The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-04-13
8 O'CLOCK
DIT lon.
Still DEFIANT.
The Board of Finance Calls
on 0fficeho1ders to
Fight the Char
ter.
EX-G0V. ABBETT7S PLAN.
a Bill to Be introduced at Tren-
ton to Straighten Out the Mu-
nicipal Tangle Without Delay.

ton to Straighten Out the Mu-
nicipal Tangle Without Delay.
Senator William d. Edwards was one OF
the earliest of interested citizens on the
scene at the City Hall this morning.
He flew from the Mayors office to the
Finance room, and from the Finance room
to the Mayors office, his mind SO absorbed
in the business he had in hand that he did
not stop to drop even a passing "HeiioF'
to his friends as he whizzed by.
By and by he disappeared from view be-
hind the door of Mayor Cieveland's pri-
vate room, and he was not seen again.
The Mayor was there with him. So
were several others, whose names were
not given out
They had learned from last evenings
JERSEY CITY News of the Board OF FL
nances determination to fight, and the
consultation was as to the steps that the
exigency of the hour made necessary on
their part. The conclusion reached was
wlthheld-possibly for the reason that no
conclusion was reached.
FEENEY WHISTLES.
While the conference was in progress
Assemblymen Feeney yandO'Neill stole into
the sanctum and out again, Feeney rolled
up his eyes and whistled long, low
whistle as he strode out with both hands
in his pockets jeremiah B. Cleveland sat
patiently in the outer chamber keeping q
host of office seekers in good humor. Tx
Alderman Cannon was there, but not as
an office seeker.
II want nothing" he said Shut if they
should attempt to force Commissioner
ship on me, l suppose Id have TO take 7i H., H.
In the throng outside the hall door
..Bob'' Quinlan sang different tune.
ssThat was nice Jig you led me in The
JERSEY CITY NEWS the other day, " he said
reproachfully as / passed him, lin report
ing me as having said TO - with the
ssWhat harm did it do your" I asked
him. ssYou were elected to the Fire Board,
weren't. you?o 4o,,o o4 s.dnass IN
his reply-"but see how it hurts me now
when I want the Mayor to make me Fire
Commissioner under the new charter"
THE BOARD MEETS.
The members of the Board of Finance
were in the meanwhile perfecting the
arrangements, that were outlined eX-
clusively in yesterdays JERSEY CITY
NEWS, for the approaching contest over
the city offices.
They had four meetings. beginning as
Commissioners of Appeals, following that
with a meeting as Board of Finance to
appoint Michael Reardon Assessor in
the Third district, Charles w. Laws in
the Fifth, and Erred" Wright in the
Sixth, and that again by, meeting 10
approve the minutes just had, and wind
ing up with q meeting, as new Board,
for organization.
It is upon the last of these meetings
that public interest centres.
The first of the meetings should have
been attended by Commissioner Edelstein.
But he was not on hand. His term in the
Board expired at noon. The last of the
meetings was called to order atnoon, with
John D. Frazer, whom the Board of
Aldermen chose months ago to take Mr.
Edelstein's place. The other members of
the new Board-Datz, Warren, Harden
bergh and Jordan-were members of the
The gavel that called for order had
scarcely fallen before the new Board had
organized by the election Of Commissioners
Datz as president ana OIL george Il. NC
Aneny as clerk.
MIR. BRINKERHOFF's OPINION.
Then the clerk read the following cor
respondence between Corporation Counsel
Brinkerhoff and Mr.. Frazer, the newly
seated financier:-
APRIL 12, 1889.
WILLIAM BRINEKERHoFF, Corporation Counsel of
Dear Sir--Having been elected member of
the Board of Finance and Taxation Of Jersey
City for a term which will begin on the thirteenth
instant, and the Legislature having passed an act
changing the organization of our local govern
ment, if accepted by popular vote, and their
law and of the legality of its submission to the
people desire your opinion on this question, in
order that may determine what course to pur
sue in regard to assuming the duties OF said office.
Yours respectfully, JOHN D. FRASER.
JERSEY Cry, April 13, 1889.
Mr. JOHN d. FRAsER:-
Dear Si,-In reply to your letter OF April 18th,
beg to state that have given the matter of the
constitutionalty of a certain act of the Legisla-
ture of this State entitled IAN act concerning the
government of cities of this State approved
April6 1889 careful and impartial consideration,
and am of the opinion that there is sufficient
respecting its validity to justify an appeal
TO the Court for its decision.
The proceedings taken under said act are, in
my Judgment sufficiently irregular to invali-
date the election held hereunder.
deem il advisable in the intererts of the city
to submit this matter to the Court without delay
for its decision. Very truly yours,
Corporation Counsel
MIR. HARDENBERGH's RESIGNATION.
Commissioner Hardenbergh rose to his
feet when these communications had been
read Mr. Hardenbergh had gone to the
meeting with resignation of his position
II
1t was addressed to the Board of Alder
men, who conferred his functions upon
him. 1t cannot be presented to
the Aldermen till the meeting
of week from next Tuesday, and two
weeks more will probably be consumed in
finding some one equally capable with
himself to fill his place. He is obliged to
serve till the appointment of his sue
cessor, and he may have to remain u mem
ber of the Board for the next month in
spite of himself.
But meanwhile he desires to have his
position thoroughly understood, and his
purpose In rising was to explain his atti-
tude to the coming controversy,
He said he felt it his duty TO retire from
the Board. The people had decided to
choose another Board Of Finance,
aud he was not disposed to stand
in their way. Besides that, the
new complications might give rise to
serious questions of finance that he did
not care to be called upon to decide. His
business was so urgent that he felt he