The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-05-03
BROKE UP THE COMBINE.
Freeho1derS Caucussing All
Day in Regard to
DiSmiSSalS.
THIRTY HEADS TO COME OFF.
A Plan at Last Adopted for Reduc-
ing the Expenses of the County.

The old combine in the Board of Free
holders fell apart yesterday in the caucus
to decide upon plan for cutting down
expenses.
1t was expected that the Board would
meet at three O'Clock, and crowds of men
with bills against the county gathered at
the Court House. This did not bother the
Freeholders bit. They went across the
street into a barroom and caucused on
the proposed reforms until quarter
past four. When some of them left at
that hour they looked hot and excited.
The trouble was all caused by the
recommendation made by Messrs. Steger,
Rollston and Terney, the special commit
tee appointed by Director Pairson to as
certain how the expenses of the county
could be cut down. The committee re-
ported that $4,000 year could be saved
by reduction of the number of super
fuous employees at Snake Hill, the
County Jail, the Court House and the
bridges. Not less than dozen caucuses
have been held since then to determine
whose heads should come off, but no
agreement could be made.
MANY OBJECTIONS.
There are 107 employees of the county,
and each district is represented. The first
proposition, and in fact the principal one,
was to dismiss all employees except the
heads of departments, who were reap
pointed at the last meeting, and to reap
point those actually needed. The number
named of those who must go was twenty
six, and those members who know
the value of patronage refused to
agree to the proposition. Then
came mora difficulties. Freeholders
Steger and Rollston want to be elected
Director at the meeting to be held Tues
from the race. Steger and Rollston were
members of the special Committee on
Reform and their enemies say that they
made the report to gain political capital.
THE COMBINE BROKEN.
At the caucus yesterday Freeholders
Steger, Turner, Tierney, Kelly, Kim
mer1y and Director Pairson insisted on
thirty dismissals. The other members
would concede only twenty. This differ
combine and left matters in queer shape,
because the reappointments must be
made before next Tuesday, when the new
Board begins its work.
When the Board was called to order in
the front court room, there was no
Pairson, and Messrs. Nelson, Steger,
Turner, Kelly, Tierney and Kimmerly.
The meeting was adjourned until today at
three O'Clock. The list of those present
and absent shows how the combine is
broken. The combine, which has run the
Board for the past year, was composed of
Freeholders McDonough, Totten, Hennes-
sey, Griffin, Steger, Smith, Pairson, Kim
merly, Roilston, Boyle, Tierney and
Noonan.
Yesterdays developments show that
Pairson, Steger, Kimmerly and Tierney
are out of the old combine, and that their
eight former associates have joined the
enemy. Freeholders Turner and Kelly
joined the Directors party, however, and
Freeholder Nelson, who has had nothing
to do with caucuses, added his strength.
PLAN AGREED UPON.
Immediately after the meeting the
members, with the exception of Nelson,
went to the Clerks Office and again eau
cused. The meeting was hot, and lasted
until nearly nine o'clock but when it was
over plan in regard to dismissals and
reappointments had been adopted, and
each member present had promised to
support it. 1t was declared that all of
the 107 employees should be dis
missed Those who will be reap
pointed are:-First district, s: Second
district, IL; Third district, 5; Fourth dis
trict, Z; Fifth district, g. Seventh district,
O.; Eighth district, s; Ninth district, 0, and
the Tenth district, Z. The intention is to
drop thirty employees and fill the other
vacancies at a future date.
Among those who will be dismissed are
three female attendants at the Asylum,
two of them being Mrs. Richardson and
Mrs. Barry.