The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-04-02
JOHN E. SCOTS TESTIMONY.
No Provision Of Law by Which
an Election Could Now Be
Held Under the Old Lines.
ONE WAY OUT OF THE MAZE.
Democrats Must Vote at Tonight's
Aldermanic Meeting to Con-
firm the New Districts.

Mayor Cleveland yesterday sent this
letter to the members of the Board OF Al
dermen and to City Clerk Scott
JERSEY Cry. April /. 1891.
Complications having arisen in regard to
the action Of the Board Of Aldermen taken at the
meeting held March 4. 1891 in the passage OF a
resolution to divide the city up into Alderm anie
districts, and claim having been made that
said meeting was not regularly convened,
hereby call under Section % Of the City Charter
a special meeting Of the Board of Aldermen to
be held at the Alderrnanic chamber in the City
Hail. on Thursday evening, April 2. 1891, at
eight O'Clock. for the purpose of taking action
by resolution upon the division of the city into
Aldermanic districts under Chapter "a Of the laws
OF 1871, and for the purpose OF dividing up the
Aldennauic district election precincts. and for
the purpose Of appointing election officers, and
for any and all matters connected with the COM
log charter election and the registration OF
voters therefor, which meeting yon are hereby
respectfully requested to attend.
OREsrEs CLEVELAND, Mayor.
A CALL ISSUED.
The City Clerk Immediately dispatched
City Marshal Tim Long to serve notices
on the various members of the Board for
tonight's special meeting.
A call for a special meeting was issued
for last Monday night Obviously 1t was
for the purpose of doing away with the
technicality upon which Judge Depue
granted the disgruntled Aldermen a rule
to show cause why writ of certiorari
should not be issued to remove the pro-
a. H0o
into the Supreme Court for review. That
technicality, as has been already stated in
The JERSEY CITY NEWS, was urged by
Aldermen Smith and Salinger, who
claimed they had not received the twenty
four hours notice of the special meeting
prescribed by law.
MONDAYS FAILURE.
For some reason the Democratic MEM
.,hers did not show up Monday night
Alderman Norton, Jordan and O'Neill
were seen in the vicinity Of the City Hall
steps 1t is intimated that SOME Of the
Democratic members had been advised
by private counsel that 1t would be better
to let the matter rest. Other intimations,
however, were to the effect that the
Democratic members were afraid one of
their number might be absent. Who this
member was could not find out in con-
yersation with several Democratic men,
bers last night. Mr.. Hoos had stated he
would postpone a business trip in order
10 serve bis party. Alderman Norton
had declined to be interviewed.
At any rate an effort will be made to
readopt the resolution tonight. If the
vote is tie the Democratic members will
fall back on the work of the special meet
ing. The election will be proceeded with
under the new lines. and the Democrats
will fight the matter if taken into the
courts.
PLAIN DUTY.
A prominent Democrat was standing
on the City Hall steps this morning when
/ as ked him what he thought of
the rumors that Alderman Norton
would not attend the special meeting of
the Board of Aldermen tonight, or that If
he did attend it would be for the purpose
of opposing resolution to confirm the
district lines designated recently by the
Board.
81 do not believe Alderman Norton will
op pose the resolution" was the emphatic
answ er. 81 believe Mr.. Norton will be
found in his seat tonight and that
he will show himself what he has
always been, Democrat. 1t is the duty
of every Democratic Alderman to aid in
having adopted these new district lines.
u is but justice to the overrcrowded
districts that a fair apportionment
should be made, for the city has not had
Que for a long time. Although the change
in the lines may temporarily inJure
Alderman Norton politically, yet believe
he Is TOO much Of a Democrat to permit
his personal feelings to interfere with
that which is for the best interests
of his party and the people.
You may depend on it,
these rumors are baseless, and no doubt
they originate in the imagination of some
enemy, or perhaps some Republican
who desires to use the rumors TO
make political capital Besides for
Democrat to betray his party in this crisis
would be equivalent to reading himself
out OF the party forever"
WAS THAT MEETING LEGAL?
Supreme Court Commissioner Isaac
Romaine took testimony this morning in
the matter OF the application of Alder
men Simeon II. Smith. Max Salinger aud
Horace Schermerhorn for writ of GER
tiorari to remove the redistrioting pro
ceedings of the Aldermen into the Su-
prenie Court for review. Ex-Jud5s Sey-
mour represented the prosecutors and
Corporation Counsel Edwards and Cor
poration Attorney Hndspeth looked after
the interests OF the Aldermen.
Alderman Smith was the first witness
He testified that he was a taxpayer and
citizen, and member of the Board of AL
derInen. He did not receive a notice of
the special meeting of March 4, at which
the re-districting resolution was adopted
until the following day. The notice was
al hxrT TOfaf, II, Srnff CifV (flarE Tha
resolution, he said, changed The lines of his
district materially, and placed three AL
dernen in the Third ddistrict-himself and
Aldermen Hoos and Norton.
Unon being cross-examined by Mr.. Ed
wards, ths Alderman said he had only
attended TWO special meetings during the
pas YEAR He was not at the stock yards,
his usual address, on March g. Ills fam