The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-05-07
RECONSTRUCTION
The Legal Struggle to Es-
tab1ish the New Charter
Opens Briskly.
FEATURES OF THE CONTEST.
The Taking of Testimony---Who
Will Hold the Reins for the
Immediate Future?

immediate Future?
The battle over the charter was resumed
in this city this morning in the Vice
Chancellor's chambers in the First Ma
tional Bank Building. Alderman Rourke
and Assessor Law were there on time,
but nobody else was
The hearing was merely for the pur-
pose of settling the question who are at
present in possession of the offices, while
the main issue of the validity of the char
ter was not to be brought up.
Supreme Court Commissioner George
Cassidy and his handsome white whiskers
showed up early and took the principal
seat. On his next trip the elevator boy
brought up ex-Mayor Collins, the legal
heavy weight of the charter people, and
City Collector Love- They were quickly
followed by Assemblyman O'Neill in
new spring suit He shook hands with
Mr. Love, whose office he claims, and the
two rivals sat down side by side.
Assemblyman Feeney dropped in for
moment and then dropped out. Speaker
Hudspeth stayed when he learned that he
couldssmoke in the room.
Senator Edwards was last of the coun-
sci to arrive. Mayor Cleveland sat down
behind him and Mr.. Cassidy called time
and closed his eyes.
James H. Love was the first witness
called He testified he was actually in
possession of the office of City Collector
under appointment made by the Board of
Finance and Taxation. He still receives
the taxes. The money. received he paid
over to City Treasurer Nugent. The latter
was actually in possession of the office OF
CITY Treasurer, and Samuel d. Dickinson
was actually Comptroller.
"What are the emolumentS of your
offlce?n asked Mr.. Edwards on cross
Mr.. Love confessed to 5000 salary and
some fees. The amount of the latter he
said he was perfectly willing to tell but
he didn't, and Mr.. Edwards didn't press
the question.
THE TREASURER TALKS.
City Treasurer Nugent was so late that
the hearing had to be suspended when the
elevator boy carried Mr. Love away. Mr..
Nugent testified that he was City
Treasurer under an appointment made by
the Board of Finance and Taxation and
was actually performing the duties. The
books and papers were in his possession
now He received money from Mr.. Love
as City Collector, and occasion
ally from City Clerk Scott.
Last Thursday he received sum of
money from the State Treasurer. Mr.
Love and Mr.. Dickinson were actually in
possession of the offices of City Collector
and City Comptroller. Payments of
claims against the city We're made by
warrants signed by the witness, the
Mayor, City Clerk and Comptroller, The
salaries of city employees for April had
been paid on order of the old charter
Boards and not by the new Boards. Up to
date there had been no difference in the
financial arrangements of the city.
On cross examination by Senator Ed
wards he said that no demand had been
made on him for the office and he did not
intend to give it up.
William Ely, the City Treasurer's clerk,
testified that Mr. Nugent was actually in
possession of the Office of City Treasurer
A demand for the office was made on him
this forenoon, in Mr. Nugent's absence,
and he refused to deliver it up.
Ex-senator and possibly Corporation
Counsel William a. Brinkerhoff, wearing
his bronze G. A. Il. medal, came in. Charles
w. Laws, Assessor in the Fifth district
succeeded Mr.. Ely. He said he was ap-
pointed hist April, but he, did not know
exactly when He named the other As
SCISSORS. They met on April IS, under
the old charter, and organized by the
election of Michael j. O'Rourke as
president and the witness, as secretary
They held meetings April 30 and this
morning At the latter both Messrs
O'Neill and Prigge were present and took
part in the proceedings. The Assessors,
as far as he knew, We're going on with
required by law had been published by
each Assessor in the newspapers. Mr.. Col
Inns offered the papers in evidence.
On cross examination he and Senator
Edwards got into an argument as to
whether all the Assessors usually had
their field books ready by the first Mon
day in June He had not received his
new books yet, and then Senator Ed
wards tackled him on the work actually
DONE The witness said he had been look
ing around his district and noting his OBJ
servations in his last years field book. AS
far as he knew, the Assessors had re-
ceived no legal advice to stick and no de-
mand had been made for the old field
books and papers.
Michael J. O'Rourke, Assessor in the
Second district, caused Commissioner Cas-
sedy to open his eyes while administering
the oath. He was certain he held the
office, but didn't know exactly when. He
testified to the organization of the Board
and the fact that 1t was in working order.
A QUEER ROTATION.
Senator Edwards cross-examination
was intended to bring out clearly the fact
that the Board of Aldermen appoint the
Board Of Finance; that the Board of
Finance appoint the Assessors and that
the Assessors have themselves elected
Aldermen and appoint the Board of
Finance. Mr.. O'Rourke admitted that
he was an Alderman and had been for six
wears. He declared that while he had not
his field book Assessor Wright had his.
The elevator boy landed ex-Assembly-
man Tilden in the chamber. He took a
back seat and stared vigorously at
the back of Colonel Jerry Cleyeland's
head.
Senator Edwards took up the question
of the breeding in Of Aldermen, financiers
and Assessors. Mr. O'Rourke rested his
cheek on his hand and said that in 1888
Messrs Prigge, O'Neil, O'Rourke and
SCISSORS, and that this year the two offices
were held by Messrs. Prigge, O'Nein and
O'Rourke.
Charles Estabrook staggered under a
couple Of heavy record books, as he marched |