vote and the resolution was declared carried. On
the second resolution, In opposition, six voted the
affirmative aud two in the negative and carried
The Treasurer Is under $780, 000 bonds. Only ball
| dozen czens opposing the present system. The
average city moneys the hands Of the Treasurer
$40, O00 If the money deposited the bank the
| city would receive no Interest Every Monday aud
Thursday the Treasurer must meet claims upon the
! city Out OF his salary the Treasurer must pay
the salary of his clork The present system
| corporated city. On the first OF every
month there heavy payments for the Treasurer to
meet Pay tor the city officials the schools ana the
| police amounts to over $4,000 per month Some
| months have 10 pay out $50, ,000-months when
| the city bonds and interest on bonds are due"
CoUNCILMAN's VIEW
Councilman Ellis is probably the head OF the oppo.
stion to dcpositing the city funds In the FIRST Ma
tonal Bank He SAID yesterday 1.-THE city's money
| on hand sometimes amounts 10 5000, O0o should
think that the average would be about SlUO0O The
trouble certain OF the directors Of the
FIRST National Bank have engaged in extensive building
| operations, these very operations swampng the
Savings Bank Of HoDoken three ago. One Of the
directors this bank also director tho savings
| bank, and he is now erecting two buildings. Money
| is needed. Ii mad been defeated in the Council
should have voted deposit the city funds tn the
Second National Bank OF Jersey City rather than with
| the FIRST National Bank OF Hoboken." The Commits
sioner added: ~ cannot lind single man in Ho-
boken who does not admit that Treasurer kamena Is
| thoroughly sound, upright, safe mao. Mr. Retke, u
man living Hoboken, worth s500000 stands AZ his
back for every dollar. There never was an honest
warrant against the city presented to kamena thai
| was n not