The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-02-16
THEFINANCE MUDDLE
Ex- Commissioner George W.
Peterson Reported Out
Of Sight.
EDELSTEIN WANTS TO SEE HIM.
No Possibility of the Mayors
Vetoes Being Acted On at
Tonight's Meeting.

A discovery was made this morning
which still further complicates the troubles
in the Board of Finance
1t is that ey-Finance Commissioner George
w. Peterse who is contesting the seat Of
Commissioner Detwiller, has as yet failed to
file the necessary bond of $500 with the
Clerk of the Supreme Court for the prosecu-
ton of his suit. The Supreme Court sits
next Tuesday, and Mr.. Peterson cannot be
found by his Democratic friends. Mr.
Peterson is Superintendent of the United
States Express Company, and at his office
the only information to be obtained is that
he is away and has been away for three
weeks, and that he will probably remain
away three weeks longer. If he does, it
makes argument hi his suit against Mr.
Detwiller impossible during this term of the
Supreme Court. When John Edelstein con-
tested the right of John D. Fraser to oc-
cupy his seat, it was supposed that MIR.
Peterson had fled bond in his suit at the
same time. Mr.. Peterson had not, and two
weeks ago, when the Supreme Court handed
down decision ousting Fraser and seating
Edelstein, it was at once announced that
Mr.. Peterson had filed his bond. 1t was
supposed to have been signed and sworn to
before James Connolly, Clerk of the Tax
Board, who is a notary.
This morning it leaked out that the bond
prepared for Mr.. Peterson was Illegally or
irregularly drawn and not worth the paper
it was written on. Mr.. Peterson is said to
have known this, and becoming disguised
with the whole affair, decided to go away
for awhile.
THAT ssDRUG" DEAL.
Commissioner Detwiller, who was ap-
pointed by Mayor Wanser at the same time
as was Mr.. Fraser, to rid himself of the
troubles surrounding the holding of his
seat has gone South, and his return is a
question of speculation. His absence at this
time is worrying his Republican colleagues,
President Hitler and Mr. Simpson, and also
Mr. Bedell, who is Wanser Democrat.
Mayor Wanser and the members of the
board are not on the best terms, owing to an
alleged deal made by President Hitler with
Congressman Fielder, who voted to elect
Fielder's brother-in-law, ex-senator Brink
erhoff, Corporation Counsel if he Fielder)
would do what he could to have the drug
clause in the Wilson bill modified. Mayor
Wanser wanted ex-Judge Blair made Cor
poration. Counsel, and it was alleged when
Hillier, Bedell and Detwiller were appointed
to the board that Mr. Blair should succeed
William D. Edwards The Finance Com
missioners having violated the terms of
that agreement now find themselves
confronted with a. veto of
Brinkerhoff's appointment. 1t requires four
votes to pass the resolution over the Mayors
veto, upon which action must be taken to-
night or laid over indefinitely With Fraser
ousted and Edelstein with Mayor Wanser in
the law officer fight, and Commissioner Det-
willer away, Messrs. Hitler, Bedell and
Simpson dare not act upon the veto, as to do
SO means that the Mayor will be sustained.
President Hitler, it is said, favors adjourn
ing the meeting from time to time until Mr.
Detwiller returns, believing that he will vote
to override the Mayors veto. Mayor Wan
ser, however, is just as satisfied that Det-
willer will remain away, and that if he does
return he will vote to sustain his veto.
FIGHTING FOR CONTROL.
While the Mayor and the board have been
engaged in this fight, Mr.. Edelstein has been
leaving no stone unturned to get Mr.. Peter
sons suit against Detwiller in court, secure
decision for Peterson and by deal which
is now all but consummated combine with
Mr. Bedell, oust Mr.. Hitler from the Presi-
dency, secure that position himself and make
all the committees Democratic instead of
Republican. Politicians of both parties
throughout the State are watching the fight
Edelstein would hopelessly tie Mayor
Wanser's hands.
Mr.. Edelstein, when asked this morning
if he would attend the Board meeting to-
night, would not say whether he would or
would not. It is not considered probable
that he will, however, knowing that three
members dare not act on the Mayors Veto
He is somewhat disconnected over Mr.. Peter
sons inopportune disappearance, but believes
that he will come out ahead
1t is highly probable now, also, that there
will be lively fight for the salary drawn
by Mr.. Fraser while he was in Office, but
which, Mr.. Edelstein claims, rightly belongs
to him, inasmuch as the Supreme Court
characterized Mr. Fraser as an rsurper. A
suit to recover will probably be instituted.