The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-04-15
WHOARE THE POOHBAHS
Will the Mayors Appointees
or the Old Boards
Hold Office.
NO ONE IS NAMED YET.
Speculation as to the Action of the
Courts When They Consider
the Charter.

ALL hAfS NOhOLONCAoJ 40 hAAesAAJ
Gated by the courts, the charter will be
the uppermost topic of gossip throughout
the city. Mayor Cleveland's Office is be-
sieged by applicants for office, and even
outside of this anxious crowd there is
much curiosity on all sides as to who will
be selected by him for the places within
his gift.
The names of some possible appointees
were given for what they were worth in
THE JERSEY CITY News of last Friday. 1t
is said now, however, that Marmaduke
Tildeu, mentioned as probably member
of the Board of Works, will be one of
the Tax Commissioners. Assemblyman
O'Neill, who it has been reported, might
be made a member of the Tax Board, may
be made City Comptroller. In that event,
jeremiah b. Cleveland, the Mayors
brother, may be made President OF the
Tax Board But it is not likely that the
original order of things will be changed.
Edward A. Dugan, of the Third district,
son of County Collector Hugh Dugan, is
said to have been slated for the City
Tressurership.
NO NAMES TODAY.
There may be some delay in the an
nouncement of the names of the prize
drawers. Mayor Cleveland said when
questioned Saturday, as reported in these
columns, that he will not give his selec-
tions to the public today; but he intimated
that be might act before the week is out.
At the same time he said he was in no
hurry and that the men who are in hurry
can afford to wait till he is ready to act,
Mr.. Jeremiah Cleveland thinks that the
Mayor will first appoint his Board of
Finance. The speculation of the streets is
that the appointment of this Board may
be made Immediately necessary to get the
80 Il I'D, t,afE ElNkN,N ,Nth hfN1s
appointments may be delayed till the
courts shall have heard the arguments
and declared whether the charter is good
or not.
THE REASONS FOR DELAY.
The reasons given for this possible de-
lay are scarcely complimentary to the
court in whose hands the decision rests,
and / give them only as part of the cur
rent gossip Of the town.
.'It is assumed - said one fairly well
posted round town, with a sly wink,
THAT the Legislature will adopt the
scheme embodied in the bill drawn by ex7
t;a~sernor Albeit, and Judge McDermott
for speedy settlement of the differences.
This, in brief, is to direct the Supreme
Court to sit at once to hear the case, and
to determine it within thirty days, and
empowering the Chief Justice to declaIes
who of the two sets of claimants to the
offices shall administer the city govern
Gas long as Mayor Cleveland refrains
from designating new Board of Finance
there can be no question of the right of
the present Board to act Some one has
got to make a demand on the present
Board for their officers, To bring the
question to an issue, the Mayor will there
fore have to name the financiers under
the new charter. When he has done that
he can stop to await developments. HIS
Finance appointees will demand posses
sion of the city property in the
hands of the present Board, and
meet with a refusal. Then they will
apply to the court, for a quo
aodrTdnto against the defiant COM
missioners; and proceedings will be begun
under the new bill which is to be offered
in the Legislature tonight. The contest
thus begun can be carried on between the
two Boards of Finance for all the other
CITY Boards If the decision should be in
favor of the charter, the Mayor will go on
and complete his appointments. If it be
adverse, why he need never let any one
know whom he intended to appoint.
SPECULATION ABOUT THE DECISION.
'"The Mayor" this commentator went
on to explain may T5s and snIyas may not cir gain
is Democratic. Suppose it possible for the
minds of the Judges to be influenced by
partisan considerations If the Mayor
makes no appointments in advance of the
decision, he will have the influence of
scores of enthusiastic expectants urging
n deliyerance in favor of the
charter If he makes his appointments
pending the decision, he will have the in
fiuence of scores of disappointed expect
ants thrown against favorable decision.
So don't think he will appoint his Board
of Finance till the act for settlement of
the dithcpl.y by the courts has been
passed by the Legislature, OF I'LL the rest
Of the Boards till the Courts decision is
rendered"
There IS one contingency in which these
specalations might so for nothing. The
Chief Justice is 10 designate which set Of
officials shall administer city affairs pend
ing the decision. Ii will be argued in
whatever may be the final decision as to
the validity of the charter, the act is law
TIL 1t has been set aside and
that a proper respect for law re-
quires that the Mayors appointees shall be
directed to act during the interregnunl.
1t will be urged, in favor of the present
Board, that they are already III o1,ce
equipped for business. and capable, and
that it is not wise TO put in lot of new
men, who may be turned out of office
again at the end of month.
If the Chief Justice should decide to
commission the Mayors Apprentices to act
in the interim, it would be regarded in a
measure as his declaration in favor of the
validity of the new charter. Such de-
cision would make it necessary, OF course,
for the Mayor to appoint all his officials at
once.
MUST THE MAYOR NAME THEMi
1t is very serious question, however.
one city official said this morning, whether
the charter case can be presented to the
court till all the Boards shall have been
filed under it.
For instance" he continued, "the
Chief Justice will be solicited to commits
sion the Mayors appointees to serve while
the litigation is going on. If he should
decide to turn the present incumbents out
while the questions are being argued,
whom could he direct to act
as City Treasurer, unless the
Mayors appointee to that office had been
designated and qualified by taking the
oath of Office and fling his official bondsS
So with the other city Offices. think the
Mayors government will have to be a
complete one before it will have any
standing in court"