The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-02-10
WARNING ON HERSELF.
Newark's Internecine Fight
Over the Board of Works
Bill-Trenton News.
Special to the JERSEY Ctr Netvs.

Special to the jersey City Netus.
TRENTON. Eco. 10. 1893. .-E ssex, which
since the election of Mr.. James Smith,
Jr.. to the United States Senate has con-
ceived the idea that she owns the State,
is just now IN the throes OF internecine
warfare. In former years she used to
war against her formidable rival. Hud-
son, except when she wanted something
real bad and then she would make over
lures for dual alliance. This year,
however. finding nothing up to this stage
of the session to fight Hudson for. and
not happy unless fighting with someone,
she has fallen TO rowing with herself.
The trouble is over the bill introduced
by Mr.. Arinitage, which seeks to have
the members OF The Board of Street and
Water Commissioners elected by the
people instead of appointed by the Mayor.
Mr.. James Smith, Jr.. is President OF
the Newark Board, and will soon have
to resign that position. The highly moral
gentlemen who are running that depart
ment of Newark's Municipal Govern
nent. have various schemes on hand for
materially improving the interests Of the
city, II not their own, which they fear to
trust In the hands of any one who is not
in accord and sympathy with them.
Mr.. Armitage's bill is SO worded that Mr..
Smiths successor will have to be elected
by the people. That is what they dread.
Cities like republics, are unRrateful, and
the Essex leaders as their followers de-
light to call them, have reason.to believe
that the ungrateful citizeus of Newark do
not appreciate their self-sacrificing ef-
forts in their behalf and would be more
than likely to defeat any candidate they
might put up.
COLONEL PRICES BILL READY.
Colonel Price, who is the greater part
of the brains OF the Newark Clique. has a
bill which obviates that difficulty. 1t
of the Board by the people, but it is so
worded that Mr.. Smith can resign
and appoint bis successor by way
of Mayor Haines. Colonel Price
and his associates have been at Mr..
Armitage to withdraw his bill or let it
die in the committee for want of nourish-
ment. But thus far, Mr.. Armitage has
push his bill. The Newark men talk OF
diciplining him, but there are signs Of
the Essex machine going to pieces. and
Mr.. Armitage appears willing to run the
risk of being diciplined by them.
This family quarrel in Essex appears to
many of the outside members to have
something ludicrous about it, and they
talk Of getting the bill out of Commit
tee, and insisting upon its being acted
upon just for the fun Of it. The bill is in
the hands of the Committee upon NUM-
cipal Corp orations which has upon
only one Newark man and that Is Mr..
Studer the Montclair repu hlican who will
not be likely to interfere with any move
ment which seeks to take Newark out of
the hands of the Smith patriots. Even If
enough influence can be secured TO keep
the committee from reporting the bill, a
motion will be made upon the floor to
compel the committee to report it and
that will bring on the desired battle.
Colonel Prices bill will come in Mon-
day night aud will be rushed through the
committee and brought before the House
ut an early date.
GOVERNOR ALBEIT TO BE JUDGE.
The confirmation of Ex-Governor ADbett
to succeed Judge Scudder as an Associate
upon the Supreme Court bench seems
reasonably assured. One of his bitterest
enemies in the Senate. and one who has
worked the hardest to secure his defeat,
acknowledged the other day That the
nomination would 90 through. This
state of affairs has been brought about
by public opinion. When men sat down
and considered the fact that Governor
Albeit had been member aud Speaker
of the Assembly; member and Presi-
dent of the Senate and Chief
and that in all these exalted positions
he had been placed by the votes of the
people, they saw the absurdity of the
position In which those few men were
placed by attempting to set up their indi-
vidual opiuion against that Of such a
large majority OF the citizens of the State
as SO often emphasized at the polls.
Arguments of this nature, which have
been extensively used by the friends of
the Ex- Governor, are beginning to have
their effect and the opposition to him is
melting like the winters snow before the
sunshine OF spring.
Among the recent nominations sent to
the Senate by the Governor, none is more
popular than that of General Bird
NJ. Spencer to succeed himself as
memDer of the State Board
OF assessors. General Spencer is Re-
publican, aud IS now the President OF the
Board. He was first appointed by Cover
nor Green In 1889, and has made an efi-
cient public officer. Some opposition TO
his denomination was expressed when it
was said that he would be named to sue
ceed himself. But that was due to his
politics. and in no way reflected upon him
as a man or public officer.
General Spencer Is a native Jerseyman,
and has been O militiaman continuously
since 1868 In 1876 Governor Bedle ap-
pointed him Colonel and aid-de-camp on
his SGaH; IN 1870 ne was AppoinIee MAJOR
and Deputy Quartermaster General. and
In 1881, Brigadier General and Inspector
General OF Rifle Practice. He has
been equally conspicuous In civil
life. Fo, five years he was
a member of the Passaic City Common
Coiucil, and during six years be was the
Mayor OF that city. He is now mem Der
Of the Common Council and has been
since 1885. He is also Preside Mt of the
Peoples Bank and Trust Company Of
PaSsaic.