The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-05-08
CHARLES ALLEN PRESIDED
AND THE ALDERMEN FOLLOWED
THE CAUCUS DECISION.

In Which Mr.. O'Rourke Was Left-James
1856 Clarke, the Well Known Dental
Mechanic, Was Reelected Building
Inspector.
For the first time in his life Charles
Allen, as Alderman-at-Large, presided
over the meeting of the Board of Alder
men last night. There were many there
to greet him.
Among the crowd that filled the Alder
manic Chamber anxious to learn what
transpired at the caucus, which was help
in the Mayors office by eight of the nine
democrats in the Board for an
hour before the meeting was
called to order, were Sheriff Davis,
ex-Commissioner Charles Somers, Police
Commissioner Kelly, "Pat" Buckley,
Henry S. Douglas, Director Kelly, of the
Board of Eduction; Mike Kilcauley, ex.
Hewitt, Police Commissioner O'Donnel,
ex-Freeholder Conroy, Frank Nugent,
Captain Graham, John Creach and Johnny
Strain.
The only democrat absent from the eau,
Gus was Alderman Jordan, but he tele-
graphed that whatever the caucus did he
would stand by. Business prevented him
from attending. From the facts gained it
mas have been a lively caucu and AL
derman O'ROurke came out second best.
The seven other City Fathers completely
knocked him out and he left the caucus,
indignant at being so treated.
The trouble was caused by his col
leagues wanting Allen to preside.
O'Rourke has been a bitter opponent of
the new charter and he could no recon-
Gle his opinions to enable him to be with
the other democrats at the caucus and he
left.
CHOICE OF THE CAUCUS.
Soon after the caucus adjourned, but
before doing so they decided to ~reappoint
John E. Scott, City Clerk; Timothy Long,
City Marshal, and James Clark, Building
Inspector. Then they filed into the Alder
manic Chamber, and although Mr.. Allen
presided, A~ssemblyman O'Neill ran the
meeting by virtue OF having been chair
man of the caucus.
AS soon as the meeting was called to
order O'Neill said:-s'I move we go into
an election for City Clerk" and that
motion prevailing, he nominated John E,
Scott. There was no opposition and
O'Neill cast the single vote required. Mr..
Scott has been City Clerk for about
twenty years.
When Mr.. O'Neill had done this he
moved that a Marshal be elected, and
Timothy Long was named by Alderman
Jewkes for reelection. There was no
opposition to Tim and Alderman JeWkeS
cast the vote needed.
Alderman O'Neill then informed the
Board that the time had come to elect a
Building Inspector, and Obeying his in
structions, James CLARK was reelected.
Alderman O'Neill then offered a resolu-
ton that the salary of the Mayor be fixed
at 5000. It was adopted. The present
salary is $4,000. O'Nei1 next moved that
Corporation Counsel Edwards and Cor
poration Attorney Hudspeth be instructed
to present to this Board all the laws reg
ulating the sale OF liquor passed by the
last Legislature
This aroused Alderman O'Rourke, and
he objected. He had to do this because Of
the stand he took in the caucus.
THE DEMOCRATS RESPONSIBLE.
.'This is the first time,n said Alderman
O'Neill, that this city his had dual gov
eminent. hope that the democratic ma
iority of this Board will realize the posi-
ton the party is placed in and make
themselves responsible for the govern
ment of the city. We ought to go ahead
for we represent a majority of the people.
/ hope this resolution will be adopted"
II objected to this act in the caucus,
and ! object now, and would like to see
II think the resolution is out of order"
said Alderman Jewkes, republican, 'and
that it shows disrespect to the Supreme
Court, which is to decide whether Ed
wards and Hudspeth are city officials, or
whether Brinkerhoff and Seymour are.n
The resolution was adopted by a vote of
eight to four. O'Rourke voting with the
three Republicans.
Aldermen O'Neill, Prigge and Jewkes
were appointed q committee to notify the
Mayor that the Board had organized, and
the rules of the last Board were adopted
until new ones are drafted.
A resolution that the Board hereafter
shall meet at eight p. M, and that the
next meeting shall be held May "A was
adopted.
The Chair appointed Messrs. O'NeiIl,
Hauck and Van Horn the Committee on
Rules. Then the meeting adjourned.