The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-03-13
BILL KERN'S BROTHER
A New office Created by the
Street Board to Pro-
vide Him With
a Place.
PROPlTIATlNG TIE sBIG FOUR"
Is Mayor Cleveland's Paternal Gov-
ernment Making Terms With
the Crowd, Whose ViIlainies
We're the Cause for the
Change in the
Charter2
TIE sBIG FOUR" /"

This communication from "a Highly
Delighted (disgusted) Taxpayer of the
Fourth District" reached the editorial
room Of THE JERSEY CITY NEWS Yester-
day
To the Editor Of the Jersep City Nelos:
Who said Bill Kern was dead?
For Taper. Northern district, Peter Kern,
brother Of Bill, saloon keeper on Manhattan ave-
nue.. Who is responsible for this-a who
worked night and day against the party that
now rewards hlln with fat office? FOR good
clean Mayorl
Bill Kern, as everybody knows, was the
chief OF the Big Four of the old Board of
Works. He was the man who made the
most aggressive fight against new
charter reform; and, during the
campaign that ended in the acceptance Of
the new charter, Bill Kern never could
have said harder things Of the Mayor than
the Mayor said of him.
And yet new Office is created by the
Mayors Street and Water Board, to pro-
vide Bill Kern's closest relative with
position.
TRYING TO BUY BILL KERN.
The few who knew that Peter Kern is
ssBoss Bills" brother have wondered,
since the appointment was made, why il
was made. Some one suggests that The
JERSEY CITY NEWS has shown that even
the Big Four" were SO much more adj
mirable officials than Mayor Cleveland's
Water Board, that the Mayor deemed it
accord tnem public recognition.
There is q general consensus of opinion.
however, that the Mayor Is endeavOrin4
to conciliate the old big Four" in thA
hope of catching their support in the rel.
mote contingency of his securing 8 thirdt
term nomination.
This appointment shows, it is argued,
that the Mayor is willing to make any
sacrifice of honor or principle or public
interest to serve his own personal ends
1t is said that Bill Kern was rendered an
appointment but that rs he was not
henkering after job he commended his
brother to His Honor's good graoes. and
Peters appointment Is the result.
An attempt was made to find Boss
"Bill' last night and this morning to
learn from him what he thinks of the
situation in view Of this new freak Of
the Mayors government, but he was not
within reach.
OF COURSE PETER SAYS so.
The brother through whom he has
made connection with the Mayors
paternal government, of course, denied
when he was seen that there was any
deal
'tNo, sir,n he said, emphasis on the last
word, ii replying &c my inquiry last
evening, there was no deal in my ap-
pointment as Taper by the Board Of
Street and Water Commissioners.
Neither my brother, William r. Kern,
nor the w. f. Kern Association used any
influence, or had anything to do with the
matter.
Il was doing nothing, and in looking
around for a job made application three
or four weeks ago to the Board for situ-
tion of some sort F"
President Somers and Commissioner
Dugan were approached upon the subject
this morning as to what brought about
the extraordinary exhibition of love and
friendship on the part OF the present adj
ministration for sJeffersonian" kicker.
President SomerS smiled and retained
peculiarly discreet silence.
Commissioner Dugan assumed that
peculiarly bland smile when approached
upon the subject by News reporter and
chucklingly informed the reporter that
he himself offered the resolution and that
Mr. Kern. the appointed Chief lapper of
the Northern district, was one of the
most enthusiastic opponents of Mr..
"BilI' Kern's political schemes
in last falls campaign. But
Mr.. Dugan's expression of countenance
as he uttered these words showed that he
was guying the reporter.
Mr.. van Keuren the other Commig-
sioner when asked what he knew about
Taper Kern's appointment, hurriedly
gave the reporter TO understand that he
(Mr. Van Keuren) knew nothing aboutit.