The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-10-07
SPECIFIC CHARGES
Street and Water Commits
SionerS Now Know What
They Must Answer.
MAYOR WANSEk's LATEST MOVE.
MI. Corbin Wants Specifications
He Gets Them and the
Hearing Goes Over to
December 1.

yesterday, the hearing on the charges
preferred by Mayor Wanser against the
members of the Street and Water Board
did not take place. That such would be
he case was so generally known that no
one took the trouble to go TO the Mayors
office to witness the proceedings. In fact
no one except ttose directly interested in
the hearing was present when he Mayor
came in. except solitary clergyman,
who grabbed his hat aud rushed QUO when
Commissioner Cook made a remark about
the Pequannock dam.
Promptly at three o'clock the Mayor ac-
companied by Private Secretary Weart
came in. Commissioners Dugan, Semers,
Yoe and Madden were awaiting him. Mr..
Charles Thompson, who said he appeared
for Messr-. Dugan aad Somers aud Mr..
Charles Corbin. who didu'6 say whom he
represented, were sitting i'll the back
room also awaiting the arrival of the
great reformer.
MR.. CoRBIN OPENS THE BALL
AS soon as His Honor came in Mr.. Cor
bin in his usual crisp and I-h ve-n o-tlme-
to-wa3te manner, proceeded to business
His action would in conrt Of law prac-
tlcall} amount to demurrer to the
Mayors jurisdiction and the correctness
said that specifications should have been
served upon the Commissioners and in
support of his remarks he handed HIS
Honor this citation which in legal par
lance is called brief.
Mayor v. Nichols, 70 N. Y 53S The relator
was the Mayor of the city and charter con-
ferred upon him power to remove the defend
ant but only 'sfor cause and after opportunity
to be heard" The power is not an arbitrary one
to be exercised at pleasure, but only upon just
reasonable grounds and
notice to the person charged, for in no other
way could he have "an opportunity to be
heard The proceedings therefore must be
instituted upon specific charges sufficient in
their nature to warrant the removal and then,
unless admitted, proven 60 be true. Defendant
might also ss-examine the witnesses pro
duced to support the charges, call others in his
defense and in these AMI other steps in the pro-
ceedings be represe nted by counsel. In no other
way could the person sought to be removed,
have hearing or IAN opportunity to be heard''
and this condition must be complied with before
the power of removal is exercised.
THE MAYOR WAS READY.
Some little bird must havo sung some
thing of this movement TO the Mayor for
he was all ready to meet Mr.. Corbin's at
tack. He nodded to Mr.. Weart aud that
young gentleman Immediately replied
that specifications had been prepared and
there they were. With that he handed
Mr.. Corbin and Mr.. Thompson a type
written COPY of this except as to the name
OIL Tie CoIH ullSSl006T:-
MAYORS OFFICE, JERSEY Cry, New Jersey.
In the matter of the notice to Charles j. Somers
to show cause why he should not be removed
from the Office OF Street and Water Commis-
sioner of Jersey City, N. j., pursuant to
notice returnable before Peter F, Wanser at
the Mayors Office In the City Hall of said city
on Thursday. October 6. at o'clock p NJ.
To Charles d. Somers, Esq, Commissioner.
DIAR SIR:-At the hearing IN the above tit led
matter, you will in case you appear at the time
and place stated in the notice served upon YOU
in the above stated matter, or any adjournment
thereof, will be given an opportunity to bs
heard whether good cause exists for your re-
moval from the office you now hold
of Commissioner of the Board of Street and
Water Commissioners of jersey City, N 7
based on the following specifications
Very respectfully,
PETER F. W1NsRR, Mayor.
JERSEY Cry, N. j., October g. 1882
SPECIFICATIONS,
1. The Corporation Counsel filed with the
Board of Street and Water Commissioners an
opinion in reference to the city g right to dedj-
cate street the land on which is bull the
Brown place sewer and prepared a resolution for
presentation to said Beard declaring such land a
street, which solution was not present ed to
the meeting Of said Board, held September %
1892.
O. That on the Fifteenth day of September A
D., 1892, the Mayor of Jersey c ty sent written
communication to the Board of Street and
Water Commissioners giving reasons why said
lands should be declared public street.
3. That because said Board did not act at said
prepared by the Corporation Counsel it was
made possible to commence condemnation pro-
ceedings by the Lehgh Valley Terminal Kali
way Company and others: which condemnati on
proceedings commenced and are now pending
4. That you have given no reason at the meet
ing of said Board why you have attempted to
prevent the opening and grading as public
street the aforesaid land acquired by the Mayor
and Aldermen of Jerse City, by dee1 of Albert
N. Brown and wife, dated December II. 1885. and
recorded January IL. 1886, in the Hudson County
Registers Office in liber Ala of deed p. A.
MR.. THOMPSON ACKNOWLEDGES SERVICE.
Mr.. Corbin read the specifications over
carefully aud put them in his pocket
Mr.. Thompson acknowledged service of
copies for Commissioners Dugau and
Somers. MIR. Corbin would not acknowl
edge service for Com missioners Yoe, Mad
den aud Cook, as he said he did not repre-
sent them. They were called into he
Mayors office ater and each served with
a copy personally. The Mayor then said
that he would adjourn the hearing until
December l. This was satisfactory to all
hands and the hearing fer the time was