The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-05-03
The New Mayor and His Opening
Acts and Sayings.

selects a lawyer for his private secre-
tary is obvious. He is not one him
self, and, except in police court mat
tiers, has no familiarity with legal
questions. All the law officers of the
city are democrats, and in the carry
ing out of his wi policy, which, pre-
sumably will be to a large extent ag-
gressive as respects democrats, the
Mayor will naturally desire to have
the advice of members of his own
party. This involves no reflection
whatever on the city's legal advisers.
1t is natural and proper in every way.
The gentleman selected, Mr.. Spencer
Weart, is altogether q most admirable
selection for the place, if his private
interests will permit him to hold it.
He is a gentleman in instincts and
demeanor., and all who visit the
Mayors Office will be sure of courteous
treatment. He is besides a man of
cultivation and ability, and his coun-
sci will be of value to Colonel Wanser
and of value to the city.
We understand that two Of the
three members OF the Board of Tax
Appeals have been selected,-Messrs.
Reuben Simpson and John d. Fraser.
They impress us as being very good
selections. The third member, it is
rumored, is to be q Democrat. but the
choice is still undetermined at this
time of writing. If the Mayor
actually names a Democrat on the
the Board, it will show a ~commendable
spirit of liberality. So far as the mat
ter of appointments goes, Mayor Wan
ser has SO far surpassed all expecta-
tons. There is not, as yet, any sign
of control by the office-seekers who
were SO Extensively conspicuous all
through the campaign. Let us hope
he will show the same independence
when the really political offices come
up for distribution.
Concerning his refusal to sign GER
tain payrolls and contracts yesterday,
it would be unfair to hasten into
adverse criticism. The Mayor may
very properly demand time for refiec-
ton, and enquiry. In the most
ture to recommend him not to let his
reforming zeal carry him too far. This
is really the most dangerous rock
ahead of him. The temptation
is great to one in his position
to jump on everything on
general principles. We sincerely hope
Colonel Wanser will not give way to
this weakness. AS for the payrolls
which the Mayor stops, they may be
extravaganza and they may not; but
assuredly Mayor Wanser is not re-
sponsibie for them. 1t is hardly COM
petent for him to institute retroactive
reforms. These payrolls have been
run up in ordinary course; the work
has been done in fact or as Il matter of
form; the documents only come be-
fore the new Mayor as a matter Of
form. We think it will be much bet
ter for him to sign these rolls and be-
gin his reforms with the May ones.
He a serve notice on thu
Boards that they must do tn us and so,
or he will not sign Then, at the end
of the month lie can keep his word.
But to refuse to sign these payrolls, it
seems to US, is to inflict real h%ardships
on men who have done work for the
city, and to plunge the city in need
less litigation. llei
As for Ills action on the Greenvine
Station House matter, we understand
he merely lays it aside for examina-
ton. Nobody can object to that.
We assume that he will very shortly
afllx his signature to it.
One other topic calls for comment
here in connection with the incoming
of the new Mayor. This is the matter
of the Sunday liquor law violation,
and the prevalence of policy shops in
this city. Mayor Wanser appears to
be reluctant to talk about these
things. Why's He dislikes to be in
terviewed, it is true; but he has no
hesitation in defining, in a few words,
his position upon most subjects. He
tells plainly enough what he would do
about the gas contract if he had
power. He has been specific enough
about the revision of the tax lists and
the reduction of department expenses.
Why should he not, in a few words,
tell the people what he a to do
with the law-breaking saloon keepers,
what with those vilest and lowest of
gamblers, whose prey are the poor
and the ignorant, women and chill
dren? Does Mayor Wanser mean to
live up to the platform on which
all his honest support was given? We
believe he does. But he ought to come
out like a man and say SO. He was
almost inclined to resent being
asked about til ese things by JERSEY
'CITy NEWS reporter yesterday. That
will not do, Colonel, you will be
asked plenty of plain questions while
you are in your present position, and
when your duty is as plain as it is
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