The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-07-15
COL. FULLER STICKS.
A Cheeky Letter TO the Bayonne
Council-Liquor Licenses
Granted.

At the meeting Of the Bayonne City
Council last evening, Colonel Charles w.
Fuller, the ousted City Attorney, sent in
a letter saying that Counsellor James P.
Northrop had called upon him and as the
duly qualified City Attorney had de-
manded from him al the papers belong
ing to the city that he had in his posses
SION He had refused the demand.
because he considered that under the
veteran tenure of oflce act the Council
could not discharge him for cause shown
on charges preferred. He claimed that
he was an honorably discharged Federal
veteran OF the Rebellion, and ne enclosed
with his letter n copy of the act. He also
said that be was willing and ready to
transact any business for the city that
the Council might see flt TO referfto him.
Councilman Donahus mered to refer
NE NE. communication 70 CI.h Attorney
receive and file. Councilman LOBBY
asked why the alleged honorable dis
charge Was not sent with the protest
be said that he and others wonld like to
see IT, Councilman Donohoe's motion
prevailed without a dissenting vote.
There was evidently little sympathy for
the ousted City ATTORNEY, even In the
remnant OF the folmer big Six" combin-
alton
The official bonds Of William d. Salter
as City Treasurer. Charles McBrine as
Water Puryeyor, Patrick Murphy as
Daniel J.. Murray as Tax Assessor, were
presented and referred 10 she COMMITTEES
on Finance.
RUN sTEAAfTSo HOT.
Councilman Scodeld, the leader of the
former big Six.p as chairman of the
-.
had tweuty-nine applications for liquor
licenses drafted IN conformity with the
citTss excise ordinance AS his fellow
rnembers Of the committee had refused to
sign any report on the applications, and
they had been advertised in accordance
with the provisions OF the ordinance, he
wished the Board to relieve him Of them
Councilman Donohoe moved 30 receive
and table the applications. A Lively but
ineonclusiye wrangle followed.
Later in the session Councilman Dono-
hoe had the application taken from tae
Whole and the Board convened as the
committed City Clerk Hamilton read
the names OF all the applicants Council
man Donohoe asked City Attorney
Northrop il the form Of applications
drafted in conformity with the State law
was legal. The City Attorney casually
examined the form and replied that it
was. Councilman Cadmus then ASKED
Mr.. Northrop for his opinion on the legal
irY OF the Board passing the licenses
under the provisions of the State law.
City Attorney Northrop prepared and
rendered the following
Concerning The rights Of your body 70 gran {
licenses to keepers Of inns, taverns and saloons,
under Chapter III Of the laws Of ls9i and In
contravention 20 the charter OF the city and or
Ths aet Of 1891 By It's terms repeals al sps-
cial or private acts Inconsistent with us pro-
visions.
The question Of the coastftttionality of this act
has been raised and viii Be heard BY the court
The application for the writ Of certiorsri was
held by the Court for some time before the writ
was allowed.
This delay would indicate doubts in tbs minds
of the judges as to the validity Of ihs orui-
If they believed tbs ordinance clearly good and
the law OF 1891 clearly udt Constitutional no writ
would have been allowed
No one can tell whether this law is good or
bad, and the opinion Of the Court Is tae only
Judgment we can rely upon.
II stands 10 say an act OF the Legislature
and to be obeyed unless clearly shown 70 be IN
constitutional
You can follow II If you wish, and should it be
declared invalid BY the Court the parties 10 suf-
fer will be those who have accepted q license
under its provisions and contrary 10 existing
ordinances
LICENSES GRANTED.
Councilman Robinson moved that the
committee recommend to grant The np-
plications framed in conformitr with the
State law. The motion was carried on a
standing vote of six to four After the
committee arose its report was adopted
by similar vote. Acting under the ao-
vice of City Attorney Northrop the appli-
cations were taken up individually.
Everything went along smoothly with a
vote of six to four granting every sppll-
cation until the application of Council
man Robinson was reached Tnsn
Councilman Scofeld rose to a point that
Councilman Robinson could not legally
vote for his own license. Councilman
Robertson asked to be excused from vot-
ing. and the application was declared 10
have failed of passage because IL only re-
ceived five favorable votes. A muddle en-
sued, but more OF the big SIX would re-
lieve Councilman Robinson A similar
Quandry occurred when the application
Of Councilman Mc0ee came up for pas
sage. City Attorney Northrop CHANGED
to be absent st the time. but when he re-
turned he declared aHy license could be
granted with Eve favorable votes il one
member WAS excused. or could be grant
ed with the vote In the affirmative of the
applicant himself A search through the
city charter confirmed him In the opinion,
and the vote on each questioned applica-
tion WAS recorded as six TO four.
Altogether seventy six applications
were granted. while nine failed Of pas
sage The applicants for the nine had
also 81 Applications under the city or
dincnt !. and Councilman Icoby, taking
except On TO what he characterized an at
tempt to carry liquor on both shoulders.
voted in the negative on the applications,
making the vote five to five. All the city
ordinance applications were left upon the
table.
PIE Ears