The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-05-21
Wanser and the Rumsters-Poiitics
and Mock Reform.

t0Cut qUe5ttOHS. .
w anser and the Rumsters-Poiitics
and Mock Reform.
AS Sunday comes close upon us, the
question once again is:-Will the sa-
looms be closed? Will the law be OBJ
served? Will the police do their
duty?
There would be no question, no
doubt, if Mayor Wanser had done his
duty. II he had said n word to
show that he meant to stand by his
ante : election pledges, the saloons
would be shut up tight. The side
door and upstairs lodges would be
abandoned. The law would be OBJ
served.
But Mayor Wanser has been in Of
flee long enough for the Board of FL
n to have ordered the first pay
ment Of his handsome salary of
$416. 66 a month, and not only has
he failed to say one word voluntarily,
regarding the scandaIous and habit
ual breach of the law, but further he
has lodged and evaded all enquiries
on the subject, and when put in q cor
ner has fallen back on a logged ST.
lence to escape committing himself.
But there is no escape in silence for
Mayor Wanser. This is q case where
silence Enthusiastically gives consent,
and Wanser stands pilloried before
the people as the protector of Sunday
rum, the friend and patron of chronic
law breakers, if he does not take up a
bold position of hostility to them.
1t may be said that in none of his
campaign speeches did Candidate
Wanser say anything about the Sun
day liquor traffic. This is aemean and
contemplate evasion, a tricky device
to get away from a fair responsibility.
The Colonel's hackers talked loud and
much about Sunday rum. A large
part of the support given him was
given on the understanding, openly
and publicly expressed, that he would
stop the Sunday rum traffic. He new
er repudiated that idea when he
wanted votes. He consented to it
then, and if there is a%nythingi in honor
or truth he is bound by it now.
But whether OF not he spoke openly
about Sunday rum, the Colonel in
every speech he made promised to en-
force the law. Does he think it is
enforcing the laws to encourage. the
police in winking at Sunday sales OF
liquor?
In every speech of his campaign,
Colonel Wanser promised to perform,
If elected. the duties of his office faith
fully and consistently, without fear
or favor. His duties are laid down in
the Charter of the City, Chapter 424
of the Laws of 1871, Section 81. The
Mayor will find the section on Page
1,1O5 of the volume of Session Laws
1t reads thus
Amd be it enacted, That the Mayor shall sec
that the laws of the State, and the ordinances Of
the city are faithfully executed therein; and he
shall be authorized to recommend to any Board
of the City Government such measures as he
may deem necessary or expedieat for the wei
fare Of the city; he shall maintain peace and
good order therein, and in case of a riot oil
ambitious assembly, he may take command OF
the police force of the city to suppress it; in
ease of persons violating, or being suspected by
aim Of violating, or being charged upon oath OF
Affirmation with violating any criminal law o.
his city. or penal ordinance of said city, he
hall possess the same power and authority
which justices of the peace have in crimina
Eases; he shall sign all licenses directed to BE-
issued by the Board of Aldermen and all bonds
obligations or other evidence of Indebtedness