Morning journal and courier., 1892-03-23
CLERK BAssETT CALLED.

The FIRST witness called was Newcomb
{. Bassett, the present clerk of the board
f public works and clerk to the superin-
endent of streets. He had the records of
no board with him and read the minutes
# the meeting at which the removals were
made.
COMMISSIONERS STATES TESTIMONY.
Commissioner States was called and ex- |
amined by Judge Stoddard. He said he
was elected five years ago and is still a
of the board.
Odd you act as clerk at a meeting of
the board on February Pa A-Yes.
Commissioner States read the whole of
the record in regard to the dismissal of
Mr.. Waldron, in which it was stated that
Mr.. States had sent notice to Mr.. Waldron
Diminishing him from Office.
Q-How long have you known MI. Hills
Al think since 1876.
Q-What have you to say as to his ca
pacity, eficiencyssand fidelity as an engi-
neer? A-He is a good engineer, first
rate one when he has his own way. In
my opinion his own way is not always the
right way.
I & Sid: voted against his r'@''''' A.
Q-You knew Mr.. Ingersoll prior to that
time? Al did.
Odd you know that he was candi-
date for Mr.. Hills positiona A-No, sir:
Q-How long have you known Mr.. Wal
dron? A-For many years.
his connection with the department.? A
Since 1876. --.....-.
Q-Now, as to his fidelity? Afr. Wal
dron WAS an excellent clerk.
O-You have known Mr.. Kent for many
years. Ayes.
Q-Have you been familiar with his con-
nection with public affairsa Al knew
Mr.. Kent for five years in the board Of al
| dermen.
Q-What do you say as to his capacity
and fdelityi A-Kent was elected super
| intendent of streets. I did not vote for
him for that Office, but I made no objec.
ton to his appointment.
| Judge Stoddard-You do not answer my
| questions.
| Mr.. States-If you will wait till gel
through will answer all your questions
I voted for his removal as superintendent
/ of streets and voted for his appointment
as superintendent of parks.
| GAS to his capacity in that object A
He was capable man.
DAT the meeting of the board of pub
lie works, where you acted as clerk, Wal
there any discussion held between an,
members of the board in reference to tn
SUCCESSORS of these gentlemen! A-Not t.
my knowledge.
| Q-Had there ever been a record mad
of this matter in the board of public works
A-Not to my knowledge.
Q-Was there o meeting at any othe
ofices A-TheIe was.
Q-Where was this meetinga AIT tn
Office of Commissioner Todd.
Q-Will you state what was said at tn
meeting on that occasion? A-There was
great deal of talk INDUCED in.
Q-Were all the commissioners present
A-Al but Commissioner Brown.
Q-Had he been notified to be present
Al do not know. Commissioner Sulli
van was at the meeting and said there wa
,, to be regular picnic and that they ha
I agreed to deliver certain goods.
Odd he say which of the committe
had agreed to deliver the goodsa A--Nc
sir.
Q-Waa it then stated who was to Dc
| liver the Offices to Sullivan? A-No, si1
Odd he tell you when he had mad
the engagement? AIT O'Clock the ne1
! day. There was no discussion as to VIII
{ would succeed these men.
Alderman Hiller-Did you ever know {
| COIL Dlu6LlOu 1OT LILO Oubtluk VI oil Mo
1 in public Office? A-Some years ago Cou1
Gilman Hitler came to me and wanted Wi
liam A. Thompson deposed, as Thompso
was a republican and as he had goo
, friend, a democrat. who wanted the offic'
voted for Thompson's dismissal.
Mr.. Hiller-I want to state that neve
! | asked Mr.. States to remove Mr.. Thoml
l son. What he says is absolutely false.
1 will place my word against that of NJ
States. may have expressed an opinion
( but never made request.
On cross-e1smination Mr.. States sal
: at meeting in the Republican leagr
g Bushnell were present, it was arranged
+ GUST Hill. Mr.. Hill said he did not wal
to be deposed, but would resign on Apr
o 1, 1890. There, in order to save NJ
% Waldron, States had consented to Il
It retention of Mr.. Hill after Kent was cleo
q ed superintendent of streets Commission
- ers Leigh, States and Whitney signed
n paper agreeing not to remove any hea'
of departments, except for cause, and thu
u after fair trial.
n Q-Has not Mr.. Hill often acted is b
o own authority an in violation of the wis
q 90 of the boards ADO not want to g
II charges.
10 Odd not Mr.. Hill have the profile
It Edwards street changed after the CO
tract had been let? Ayes. The boa
10 had to pay the contractors 5000 damag
& on account of the change.
r. PROFESSOR BREWER TEsTIFIEs.
"a The next witness, Professor Brewe
IT deprecated tho removals as being again
y good government. He considered t
u men able, efficient and honest men for t
a city to have and thought it was not go
g. public policy to remove tried officials
D. the sake of trying experiments.
rs thought the whole proceeding looked Ii
ia the work of ring and that the chang
le were made, he was afraid, for pecunia
purposes. He did not believe in the ci
ID paying for the education of new men al
N would oppose the removal of Mr.. Ingers
1t after two years probably as strongly as
TT now did that of Mr.. Hill.
T. Ex-NAyoR HoLcoNB.
40 Ex-Mayor Holcomb testified that he "
TO a member OF the board of public wor
to two or three years before he beca,
y mayor. He had thought City Engine
~ Hill and Clerk Waldron were very valuai
men and very efficient. They were sat
factory to the commissioners at that tin
10 and he thought the city would suffer le
to in their removal.
,e On examination by Mr.. Daley he sai
"a Mr.. Ferry and Mr.. Kelly are both exc
10 lent men, but they cannot do as we'll
Mr.. Hill until they have had some servi,
If Mr.. Hill was to be replaced thi
~, either of these might take his place beti
b. than one less acquainted with the stree
once reprimanded Mr.. Hill kindly for 4
y, ~ treating a citizen as courteousIy as
st thought he should. Afterwards had
n, | trouble with him.
JOHN P. FUTILE.
I1 John P. futile, treasurer of the NJ
I'd Haven Savings bank, testified that he "
ee a member of the board of public wor
H 7I from 1870 to 1875. During that time n
er Waldron and Mr.. Hill were appointe
b They had given excellent satisfaction tn
}" and had been regarded as competent IA
o. since so far as he had learned. He said
n had received $500 a year from the ci
~ when he was commissioner, but b
n never looked up the law on the matter
h, see if he had any right to it. He also ss
10 he had furnished lumber for the city DO
er when he was a commissioner and since.
n. PASSED AWAY.
=, Death of Councilman Buckingham
id the Eighth Ward.
ty A very large circle of friends will
of grieved to hear Of the death of Ale1and