The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-03-12
THE CHARTER AT last.
Senator Edwards Introduces
1t, and the Senate Re-
CeiVes 1t With a
Whoop.
AN AUT0CRATIC CAR.
If 1t Passes, Mr.. Cleveland Will Con-
troll Every Municipal Office; but
There Is Still a Big .'If,''
[special % DE Jerseu citu Ms,rs.I ]

Especial to the Jersey city Ns,cc.,
TRENTON, March II, 1SS9.-An dates
heretofore made for partisan legislation
are off till Wednesday. Partisan legisla-
tion includes everything the Republicans
oppose from interest or principle, and
takes in the Werts Excise bill. The rea-
son is the local elections which are held
tomorrow A score of Assemblymen on
both sides can't be here tomorrow, be-
cause they want to be elected to something
local or have friends who want to be-
Municipal reform was carried on whole
sale and retail here tonight. Senator Ed
wards was manager of the wholesale de-
partment He introduced the long eX-
pected charter. tits the one outlined in
The JERSEY CITY NEWS on Saturday 1t
was referred to the Committee on NUM-
cipal Corporations and favorably reported
in less time than would be required to
read the first page Of it. This is the be-
ginning of the whirl promised by Senator
Edwards. The members of the commit
tee had, of course, carefully studied its
provisions before it was formally intro
duced.
The bill is one of the longest introduced
this session. 1t comprises twenty nine
sheets of close typewriting and s.an artistic
light green cover. There are 5000 or.
vides:--
THE MAYOR TO BE AUTocRAT.
The Mayor shall appoint comptroller,
a treasurer, an auditor, and receiver of
taxes or. city collector; salary, 5000 a year
each; term, three years; each to appoint a
deputy, at 81 800 to serve during the pleas
ure of the appointing power. They may
employ other subOrdinates at salaries OF
not more than 500 month. Collectors
of arrears of taxes are to be appointed by
the receiver of taxes or city collectors at
existing rates or at salaries to be fixed by
the Board of Finance.
HYDRA-HEADED BOARDS.
The Mayor shall appoint Board of
three tax commissioners, no more than
two of whom shall be of the same political
party; term, three years; salary, ~, 500
The board shall employ a clerk at 81, 800,
and other subordinates at salaries not
exceeding this figure.
The Mayor shall appoint corporation
counsel and attorney at current rates.
The Mayor shall appoint boards of three
commissioners of streets, of water and OF
sewers at 81, 800 a commissioner These
shall supersede existing street comElis-
sioners, aqueduct boards and boards OF
public works.
The Board of Finance shall consist of
the President of the Council and four per-
sons selected by the Mayor, no three of
whom shall be of the same political party;
salary $500 year The President of the
Council shall be elected at large
The Mayor shall appoint Sinking Fund
Commission.
The Police and the Fire Board shall be
composed of three commissioners ap-
pointed by the Mayor, and they shall have
full control over their departments; salary
81 600 year.
The Mayor shall have two-thirds veto
power over the acts of all boards. Lastly
he shall appoint Superintendents of the
Poor, whose salaries shall be fixed by the
Board of Finance, and two police justices;
salary 49, 500.
The Mayor may remove any officer for
cause with the approval of the Governor.
All contracts involving more than s., 900
must be passed on by the Board of FL
One-quarter of the excise moneys shall
be set aside for the use of the public
schools
THE PEOPLE LEFT OUT.
1t will be observed that there is no pro-
vision in the bill for submitting the char
ter to vote of the people. This may lose
it the support of the Essex county mem
bers.
1t should further be observed that these
very great powers are not TO be entrusted
to Mayor elected by the people with a
knowledge that he was to exercise them;
but the act is to take place Immediately.
This is as THE JERSEY CITY NEWS has
feet.
There does not seem to be much idea
here that the charter will be still alive
when its troubles are over The Hudson
county members VIII vote 1or u. Ihey
said they would at conferences held this
afternoon and yesterday with Mayor
Cleveland in Jersey City.
REFORM AT RETAIL.
Business was also good in municipal re-
form in the retail department. of the shop.
Several spring novelties We're displayed on
the counter There was a bill introduced
in the Assembly by Mr.. Heppenheimer for
Speaker Hudspeth, which gives the power
Of granting liquor licenses in cities of the
first class, of more than 100000 inhabitants
Jersey City and Newark to boards of
three excise commissioners, to be appointed
by the Mayor at salaries of $1,000. One is
to go out of office each year; thereafter the
full term is to be three years. Not more
than two are to be OF the same political
party They are to appoint a 81 800 license
inspector, who is to act as clerk in addition
to seeing that the law is obeyed. The
board will have power to revoke for cause
as well as to issue licenses. One-third the
excise moneys is to be set apart for the
boards expenses.
In the same manner was presented bill
fixing the salary of the Mayors of New
ark and Jersey City at 5000, and giving
them two clerks at 1925 and SO month.
Mr.. Francis introduced a bill authoriz-
ing the Hudson County Freeholders to
issue $3.50, 900 bonds for the building of a
new asylum for lunatics.
Mr.. Feeney came to the front with a
bill. the effect of which will be to give
Police Captain Tom Edmondson pension
of half his salary. He says he is going to
see it through.