The New York herald., 1879-02-07
UNHAPPY ELIZABETH.
The City Council Organized Amid
Scenes of Disorder.
TAXPAYERS IN SESSION.
Proposition to Effect Compromise with
the Citys Creditors

the Citys Creditors
The City Council of the bankrupt city of Elizabeth.
! N. j., effected organization last evening amid
of the greatest turmoil. Ii having been gen.
! orally rumored that the Board of Trade composed
of leading citizens. had held meeting favorng
organization of the Council. it remained to be seen
whether the City Fathers to continue the dead.
lock which had characterized their proceedings
New Years Day. At half-past seven it virtually
| impossible to reach the Council room without the
assistance of police officer. dense the crowd
of and boys. who appeared to be ripe
! for mischief The democratic members of the
| Board were slow in coming to their seats.
/ and when Dr. Grier. the temporary chairman, called
the Council to order they in considerable
, minority. Nevertheless ballot ordered--the
1osth since the beginning Of the year-and to the
| tonishment of all, the republican candidate, Mr..
Cory, received the required number Of votes the
very first ballot. But slight applause greeted the
declaration that Mr. Cory had been. duly elected
President Of the City Council Of Elizabeth and after
having been conducted to the chair he declared in
few words that he would endeavor to do his whole
duty mpartially."
| Mr.. Little here presented ordinance regarding
the pay Of various city officers, when Mr.. Reeves
go into secret session.
| Mr.. DuNN-I will not submit to this The Board
has right go into session on Legislative
business. have heard of such thing before.
| A legislative body only go into secret session
when it discusses the character Of nominee whose
| name has been sent in for confirmation. want the
| people of Elizabeth to know exactly what we are
doing here, and want them to stay right here and
not go INTO any secret session. Great applause in the
Dpu <oIa
| We must ask you gentlemen in the lobby to be
| orderly.
| Mr.. DUNN-Ths Council has no right to 20 into
secret session. (yociferous applause.)
The PREsIDENr-Gentlemen. must tell you again
order and am bound to enforce this rule If it takes
| the whole police force of Elizabeth to do it,
ELECTED FROM THE COUNCIL ROOM.
The motion to go into secret session here
red and the President said to the vast crowd in the
lobby, "Gentlemen will please withdraw
"No. sir, we will not. We are taxpayers, and we
are bound to stay here and see how you squander
our money" were the words spoken aloud in the
| lobby in reply to the Presidents order.
Tremendous hurrahs by the entire assemblage
followed this declaration, when another gentleman
in the lobby shouted 1--WE are here and weu stay.
Lieutenant Flanagan, followed by several burly
policemen with uplifted clubs here moved up toward
| the railing upon which the excited crowd
pressed with tremendous force. The Lieutenant.
having hold of two Of the rngeaders, marched them
| hootings and ceilings. but by doing evacuatng
the Council Chamber and the City Fathers thus
'Ill not stay here with these fellows" said Coun.
| Gilman Dunn. and Ire also left with the crowd ex.
claiming. IH not be party to smooth over the sins
The secret session continued for whole hour. and
at one time. while the crowd In the corridor on
the stairs and filling the adjoining blocks there ap.
peared to be great danger of riot disgusted were
the masses with the manner in which the organiza-
ton had been effected The police. however. kept
| circulating among them. and when the doors were
reopened lush was once more made for every avail
| able inch OF ground to witness the proceedings.
|
The ordinance fixing the pay of city employees being
matter be laid over He claimed that the Council
act in justice to their interests Nothing wonid bs
lost by laying the matter over, that the people
might be consulted Great applause.)
The PREsrDENr-I must again insist upon it that
| A MAN IN THE LonBy TO HIS NRIaHpoa-Oid Cory
will put a head on you If you don't keep quiet.
ANOTHER MAN IN THE LoBBY-Oh. get out; who
The PRESIDENT trapping to order,-Gentlemen. we
must nave peace here. Ine clerk wil call the roll.
| merous taxpayers demanding that all unnecessary
oces be abolished and that the salaries Of those in
office be reduced twenty-five per cent
The petition laid on the table, when adj
journment ordered till this evening
| The very moment the crowd outside the coun-
Gil fearful hootng was heard in the corridor
aud all the Ingredients for grand battle seemed to
ascertain the object of the attack; but, following
squad of police. who. with upifted clubs. did their
utmost to drive the riotousiy disposed out Of the
| tended to punish some Counciimen who they
thought had not voted they had been Instructed.
"You voted for Cory, you - said small pug
| nosed fellow.
you liar If .you say so,' was the Council
manic reply and before there time to sling
words or even blows. Lieutenant Flanagan drove the
! crowd TO the street. thus ending one of the most
| memorable sessions ever held by New Jersey
Council
| TAXPAYERS IN COUNCIL.
At the meeting OF the Board Of Trade above al
uded to- there present several leading citizens,
| among whom were Messrs. Amos Clark, Bonnet,
Higgenbottom, Foote, Watson and ex-President
| Smith. Judge Higgenbottom made quite u lengthy
speech showing that 1t would be in the Of
tho taxpayers II the City Council of Elizabeth did
not organize. He claimed that no mandamus could
be issued by the bondholders and steps taken by
them that would compromise the city II organizar
| ton were effected. He further hoped that there
| would be difference of opinion between the Off.
GERS of the municipality ana business generally.
| Ex-President Smith gave o detailed statement Of
the exact financial condition of tho city, giving facts
and figures. but objecting to the previous speakers
| resolution.
Mr. Bennett declared his doubts as to the policy OF
| passing Judge Hggenbottoms resolution, and
moved ~ substitute that the Board OF Trade take
the initiative In calling public meeting of citizens.
| not only for the purpose OF making arrangements
with the bondholders, but also to provide for pro-
| visonal government of the city of Elizabeth until
some positive settlement effected. This resolu-
ton was laid on the table, to be taken mp at another
| meeting to be held tomorrow evening.
| Further remarks made by Messrs. Amos.
Clark, Professor watson and others. There was but
little difference OF opinion as to what the city ought
to do In the present crisis most OF the speakers raw
varying from twenty to twenty-five cents on the dol
| lar.
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