The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-04-27
E LECTION BILLS PAID UP
They We're Exlrayagant on Their
Face, But They Went Through
Allq the Same.

These bills were the cause OF a lively
row at last nights meeting of the old
Board of Alderman. Mr.. G rifin's bill
last fall was S276. go.
All the members of the Board were
present. Ed Farley, Alderman-elect
from the Third district. was present, too.
and was invited inside the rail. He ell
joyed the fun. So did Richard Jordan.
Dan Shea and others IL the lobby.
1t started in this way. Mr.. Dosenberry
thought $3.50. so for lamps was too high.
He wanted to know what became Of those
of last fall.
Then Mr.. Smith objected to the bill for
carting booths.
The President ordered the clerks to
take from the list of claims the two bills
objected to, that they might be voted
upon separately.
Mr.. Smith also objected tn the station
cry bill of $500 Of the Committee on Elec-
tions,
Mr.. Kaiser said 1t was 500 moro than it
was last fall.
MIR. McEntee replied:-"Yes, but the
Democratic candidates pay $3.50 OF the
bill, which brings it down to one-half.
WHERE II FUN CAME IN.
After all the claims except the bills for
lamps and carting booths were passed,
the fun began.
Mr.. Saiinger moved that the bills for
lamps be recommitted for corrections. Mr..
Smith seconded the motion. Mir. Salin-
ger was positive that those lamps, which
the Committee proposed to pay for at the
rate of s~eventy-iye cents. apiece were
worth only one-half that price.
MI. nbNniJ1 who rnfirnd frnn fh0
Board, muttered something about "those
plumbers bills of the Armory Commit
tee," and said Salinger put his (Mr.
O'Neill's) teeth on edge.
Mr.. Day called Mr.. Salinger's attention
to the fact that the bill was not for the
lamps alone. They had to be distributed
among the polling places. They had to
be filed ana retlled with oil. Broken
chimneys and worthless burners had to
be replaced.
A LOVELY ROW.
Mr.. O'Neill bitterly denounced Mr..
Salinger as ever seeking an opportune
time to pose in the public prints as a Re
publican economist.
Mr.. Salinger jumped to his feet Ia an
ger. mo member of this Board" he
said, ''can say that / ever lacked in one
solitary instance. a sense OF duty to the
public in auditing bills of this Board.
The gentleman has seen fit to attack me
personally"
MI. Smith-"Mr. Chairman"
MIR. SalinRer-"I Will not be attack.
ed"
"Order, order" shouted several mem.
bers.
II call this Board to order" cried the
Chairman, vigorously rapping his gavel.
Messrs. O'Neill, Salinger. Smith and
Norton were all trying to be heard. The
President put the question n on a viva
un.o vote darlnrpn tho hill UQa Io-nnm,
mitted.
Mr.. O'Neill wanted the vote recon
sidered and the ayes and nay called for.
MI. Salinger said that MIR. O'Neill was
too late.
Mr.. Smith also wanted the ayes and
a. called for. He got EN-. The vote
was strictly partisan. The bill was moi
recommitted.
Then the fight between Mr.. O'Neill and
Mr.. Salinger was renewed. .
Mr.. O'Neill moved that the lamp pill
be passed.
That gave Mr.. Salinger another oppor.
tunity to say that no one could ever &C
cuse him of refusing to pay an honest
bill. To MIR. O'Neiil he sald:-s1f 1t is
matter of charity-if this Is a poor mar
who presents this pill and he is in need Of
the amount asked for, put your hands III
your pockets n pay it, but don't force
the public to pay it. Pm not talking fol
Inc lODDyS ears. why QOU let Tile OIL lie
over for a week."
Mr.. o'NEILL's SHARP WORDS.
Mr.. O'Neill said he was surprised at the
innuendoes and insinuations thrown out
by Mr.. Salinger in assailing the cbaract-
ers Of the members who disagreed with
him-virtually accusing the Board OF
swindling the public. The gentlemen
on the other side" said Mr.. O'Neill,
''parades himself as the only honest
mamDer of the BOARD. When he Dreseut-
ed the bills of the Armory Committee nc
fuss was raised about them. By his in
nuendoes he insulted the members Of this
Board who disagreed with him. The
Chairman of the Election Committee
year before last didn't go around asking
of the lamp dealer, How much oil did you
put in this or that lamp, eight or ten
cents WORTH or how many lamps OF
chimneys were broker or stolen?'"
Eyes, he did" interrupted Mr.. Kaiser.
"Well,' continued MIR. O'Neill. "I'll put
some of my bills against yours. We are
not swindling the public, as Mr.. Salin-
ger would have the public believe. The
time has gone by when the public can be
caught by such chaH as that which the
Alderman from the Fifth throws out to
IT. He seeks only to read his name in the
public prints as an economist. The bills
are lower this year thar they were last.
I don't believe in going over to
New York and spending several
days trying TO get II dealer to
undercut another. / thought the gentle.
man was in favor of Home Rule. / want
to see the bill passed tonight because the
committee which presents the bill will
not be here to defend It when It comes up
again."
The bill was passed by n partisan vote,
with the exception of that of President
Allen. He voted with the Republicans.