The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-10-24
ASININE MOVE,
The Board of Aldermen
Attempts a Pop Gun
Revolution of the City
Government.
BOB DAVIS THE INSTIGAT0R
Republican Caucus Captured
Through Jealousy of the
Street and Water
Board.
A THIRD GLASS CITY CHARTER
Chapter 62 of This Years Laws,
Passed for Atlantic City,
the Basis of the
Scheme.
A THIRD CLASS CITY CHARTER
no MONEY TO REALIZE IT

The Republican Board of Aldermen,
last night, adopted resolution offered
by Alderman McCoobery. a Democratic
member, ordering a special election to
be held on December IS, 1894, for the
acceptance or rejection by popular vote
of new city charter, which VIII reVo-
lutionize the entire form OF the city
government The action of the Alder
men is based upon chapter 62 CT the
laws of 1S94. relating to and regulating
the government of cities, of elections
and the selection, duties and obligations
of city and ward officers. The resolution
fixed December II as the only day for
registration for voting on this most i'm
portant matter The action of the Re
publican majority has created furore
in political circles, and the only question
that now appears to arise is whether the
Mayor has the right of veto.
1t is said by many people that this
power is not enjoyed by him in this in
stance, and that. unless the Republican
majority rescinds the resolution, the ac-
ton of the board will become final.
Mayor Wanser was of the opinion this
morning that he had the power to veto
much surprised to discuss the situation,
but it is understood that he will lose
no time in vetoing it,
Every one who lsne ws anything about
affairs sees the absurdity of this law
as applied to Jersey City. 1t was orig1-
nally passed for Atlantic City, and is
suitable only for municipality of that
.Ssize The highest salary it pays to any
official is $3.50, while Jersey City pays
5000. There i no possibility of the
scheme going thl Nugh, as, even If Mayor
Wanser cannot ve,a the resolution, there
is no money available for carrying 1t
out. and none can be had without the
consent of the Mayor. The real insu-
gator of the scheme is Bob Davis,
whose inability to control anything in
the Street and Water Department has
aroused his jealousy and he has
attempted this means of getting
rid of the board. People are
wondering by what deal he has
captured the Republican members OF
the Board of Aldermen.
REPUBLICANS WORRIED.
Republican leaders are in a state of
mind and are at loss to understand
why the Republican majority should
spring such a surprise at this critical
time.
The Aldermen caucused on the measure
for more than an hour. and. strangely
enough, Alderman Dusenberry, the sup
posed Republican leader. was the only
member to oppose its passage. 1t is un-
derstood that the Aldermen are so tired
of having nothing to do but grant IL
hrnal rir1c DrLVQ "
from the Mayor, upsetting his govern
ment and having say in the manage
ment of the city If the Mayor possesses
the veto power. and vetoes the actlon
of the board, it will undoubtedly be over
gsdden. If the new charter is accepted
by the people, the Mayors term will be
shortened, his salary reduced every
board under the city government will
be abolished and the sole and exclusive
power to establish a new government
vested in the Board Of Aldermen. This,
of course means a complete overturn-
ing of the present form of government.
The first section of the proposed new
charter makes the terms of Mayors two
years and reduces the salary from $5,00O
10 81, 500 per year. 1t makes the Mayor
the chief executive officer of the city,
wipes out the present Police Board, and
establishes him at the head of the Police
Department, with exclusive power to ap-
point, suspend and remove all policemen
and subordinates; his appointments, how
ever. are first subjected to approval by
the Board of Aldermen.
ALDERMEN SUPREME.
The Board OF Aldermen in the fourth
section is empowered to abolish the
existing Board of Education, and pro-
vide and establish new educational
bureau to consist of seven members, TO
be appointed for term of not exceed
ing three years.
1t further provides that on the second
Tuesday in March of each year an cleo
zion for Aldermen shall be held. A
CITY Treasurer is to be elected at such
time for a term of not exceeding two
years, and also Collector of Taxes for
a term of three years, one Oyerseer OF
the Poor and one Freeholder from each
ward or district as the case may be,
y whose terms shall not exceed three
years. There will also be elected three
Commissioners of Appeal in cases OF
taxation, who shall hold Office for one
year
Section S of the new charter empowers
the Board of Aldermen to abolish any
Office not provided for under this char
ter.
1t gives the Aldermen the exclusive
custody and management of the finances
property, real and personal, of the city
to borrow money and negotiate tempo
rary loans in anticipation of the coliec-
ton of taxes, thus abolshing the pres
ent Finance Board
In dispensing with ting present Street
and Water Board, the Aldermen are EN-
powered to ascertain and estblish the
powered to ascertain and establish the
boundaries of streets. prevent and re