The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-04-10
THEY Met TO GROWL.
The Board of Finance Had a
Lively Session at Which
Little Was Done.
SPEAKER HUDsPETH's LETTER.
Mr.. Hardenbergh's Remarks---He Is
in for Seymour.

The proverbial hush which is popularly
credited with always preceding a storm
lowered over the Council Chamber in the
City Hall this morning when the Board
of Finance was called to order by Presi-
dent Edelstein. All sorts of wild rumors
have been flying about the city since the
Boards attempt to circumvent the new
charter on Monday, and the general I'M
preston prevailed that further manoeuyres
of that nature would be made today.
Since the theory was advanced that the
Board to be appointed by the new charter
could not disturb any veterans whom the
old Board might appoint to office, vet
, Grams nave been at a premium, and it was
said that several old soldiers would be
provided with good offices this morning.
The most prominent of the pos1tlons
was that of Comptroller. The statement
was made that Sammy Dickinson was
about to discover that the duties OF the
office were becoming detrimental to his
health, and, following the example. set by
Judge Blair on Monday, would resign ms
office. General John Ramsay was TO De
appointed in his place. But nothing OF tne
kind occurred this morning. Inc BOARD
met, transacted some unimportant pqsl-
ness, anu duJUufHC0 W dlCCb OA
morning at eight o'clock.
Owing to the early hour at which the
Board was called to meet (half-past. eight
O'clock not more than o dozen citizens
occupied seats outside the railing. Alter
the usual routine business had
been transacted Clerk McAneny read
a communication from the deposed
Corporation Attorney. MI. Hud-
speth opened his letter by stating
that he had had his attention called by
the daily papers. to a $50 called" meeting
of the Board, at which Mr.. X. h. Sey-
mour had been elected Corporation At
torney. In order to avoid confusion, ne
said. he would respectfully deny the au-
thority of the Board to declare the office
vacant, and then went on to state his rea-
sons for such denial.
BY an act of the Legislature of March
"a, 1873, the salary of the Corporation At
torney is fixed at $500. BY another act
passed February 81, 1882, the Board of
Finance is empowered to fix the salary at
a less figure, and to fix a definite period
not exceeding two years. 1t was also pro-
vided that the Corporation Attorney
should enter into a contract with the
proper authorities to perform the duties at
q salary fixed by the Board. Mr.. Hud-
speth then calls attention to the fact that
he accepted the position at q less salary
than that fixed by law, and made a con-
tract which makes his appointment for a
definite period, which does moi expire
until July, 1889.
"Otherwise," he continues, 81 have a
just and valid claim against the city for
S larry at the rate of $500 per annum. |
know your honorable body in the interest
of economy would prefer that | should
hold my office for the definite term | am
legally entitled to hold it, rather than
compel the taxpayers Of the city to pay
me the increased salary which otherwise |
xvOuId he entitled to receiye.'
Mr.. Datz moved that. the communities
ton be referred to the Corporation Coun-
sci.
Mr.. H~ardenbergh arose and asked de-
lay; Then he pitched into Alderman
on to justify his own we'll known position
in this matter by stating that he made
being legislated out of official existence,
In the midst of Mr.. Hardenbergh's re-
marks Mr.. Edelstein withdrew.
Mr.. Hardenbergh had the highest re-
gard for Mr.. Hudspeth, but he was in for
Seymour for reasons already indicated.