The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-04-24
LIpPIBCOTT GRANTS An ORDER.
1t Restraints Messrs. Fraser
and Detwiller From Act
ing for a Week.
BUT "BILL" DAILY WAS TOO LATE.
Democrats Organize the Police
Board and Tax commission
Mayor Nanser Talks.

The war for office actually began today.
The first shot was fred before Judge Lip
pincott In the Supreme Court by John
Edelstein and George w. Peterson The
targets they fired at were John ID. Fraser
and Jacob Detwiller, the Mayors ap-
pointees to the Board of Finance.
Counsellors Daily and Dougherty have
command of the case for the contestants
The plaintiffs brought quo warranto pro-
ceedings and also asked for an order re-
straining Messrs. Fraser and Detwiller
from acting as Finance Commissioners.
The Court hesitated FOR a moment
in considering the last request. but I'M
ally granted it, making it returnable next
Monday. a5 Trenton. He said that he
would urge the Branch Court to listen to
the argument at once, and in this manner
dispose of the case.
Itwa halt-past ten o'clock when the
desired rule was sealed, signed and de-
livered to "Bill" DAILY. Armed with the
precious document he repaired to the
City Hall.
In the meantime matters equally inter-
esting had been going on down town. In
the first place President John 2. Feeney.
of the Board of Police Commissioners.
had decided that he was going to be
President of the Police Board, no matter
what happened elsewhere. He knew that
Col. Abernethy had not taken the oath of
Office, and he also knew that Commits
sioner Van Keuren was in Virginia.
however, he did not know at what mo-
ment Van Keuren might return,
aud, resolving not to take any
chances, a meeting of the Police
Board was called for half past eight
o'clock this morning. Business was set
back in Justice O,DonnelPs Court for
time, but not long enough to DO any
serious injury. Commissioner James
E. Kelly was ON hand, and Mr.. Feeney
with Kelly's vote and his own
elected himself president for the coming
year. There was triumphal grin on John
P.'s face when ne marched iato Police
Headquarters after the meeting. "They
can't fool me for minute" said be. 81
am president for another year, and will
do my duty to the entire satisfaction of
every one"
Mr.. FEEEEY HAD AN OPINION.
"But suppose you get .ousted from the
Presidency. asked NEws reporter.
"Well, guess not" he laughed. Look
at this"
The new President then gave me copy
of an opinion under which he had acted.
Here it is:-
Hon. John p Feemey President, Board Of Police
Commissioners, jersey Cstg:
SIR-I am in receipt of your communication
AGk ing
should organize for the ensuing year and in
what manner such organization should be
Board of Police Commissioners therein provided
for (Section I'D is invested with all the powers
and duties of the former Board established
under the Charter of 1871; by the Charter of
1871, Section 81, it is provided that the Board
shall elect one Of their members TO be President
of said Board who shall hold his office
general supervision and control. uuder the
direction or said Board. of all the matters COM
mitfed to SAID Board. and shall perform such
otner duties as generally appertain to the
office of President, etc. Your Board has for
number of years held its annual meeting on
April %. from which day in the respective years
the commissioners issued under the charter of
1858 have dated. !, therefore, advise you to or
ganize the Board for the coming year on Mon
day, April "A, as the 23d falls on Sunday. The
next question Is who can participate ia the or
ganlzatioD. The terms OF Commissioners
Feeny and Van Keuren do not expire
this year; that of Commissioner Kelly expires
cation of his successor; he was appointed for
three years from April 20, 1890 but by force of
the laws of 1881 he holds oyer until
the qualification of his successor. His Honor
the Mayor, has appointed Col. h. II. Alernethy
as his successor in your Board. but Mr. Aber-
nethy cannot act with you until his appoint.
the Board of Finance as provided in Chapter 15ol
of the Laws of 1693 Until he has been SO con
Grfned, advise you that you cannot recognize
him as q member of your Board and must
recognize Commissioner Kelly.
Yours respectfully,
VIM. d. EDWARDS,
Corporation, Counsel
"Just say for me-" said Commissioner
Kelly. after the meeting. THAT am in
that won't recognize any new Board of
Finance, and that / won't get out until
put oat by the Courts. will give up
then, not before"
THE MAYORS END OF IT
It was nipe O'Clock when the Police
Board fight was settled. All that time
Finance Commissioners Hitler, Frazer
apd Detwiller were seen to en-
ter Mayor Wanser's Office. Ten
minutes later Commissioners Allen and
Bedell entered the City Hall and were
soon behind closed doors with Mayor
Walser's Two new appeintees and their
old colleague, and Mayor Wanser had
evidently been ut his Office some time,
as he had been waiting for
the Finance Comm issioners. The doors
lEaQllU TO AhyOF w auSeE't pItfabo 0luct
were locked and barred, and Assistant
Secretary Nevin charged TO let no man
enter or in any way moiest the Mayor and
his callers.
Nevin does not have to be instructed
twice, and as guardsmaH Nevin is par
excellence. at least so he proved himself
this morning.
Inside the private Office was Mayor
Wanser and the new Boarh of Finance.
President Edeistein of the old Board WAS
upstairsin the office of the Finance Board.
aud was, it is said, unaware chat The new
Board was down stairs. The Mayor in
sisted upon his Board getting to work at
once and tine members were
eager to comply, with his re-
quest. The Board was organized
10y the election OF George r. Hitler as
President. The election OF clerk was
Dext in order, and Martin Finck was
unanimously chosen. This done, His
Honor, submitted TO the Board his aD-
pointments for the ramaiuinR vacancies
ID me City Government.
His new appointecs are:--T0 the Board
of Education. James S. Bailey, No. GA