The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-01-06
Why Brinkerhoff and Erwin
We're Made City Law
Officers.
THE TARIFF CONCERNS DRUGGIST
KILLER AND MR. FIELDER.
THEY DENY THE STORY OF A DEAL.

|
William D. Edwards and Corporation At
torney Spencer Weart and putting William
Brinkerhoff and James s. Erwin in their
places is still discussed by politicians. Mayor
Wanser and the deposed officers have not re-
covered from the surprise which the action
of the Commissioners caused, and they are
still wondering what was the motive that
brought about the change.
A well posted city official who is on friend
ly terms with the Mayor and the Finance
Commissioners explained last night to re-
porter for The World the true inSyardness OF
the matter. SIT was a case of business and
politics." was the way he put it. According
to his explanation, President Hitler and
Congressman George B. Fielder manipulated
the deal. This is the way he says it came
about
Hitler is engaged in the drug business, and
his plant in Jersey City is one of the largest
in this section of the country. The Wilson
tariff bill now pending before Congress con-
templates changes in the tariff on drugs that
if put into effect would cause Mr. Hitler a
serious loss in his profits each year He talked
over the matter with Corporation Counsel
Edwards in friendly way, and the city's
lawyer gave him some good advice. Mr..
Hitler acting ON Mr. Edwards suggestion,
made a flying trip to Washington and had a
consultation with Congressman Fielder.
1t was at this meeting, it is claimed, the deal
| to make Mr. Brinkerhoff Corporation Counsel
was proposed. Mr. Brinkerhoff is brother
in-law of Congressman Fielder, and he has
had his eve on the Corporation CounselShip
for several months.
The reporters informant claims that
Congressman Fielder agreed to help Mr.. Hill
lier in having the drug interests protected,
r1ol ha1r nod fr, a1yn Mr.
Brinkerhoff Corporation Counsel. A bar
gain was struck at once. Mr.. Hitler re-
| turned to Jersey city and Immediately start
ed out to keep his part of the agreement. He
consulted with President Hogencamp of the
Second National Bank, and that gentleman
Brinkerhoff the consummation of the deal
was easy
President Hogencamp talked with his
| friends Commissioners Bedell and Fraser.
They agreed to support Brinkerhoff. The
votes of Commissioners Simpson and
Detwiller were needed. They were
told if they voted for Brinkerhoff
for Counsel they could have Erwin for Cor
poration Attorney. Commissioners Simpson
and Detwiller had been looking around for a
place for Erwin, and they jumped at the
proposition
1t was agreed at conference of the five
Commissioners that the programme should
1
board Friday, December 90 Delay is always
| dangerous, thought Congressman Fielder,
and he induced the Commissioners to put it
| through at a special meeting held Wednes
day, December 27, for that purpose.
Mayor Wanser and the Republican leaders
who had been counting on the Republican
members of the board making ex-Judge
John A. Blair Corporation Counsel were not
| let into the secret Had they been the deal
would not have been carried out.
| That is what makes Mayor Wanser angry.
Mr. Edwards feels aggrieved that Mr.. Hill
| ier should accept his advice and then use it
| to put him out of office.
It is only fair to say that Congressman
Fielder and Finance Commissioner Hitler
deny the story The Congressman admits,
however, that he helped to have Mr.. Brink
erhoff appointed The action of the Finance
Commissioners has caused big split in the
Republican party
The above story has been known to the
NEWS for over two weeks-since the day af
ter the deal was exploited.
A number of the parties to it spent all the
afternoon of that memorable Wednesday,
acquiring 'sDutch courage" to make the
coup Towards 10 P. M. some of them were
very talkative Mr. Fielder Dragged to sew
eral persons of his share in bringing about
Mr. Brinkerhoff's appointment He said he
had grown tired of being jollied along. He
had insisted on the appointment being made
that evening or, if not, all his promises were
off.
What he meant by that is matter for de-
duction. Soon after the Wilson Bill was
| first published, Mr.. Hitler went to Mr.. W.
D. Edwards, who was an old friend of his,
and asked for advice as to how to have the
drug schedule modified SO as to protect his
| chemical works. Mr.. Edwards advised him
| to see Mr.. Fielder, Senator MCPHERSON and
| Senator Smith. Mr.. Edwards furnished him
| with strong letters to Senator Smith and
| Senator Mcpherson. Mr.. Hitler went to
| Washington and used the letters. Among
others, he was introduced to Chairman VIII
| son.
Immediately after, Congressman Fielder
came out in an interview, which was extern
sively published, saying he was not satisfied
with the Wilson bill that it did not suit
| some of his constituents. He said that if he
went into caucus on it, he would expressly
reserve the right to vote against it if it were
not changed SO as to protect Hudson county
| industries.
| WHAT MR.. EDWARDS SAYS.
| A reporter for THE JERSEY CTTY NEWS
called on Mr.. W. D. Edwards in his office
| in the First National Bank Building, this
morning, and asked him if he had seen the
| Worlds story.
'sNo have not, . said Mr. Edwards, shut
I will now" and he touched the electric but
| ton over his desk and called for copy of
the paper.
| Mr. Edwards read the article carefully
| when the paper was brought in.
SIS it truem asked the reporter.
ssYou must excuse me from speaking of
| it, said Mr.. Edwards. Mr.. Fielder and
Mr. Hitler are both old friends of mine. We
have been on cordial terms for years.
s'Did they tell you beforehand that you
were going to be dropped from the position
of Corporation Counsel at that meetingw
ssYou must excuse me from answering
that question
ssDfd you give Mr.. Hitler letters to Mr.
Fielder in reference to the Wilson billg
sWhy, dear bless you, no. Mr.. Hitler
| knows Mr.. Fielder as well as do. Mr.
Hitler came down here q little worried about
| the drug grinding clause in the Wilson bill
| He asked me how to go about getting it
modified. l gave him the best advice could
/ told him to see George Mr.. Fielder, you
know-at Washington, and to see Senators
Smith and McP Pheison. gave him letter
| to one of these gentlemen and procured him
letter to the other That is all there is of
it, really don't care to talk about it."
ssDid Mr.. Hitler then tell you you were
soon to be superseded by Mr.. Brinker-
hoffg"
ssNo nothing was said on the subject"
'sDid you know from any other sources"
81 have previously said for publication
| that the very first ipklipg' of the change
had was when Mr., Beden arose ID bis place