The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-04-27
Progress of the Controversy
Between the Two Govern
ments for the Posses
sion of the City
Offices.
A QUESTION ABOUT LEMBECK.
Ex-Reverend Commissioner Benson
Modestly Alludes to His Fitness
for the Place.


mott and Mayor Cleveland had confer
ence in the Mayors office last evening
concerning the steps to be taken to secure
possession of the city offices. The petition
to be presented to Chief Justice Beasley
asking him to designate the officials who
shall hold the public places pending the
litigation between the two sets of officers
was discussed. Mr.. Edwards was to draw
it and to take it to Trenton today.
At noon today Mr. Edwards was in his
office, over the First National Bank He
had not been to Trenton. He was so busy
that no inquiry could be made of him as
to his purposes
New Corporation Attorney Hudspeth
said that nothing will be done till Monday.
ACQUISITION ABOUT MR.. LEMBECK.
Some question has arisen as to the regu
larity of the election of Henry Lembeck
by the Board of Aldermen, to the old
Board of Finance The point is that he
received only six votes, which is not a ma
jority of all the members of the Board of
Aldermen. There are twelve Aldermen,
and if Mr.. Hauck had voted, there would
have been no difficulty in the premises.
City Clerk Scott has, however recog-
nized the legality and sufiiciency of the
election by swearing Mr.. Lembeck into
office, and this morning he was sought
for the purpose of learning what his view
of the matter is.
''In the choice of a member of the
Board of Finance" Mr. Scott said, "six
votes are sufficient, provided quorum be
present The rule laid down in the
Bayonns case, was that majority of a
quorum can do whatever the rest of the
members of a public body cannot undo.
For instance there are twelve Aldermen,
six Aldermen elect Mr.. Lembeck the
other six cannot reconsider the election.
So the election stands"
"It is not acharter position" interjected
Alderman O'Rourke, who overheard the
conversation. For an election to some
charter places, seven votes are specifically
stated in the charter to be necessary. The
Board of Finance is created by a special
act, which merely says that the members
shall be appointed by the Board of Alder
men. Mr. Scott has told you what con-
stitutes an appointment as defined by
the Court.
Mr.. Iembeck met with the Board of
Finance heretofore existing in this city, "as
the Mayors appointees pleasantly desig-
nate the old Board, at the City Hall this
morning. In the absence of President
Datz Mr.. Warren was made chairman.
The only business the Board transacted
was to order the salaries or the various
city officials paid for the month of April.
After which an adjournment was taken
to next Thursday evening.
The resolutions ordering the salaries
paid were signed by Mayor Cleveland later
In the day He held that such an act was
not recognition of the old Board on his
part, and that it would not be fair to keep
the employees out of their money.
Clerk German, of the Board of Finance
appointed by the Mayor, has notified the
various Boards throughout the city that
his Board is organized and ready to re-
ceiye communications relating to the
business of the city.
MIR. BENSON SPEAKS OF HIMSELF.
The Journal has had something to
say about all of the Mayors appointees
except City Editor Benson. whom the
Mayor has given place on the Police
Commission. In the hope of learning
what he thinks of his own fitness for
public place, called on him yesterday.
When | asked him what he thought of
his appointment by Mayor Cleveland to
the Board of Police Commissioners he
was slightly astonished and his beautiful
brown eyes sparkled for few moments
until they settled into the more Sombre
shade of stone agate.
Said he:-"Well, it was surprise to
me, but accepted it as a matter of public
duty. / am thoroughly acquainted with
the workings of that particular Board,
having covered Police Headquarters as a
reporter for ten years. | was asked by
Mayor Cleveland before the passage of
the charter if would serve another term
as one of the Directors of the Board of
Education refused Whatever crook
edness you may find in other Boards, you
will find the Board of Education all right.
Not dollar of money appropriated to it's
use has been misspent.
81 favored the new charter because
it aimed at breaking up several
rings. The Assessors had great
power, and used to elect them
selves to the Board of Aldermen; as
Aldermen they appointed the Board of
Finance; the Board of Finance in return
appointed them Assessors. And so the
ring reyolved.
ssAIy first intimation of being appointed
to the Board of Police Commissioners was
when Billy German brought the list down
as copy for the Journal"
/ forgot to ask him If there was any
truth in the statement of republican
official that his appointment was made to
muzzle the Journal.
The Tax Commissioners who were ap-
pointed by the Mayor organized in the
AltJ S1CAA = OiiASO tAAS eeAtSAiiNch by CACCl-
ing David w. Lawrence president and
James L. Connolly clerk. Messrs.
O'Donnell and Prigge were appointed q
committee to consult with Corporation
Counsel Edwards as to the best means of
obtaining the books and papers of the
City Board of Assessors. Mr.. Connolly,
who was appointed clerk OF this Board,
has been a clerk in the Tax Office for over
eight years, and is thoroughly conversant
with the duties of the office.
The Marion Rifle shooters.