The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-11-24
HEP AGAINST VAN.
The Fight for Comptroller,
Treasurer and Speaker
Aspects Of State
Politics.

are candidates galore for the important
Office of State Comptroller, the contest
has been narrowed down to two well
known young ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
General William C. Heppenheimer, for
merly Speaker of the House. and John
I. Van Cleef. the present secretary of the
State Board of Assessors. Both are on
the Governors staff. Both represent the
young Democracy of the State. and in
consequence of their merits being equal.
their contest means, to some extent, an
unhappy political warfare. Their friends
are identical. and it would place many of
them in an unpleasant position.
The individual merits Of the men are
parallel. Colonel Van Cleft is to some
extent familiar with the routine of the
C0mptroller's Office This comes partially
by association with that Office as the sec
resary OF the State Board of Assessors,
and from very general knowledge of the
state House work On the other hand,
General Heppenheimer has served several
terms as q member of the House of As
sembly, and was twice the Democratic
leader of the House. He is man of
broad education aud perhaps a shrewder
politician than Colonel Van Cleef. There
has been some doubt as to whether he is
a candidate or not. The General, In an
interview with a correspondent, made
the emphatic statement. that he is, and
proposes to win.
The friendship that exists between the
two men is of long standing. and cordial,
and as a result, it can be expected that
both will make clean canvass and an
honorable contest. The expressions of
the State officials are equally divided be-
tween the merits of the two men. It is
fh,.fe hi . fl,of
heimer will be the winner in the contest,
unless all prophecy fails. Ii he does,
there are some h0nors in store for Colonel
Van Cleef. His friends will warmly urge
Governor Albeit to appoint him to one
of the vacancies that will occur on the
State Board Of Assessors. This means
more honor, more salary and less work.
A NEW CANDIDATE FOR TREASURER.
There is a new candidate for State
Treasurer to add to the long list already
announced. The Democrats most frankly
admit that much of the States success
comes from the work done in the Della
ware valley, aud tine working forces there
want recognition. The name OF ex-Sena-
tor Moon, of PhilliDsburg, has been pre-
sented, and. it is said, he proposes to work
for votes at once.
The State TIeasurership in New Jersey
is somewhat of sinecure, pays 5000
year, and requires but two days actual
are SO many candidates. There are now,
however, only two leading candidates.
They are Treasurer Gray, of the Newark
Water Board, and ex-senator Moon,
jeremiah Cleveland, OF Jersey City. Is out
of the race, and so is w. }. Thompson, of
Gloucester. Mercer cut such sorry fig-
ure in the lastcampaign that ex-senator
Blackwell's chances bsgin to look sma
IN the contest. ~
Assemblyman Abram Nash, Of the
Third district of Camden, was here dur
ing the week, and be did not hesitate to
announce that he was candidate for the
Speakership. There is no particular
danger or lightning striking the we'll
known bandanna orator, and ne does not
expect 1t. He is in the field to eaten
whatever may turn up. The fight for
Speakership has been precipitated by the
course of Assemblyman Michael Mullone,
of the First district of Hudson county,
who, contrary TO all expectations, has Sc
cured the caucus nomination OF the ma
jority of the Hudson delegation, and will
come into the House caucus with eight
Hudson members pledged. Mayor Al
bright, of Madison, however, continues
10 make friends.
Bergen, of Somerset, has not yet begun
any aggressive fight, but he assures all
who offer assistance that he will continue
to night until the last ballot is taken The
knowing ones say that black horse will
be trotted out during the last moments
that will be genuine surprise.
ABoLIsHING AN OFFICE.
The Democrats have discovered that the
Secretary of the State Board of Agricul-
ture is Republican, and they are now
planning to make his career of usefulness
very brlef. His salary is quite nominal.
being only 81, 200 year. but there are lots
of ambitious Democrats anxious TO work
for that sum. The secretary is elected by
xuhf foh tc
partisan board. This, however, does
not suit them, and they propose
to legislate him out of office by creating
the office of Commissioned of Agriculture
Governor Albeit has had this under con-
sideration, and will see that his will is
obeyed in this particular. 1t will be made
an office worthy of seeking, and the Com
missioner will be appointed by the Cover
nor at a salary of s, 500.
Just what will become of the present
efficient Secretary Dye is not known. 1t
is thought that he will be retained at a
small salary, and the amount will come
out of the State Board appropriation,
while the proposed Commissioner will be
made State official with a salary inde-
pendent of the annual State Board of
GENERAL POLITICAL NOTES.
State Treasurer Toffey will have his
accounts examined by the joint Commit
coming week.
State Librarian Hamilton expects to
move the library to the new quarters in
the third story of the new building before
the holidays.
The corridor of the old part of the State
House has been improved by cutting
away the arches and putting in hard
wood ornamentations to match those of
the new part
A passenger elevator leading to the
new library room and the officers OF the
Chancery and Supreme Court will be
one of the acquisitions of the near future
Isaac Nichols, the defeated Republican
of the First Assembly District of Cum
berland. is going to have recount. and
Howard Stull. Democrat, of the Second
district of Mercer, is going to contest
Assemblyman-elect Mulheron's seat.
DIR. w. L. Newell, who was defeated as
candidate for Congress in the Third
Congressional District, has been men
toned for the Office of State Treasurer
For many years he has been "a standing
candidate for the office of Clerk of the
Supreme Cenrt- All indications in the
latter case point to the reappolntment of
w. +. Lee, the present incumbent Still,
it Is generally supposed that DIR. Newell
is actually in the fight, although he is
quite rericent on the subject.
Con Donovan, the well-known Jersey
City politician. Is IN the field for Ser
geant-at- Arms Of the House.
John Kelly. young Democrat at Bor-
dentnwn, wants TO be made the Engross-