The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-05-14
POLICE BOARDS CLASH TOGETHER.
Last Nights Dual Meeting Was the Live
lest on Record.

Last Nights Dual Meeting Was the Live
lest on Record.
The long expected clash between the old
government of the city and that set up by
the appointees of Mayor Cleveland under
the provisions of the new charter came
last evening. The two Police Boards met
in the rooms at headquarters, dismissed
and reinstated officers, issued and coun-
termanded each others orders until they
had the subordinate officers of the force
in most delightful state of perplexity.
About eight o'clock the old Board filed
into the room and took their accustomed
places at. the desks. Colonel Robinson
appeared witt them in the capacity of
clerk and called the roll All the mem
bers were present except Mr.. Kelly, who
is one of the Mayors new Board.
The business began with the introduc-
tion of resolution by O'Donnell, provid-
ing that no detail of any officers in the
department should be made by the Chief
or captains for any purpose whatever
until the further orders of the Board; ''and
that all such details shall be made by
James N Davis, president of the Board
only, until the further order of the Board;
and further that the President of the
Board shall have power until further
orders to instruct the Chief of Police or
any captain, or other official, or any pa
trolman in the discharge of his or their
duties, and that the instructions and
orders so given shall be considered the
orders of the Board"
A PADDOCK ON CLERK ROBINSON.
This resolution was unanimously
adopted and the Board next turned it's at
tention to Colonel Robinson. Commits
sioner Nugent offered resolution in
structing the Colonel not to act as clerk
or secretary of any body of citizens other
than this Board, who shall meet Or at
tempt to meet in any building under the
control of, or belonging to, the Police De
partment of Jersey City, and he was fur
ther ordered not to deliver possession of
any records, books, papers or property
belonging to the Police Department of
Jersey City to any person or persons with
out an order from the president of the
Board.
Then the Board turned its attention to
the Chief and that official was summoned
from down stairs When he appeared
President Davis directed the clerk to read
the first resolution adopted The Chief
listened attentively and when Colonel
Robinson had finished a remarked marx, !,
and quietly dropped into chair.
Commissioner Nugent said that he had
heard certain rumors, and moved that the
Chief be directed to say whether he would
stand by the old or the new Board.
Commissioners O'Donnen and Roberts
objected to the motion, saying that it
would place the Chief in an embarrassing
position. They had confidence in him,
they declared, and had no doubt that he
would do the proper thing.
Mr. Nugent replied that he did not want
to cast any reflection upon the Chief He
had always found him an efficient officer,
and one who knew his duty. But he
thought the department ought to know
where the Chief stood.
There was some further objections to
the resolution and Mr.. Nugent with
drew it.
THE CHIEF is INDEFINITE.
Then the Chief said:-"This resolution
nIaces the department in the hands of the
nresident of this Board. will say that
believe in my duty as q man not to take
Won at disadvantage. will not say now
what will do. If disobey an order
will expect to be suspended, and will abide
by the consequences | have not DISC
beyed any order up to the present time
I will not be on two sides, and when the
nroper time comes Twill say where stand.
+ will not take any advantage of you"
This declaration of the chief, which con-
tanned pretty certain forecast of the po-
sition he proposed to take, rather de-
pressed the Board, but Commissioner
q resolution which instructed the clerk of
the Board to furnish a copy of the resolu-
tion offered by Commissioner O'Donnell
to captains of the department, to be by
them read to the men of their respective
precincts at the first roll call after receiv-
ing the same.
THE ENEMY APPEARS.
It was now about half-past eight and a
recess was ordered to nine o'clock. The
members had barely settled themselves
back in their chairs when the door leading
from the offices below opened and in came
the Jolly, rotund form of John Parnell
Feeney with his good-natured face
wreathed in smiles.
Following him so closely that it almost
trod upon his heels came ex-Rev. City
Editor Benson's lean, lank form, with q
glide much like the sinister gait with
which Mephistopheles dogs Faust around
the stage Mr.. Kelly brought up the rear
in good order.
Mr. Feeney walked around the railing
and climbed upon the platform beside
President Davis, while Messrs. Kelly and
Benson dropped into chairs conveniently
at hand. Firmly grasping the gayel,