The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-08-04
FINANCIAL DEADLOCK
Mayor Wanser'S Veto Of
Tax Budget Items
Sustained.
CHAOS IS THE RESULT.
No Money to Light the Streets
and None for Official
Salaries.
THE SULKY REPUBLICANS.
Having Got The City Into q Bad Fix,
They Vote "No" on
Everything.
THE SULKY REPUBLICANS.

LUZ buo puEpU5o VI oSOAOA
upon Mayor Wanser's veto of items in
the tax budget All the members Of the
Board were on hand promptly at half
past nine O'Clock. The doors of their
office were locked. The officials
were closeted ABOUT an hour and then
Clerk German lowered the windows to
allow a few small clouds of blue smoke
to escape The Thermometer in the
Boards Office showed that the mercury
had jumped up several points. An occa-
siouaI slap on a desk demonstrated the
fact that lively scenes were occurring t lnt
side, The battle ragged until half
past eleven O'Clock aud then President
Edelstein was heard summoning Clerk
German and his colleagues. Commission
ers Allen aud Bedeil into the Aldermanlc
Chamber, where the public meeting is
always held.
The Clerk and two Commissioners re-
sponded at once. The roll was called
and quorum declared present. A few
minutes later the Republican members
of the Board rushed out of the private
Office and took their seats.
THE MURDER OUT.
Commissioner Hitler attempted to in
Ie .rupt the proceedings by asking tor
recess of ten minutes in which to prepare
d resolution. commissioner Alien oo-
jected. He saw no reason why the whole
Board should be delayed to accommodate
one member.
Mr.. Hillier's next move was TO offer
solution sustaining the Mayor in his
reto OF certain appropriations. his reso-
Luton was seconded by Mr. Peterson.
Com mmissioner Allen at once moved that
tue resolution De tabled. His motion pre-
vailed and everyone recognized the fact
that the caucus room had been carried
Into the public meeting
Mayor Wanser's veto of the tax budget
was then taken up and read There are
five members in the Board of Finance
and d two-third vote is required to pass
Democrats would not agree to sus-
tain the Mayor In any Item
vetoed. The Repu olicans would not agree
to vote to pass over his veto, and as re-
suit Jersey City finds herself IN curious
predicameat. The sustaining of Mayor
Wauser's veto means that there is scant
probability of any appropriation being
made for any of the items cover
ed by it. None can be made
unless an amicable adjustment
is effected. The Board will meet again
next Tuesday morning, and il the dead
lock in the Board is not broken by that
time. Jersey City's tax rate will be about
oue-nalf what it has been in the past ten
years, but many essential features OF the
Government will be brought to stand
SIllt. OJ 1u6Sudy Ac4L Uu0
do not patch up their difficulties. the
tax budget minus the items vetoed by
Mayor Wanser will be sent to the Tax
Commissioners and a rate struck on it as
it stands.
The present condition of affairs has
caused widespread alarm among the
office-holders as the prospect of receiving
no salary for year is not d pleasant
Thought to the array of clerks and Off
eials about City Hall.
THE SALARY ITEM.
The most important thing in which the
Mayor was sustained is the salary appro-
priation of the Board of Finance, which
amounts to $69, $685. .96. It was thought
that the Republican members would not
sustain Mayor WaDser III his veto of this
appropriation, but Commissioners Hitler
and Peterson both voted In
the affirmative. The result is
not one cent will 60 in the budget for the
officials and clerks on the Finance Board
payroll, unless compromise is reached.
Certain officials whose salaries are pro-
vided for by lawwiil De able to sue the city
for their monthly pay, and the judgments
must be met in the tax levy of 1929.
Mayor Wanser is included in the list un-
provided for.
Mayor Wanser, City Treasurer Cleve-
land, Comptroller Hough and their re-
and his deputy, and the Corporation
Counsel and attorneys are the
only persons who can readily OBJ
tain their salaries through the courts.
The clerks in the offices of the officials
named will have but little chance OF re-
covering any money, even If they do sue
for their salaries. The Financial Com
missieners themselves will get no money,
as they would have no standing in Court
under the present circumstances.
II all the vetoed items are dropped out
of the budget, the tax rate this year will
lu ~ IT. will
nearly four per cent. in 1928 when the
iadgmentsIto settle this years deficiencies
will have to be met
LEGAL LOOPHOLE.
About the only way to bring about
settlement of the trouole5 is to have some
taxpayer have the Mayor and Finance
Board mandamussed. Outside of the
difficulties that will be encountered by
he refusal of the Commissioners
to agree upon a sum sufficient for
the Finance Board salaries the
city will probably be left in
darkness. Mayor Wanser vetoed the ap-
preparation of $4,000 for lighting the
streets. He was sustained in this, too.
Taking into sousideration the fact that
the Gas Company is now endeavoring to
establish the constitutionality of it's FIVE
wear contract with the city, it will prob
ably decline to furnish the city with light
Tor one year for nothing.
The sewers throughout the city will re-
main as they are at present. Mayor
Wanser vetoed the appropriation for the
reconstruction of sewers and was sus-
tanned by the votes of his Republican
friends In the Board.
The Engineering bureau will have TO
be disbapded. 1ne original appropria-
tion of SIS, COO was vetoed, Mayor Wanser
suggested that $4,000 be appropriated,
but the sustaining of his veto killed this.
There will he no asphalt walks in
Hamilton or Van Worst Parks. There
will not be auy appropriations for sup
Incidental or gas, which means that she
station house will probably be lighted
with one lamp, after Decem er
next. The Police Comm ssloners
will be compelled to do without
sjoners without a much needed new
aerial truck and new hose. The horse
owned by the Tax Commissioners will be
compelled to live on shavings and nails