The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-08-03
TO FIGHT FOR THEIR PAY.
THE NEW FINANCIERS ALLOW THE
Old ONLY $50 FOR SALARIES.


The Old Boards Members Insist Upon
Being Paid for the Full Time They
Served, and May Sue the City to Re
cover the Money--A Case that Prom
ises Much Interest.
The prospect is that the old Board of
Finance will fight the city for their sal
aries from the date of the appointment of
the new Board until the Mayors appoint
ees took possession of the office, under the
decision of the Supreme Court
AT the last meeting of the Board of FL
nance a resolution was adopted ordering
warrants drawn to pay the members OF
the old Board of Finance and Taxation
each the sum of 1926 for salary from
April to April a. the date upon which
the new Board was organized.
Mr.. WARREN PROTESTS.
Last evening Commissioner Joseph
Warren, of the old Board, met Mr.. Datz,
his confrere in the Board, and turning to
him, safd:-
''Do you know how much the Board of
Finance has resolved to pay us for our
salaries?" Mr.. DATE replied that he did
not.
"Well, I'll tell you," replied Mr.. War
ren, $50, and for one am going to light
for my rights"
Mr.. Warren, it is understood, bases his
claim upon the fact that he performed
the duties of the office until along In
July, when the decision of the Supreme
Court was rendered, and is entitled to his
salary as de facto officer up to that
time.
THE NEW BOARDS CLAIM.
The new Board on the other hand
claim that the term of the old Commits
CHI han ha rlrag
ent Board organized and made demand
| upon them for the books, papers and all
other property pertaining to the office.
/ called on ex-Judge Seymour, who
| was appointed Corporation Attorney by
the old Board, and asked him If he had
| knowledge OF determination on the
| part of the old Board of Finance and
| Tacation to fight the city for their salary
| from April "A to the time the new Board
| took possession of the Office.
| Judge Seymour said that he had heard
no talk among them relative to any
action in the matter. The Boards would
wait until the decision of the Court OF
Errors and Appeals reinstates them in
| Office, which, Mr.. Seymour added by way
of parenthesis, it will undoubtedly do.
| The old Boards will then be in position
to take some action in the matter.
LEGAL COMPLICATION.
The suit which the old Commissioners
may institute may run afoul of two de-
| cisions bearing on the case. In the case
between Davis and Stilsing for salary as
| Police Justice in this city some years ago,
| the Court gave Davis the salary for the
| time for which he managed to act, though
| Stilsing was entitled to the office, and ii
| was given to him. In a more recent case
the courts held that claims passed by an
existing Board, though only de facto, will
be sustained by the courts. There is just
now no de facto Board that will pass the
claims of the old Commissioners
EXPENSES OF THE CONTEST.
Incidentally it was learned how the ex-
penses attached to the legal combat be-
tween the old and new Charter Boards
were settled. When it was decided to en-,
gage counsel to contest the legality of the
new charter, Finance Commissioners
Joseph Warren and John d. Frazer, by
the request of other interested gentlemen
employed Collins & Corbin to represent
them.
1t was agreed that the expenses should
be evenly shared among the members OF
the Finance Board and the Board OF
Works. This agreement was kept, ex
cept so far as two gentlemen were con
cerned, and as soon as they pay their share
statement of the expenditures will be
sent to each contributor.
The personal check of one of the gentle
men was some time ago sent to Collins &
Corbin to pay the amount due. The city
has thus far been put to no expense
through the contest, but ex-Corporation
Counsel Seymour said, this morning,
that when the case is finally decided the
Court may order each party to the suit tc
pay share
President John Edelstein, of the new
Board of Finance, speaking of the matter
said that every one, SO far as he knew
connected with the case had been paid all
they were entitled to; that no clerk had
been assessed, SO far as he was aware, 8
penny to pay the expenses.