The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-09-29
The Board ofFinance Middle.

in the Edelstein-P Peterson quo WGT.
Taato case was generally expected by
lawyers. 1t was almost a foregone
conclusion. The outside public
hoped that the wicked action of the
Bad Legislature would be overthrown
by the courts, but those who knew
the history of decisions on parallel
cases felt that the fight of Messrs.
Fraser and Detwiller was a forlorn
hope.
Now that the decision is pretty Ger.
tainly known, it is of interest to see
what it practically amounts to.
Messrs. Edelstein and Peterson re.
turn to the Finance Board in the
first place. Well, they are both gen.
tlemen of ability and honora BILE
standing, and per Sc the Board viii
not be weakened by their member
ship. As between them and the gen
tlemen they displace, we should be
sorry to draw any inyidious distinc-
tions. They are all four fully quail.
fed for the office.
Second i'll order, comes the ques-
ton of the effect of this decision upon
the personnel of the other boards.
We believe it will have mons. The
Police, Fire, Tax, Tax Revision, Sink
lag Fund and School Commissioners
appointed by Mayor Wanser, being
confirmed by the de fdeto Board OF
Finance, as required by the infamous
act of 1898, will all be upheld in their
offices by the courts, if any n is SO
foolish as to dispute their tenor.
Third, it will be observed that the
Board of Finance will consist of
Messrs. Simpson, Hitler aud Bsdell,
all supporting Mayor Wanser in his
reform policy, and constituting a ma
jority of the Board. General opinion
has it that Messrs. Edelstain and
Peterson in political OF quasi politl-
cal questions will oppose the Mayor,
but for every purpose, save confirm
ing appointments, the Mayor will have
a working majority in the Board.
Fourth. it is thus apparent that
Mayor Wanser virtually controls and
will still continue to control every
branch of the city government except
the Street and Water Board. In
other words, the return OF Messrs.
Edelstein and Peterson has practically
no effect whatever. OF course, Mayor
Wanser will be able to make no more
appointments, for Messrs, Edelstein
and Peterson will not vote to confirm
them. But there will be a session of
the Legislature before any vacancies
fall in. And then
But n very current story has it
that Mayor Wanser is not going to
wait for the decision Of the Supreme
Court. He will, it is said, inaugur.
ate a new fight at once. This,
it is said. is his plan, and
it has the merit of being in
genious, at least. As the story goes,
Mr.. Dstwiller will resign from the
Finance Board in a few days. Then
Mayor Wanser will appoint him or
some other congenial person as a sue
cessor, not to Mr., Detwiller, but to
Mr. Peterson. term expired. This
nomination will be confirmed by this
vote -
Messrs. Simpson. Hitler, Fraser
and Bedell.
This will be confirmation by a two
thirds vote of the Board, as required
by the statute. Mr.. Fraser's vote as
de taeto member, it is held, will be
as valid in this case as in the case of
Police Commissioner Aber nethy or
Fire Commissioner Brennan. 1t will
make, it is claimed, the new Finan-
cier's position practically il
able.
The process may Immediately be
repeated in the case of the Fraser
Edelstein seat; but it is believed action
would not be taken until the de-
cision was handed down by the court.
ms SOOu HS tudI was QOue. lie
Mayor would simply n ominate Mr..
E~delstein's successor, and the
confirmation would be made by the
four votes of Messrs. Simpson, Hitler
and Bedell and the new member, pre-
suInably Mr.. Detwiller.
Even if the courts should not up
hold this action, the Mayors friends
say, it would force a new fight in tn e
courts which it would take six or
eight months more to settle. We do
not pretend to say whether there is
anything in the scheme. We give it
as we hear it rumored, and it is GER
tainly amusing and interesting,
whether feasible or not
Bob ADRIAN and his private grave
yard got another dose of chain shot
yesterday from the Legislative Board
of the Supreme Council of the Rail-
road Mems Union.
Bob will heneeferward have a hard
road to travel. He has been found
put.
ROSS HOB0KEN THEATRE.
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