The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-03-31
BOARD OF WORKS NOW.
Politicians Startled by the Signing
of the Blll-lts Effect.

AS usual THE NEWS was first yesterday
to announce the most important news
of the day, the signing OF the Board Of
Works bill by Governor Albeit. Copies
of THE NEWS were carefully perused by
the leading politicians of the county, and
one and all seemed greatly surprised.
Previous to the appearance of the edition
on the street not person knew that the
bill had become law, but last night it
formed the principal topic of conversation
in all the political clubs, and was dis
cussed al both Democratic andIRepublican
headquarters. The most surprised indi-
viduals were Mayor Cleveland and Com
missioners Somers and Dugan. The two
latter gentlemen are in the race for re-
appointment, and the Democr attic
leaders last night were III conference
with them at Muldoon's cigar store on
Grove street, discussing the prospects of
the Newark Republicans knocking the
bill out.
WHAT THE MAYOR WILL DO.
Mayor Cleveland was found late yester-
day afternoon in his study by a NEW s
reporter, and IN answer to number OF
queries relating to the bill, and what
action he would take, he said:-'I have
no information that the bill has been
y
bill has passed under the scrutiny OF
Governor Albeit in every part, and as
sumo that it is unassailaole, so that l
shall pay no attention whatever to any
step that may DE taken by anybody 10
test its constitutionality.
81 did not want the power conferred
upon me by this bill. nor in fact did the
people of Jersey City want the bill We
were very well satisfied with the city
charter as it was, but the people OF New
ark have thrust upon us this new law for
their own convenience and purposes.
They wanted change in their methods,
but were unable to get it without affect
| ing Jersey City by the same law.
"If the Governor has signed the bill. l
shall make the appointments under 1t IN
good time, nut there Is no haste. The
city is doing very well as it is. We have
| preserved our Board of Finance, which
| by the original Newark bill would have
been practically superseded. IL may be a
serious question for me to consider
! whether 1t is not proper, under the cir
| cumstances that surround us in Jersey
| City, for me TO appoint one or two Repub-
| Iicans on the new Board. There is moth
| ing in the law in regard to the politics OF
| the new appolntees, so that they may be
| all Democrats, and it was no doubt the
1 object OF the Newark people to have all
| Democrats in the Board when they passed
the bill.
| THEY HOLD ONEh
"The old BOARD of Street and Water
| Commissioners will continue until the
| new appointments are made, and their
/ actions will be perfectly legal. The term
1 of service of the new appointees under the
| new law Will begin from the date of their
| appointment and not from the date of the
| approval of the law. There will be two
| Comm issioners appointed for three years,
| TWO for four years, and one for i've years,
| and thereafter the term of service OF ali
4 will be five years, but the initial date will
| befrom the date of the first appointment.
1.-THE bill vests in the new Board nearly
all the important powers heretofore ex
| isting in the Board of Aldermen, and
consequently will necessitate "A reorganiZ-
| alton of the Office of the Street and Water
| Com I'M issioners-"
| In reply TO a question regarding the
probable changes of officers ana clerks
under the Board, the Mayor replied
'The new Board has the power 10 EN-
ploy CLERKS, Chief Engineer, and fill all
| positions now under the Board of Street
and Water Commissioners. Tbs same
| clerical force will undoubtedly be re-
| tanned"
Just when the appointment of the
new commissioners will be made. or who
| will be appointed / cannot state. Thai
| will all come ont in due time"
| President Somers of the Board oi
Street and Water Commissioners and
| Commissioner Dugan, upon being inter
| viewed, exhibited considerable astonish
ment upon learning that the bill haa