The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-02-03

FRASER RESIGNS.
Doesn't Care to Further Con.
test His Seat in the
Finance Board.
EDEIsTEiN MADE NO DEMAND.
His Application For His Seat in the
Board Filed-Business
Transacted.
EDELSTEiN MADE NO DEMAND.

Finance Commissioner John ID. Fraser
surprised his colleagues in the board last
night by formally r~esigning his office. His
course is in Difference to the decision OF the
Supreme Court, which ousted him, declared
him a usurper, and installed Mr.. John Ed
elstein as a legal member of the board. His
resignation was submitted by his colleague,
| Commissioner Bedell. In his letter to the
beard, Mr.. Fraser said
FRAsER's RESIGNATION.
Ny appointment by the Mayor to a member
ship IN your board has been reversed by the
Suireme Court of this State. aud l decline to
prosecute any proceeding to review the action
of that court with respect TO said appointment
I cannot permit the APPELLATE Court to be used 70
continue ms. temporarily or otherwise IN a pub
lie office, which l am satisfactorily advised L
have no legal right to retain. regret to sever
my relations with your board; whose otlciai and
social companionship have made nv
| connection witt, your board agreeable time, but
I am impressed with the fact that the retention
of a public office under a technical rignt, IN
the absence of a moral right. is not only in d-
cative of the want OF self resp ectln him who at
| fempts TO retain such office, but is contrary to
| the growing sentiment OF this city which de-
mapds that Office holding shall be restored 10
decency.
In parting from you l take with me the knowl l.
| edge of your fearless and worthy en1eav ors to
| tect the City Treasury and maintain the city's
| credit, and | shall indulge iu the hope that Jer-
sey City may long continue the possessor OF
your valuable services III ITS most important
branch of government. Very truly y ours,
john D. FRASER.
The communication was received and or
dered spread in full upon the minutes This
was the first surprise of the evening, and
Superintendent Of Public Schools Snyder,
Comptroller Hough, Fred Van Saun, Di-
rector Allen and ex-Alderman Hoos, who
were present, waited patiently for more ex-
citing events.
MI. Simpson offered the following resolu-
ton, which was adopted
Resolved. That in the retirement of John D.
Fraser of this board we acknowledge the loss
of valuable services to this city, and we place
on record our high appreciation OF his char
actsr as a man, and his ability and worthiness
as a public official.
THE COMMISSIONERS SHOCKED.
As soon as the resolution was adopted the
office door was cautiously opened. Every
one thought Messrs. Edelstein and Peterson
bad arrived and would create a scene. All
eyes were on the door. Suddenly it opened,
and the smiling but dirty face of a messen-
ger boy was espied.
''Smoke up, your pipe is out, said some
one, employing this slang phrase to Mr..
Bedell, who had allowed his cigar to go out.
Mr.. Bedell smoked up" but neither he nor
his colleagues could quite get over the shock
for some minute
Mr.. Fraser's declaration that he would
make further effort to regain his
seat in the board also worried the members,
particularly Mr.. Hitler, who has had it i'm
| pressed upon his mind quite forcibly within
the past few days, that should Mayor
Wanser agree to r%eappoint Mr.. Fraser, Mr..
Bedell would show his appreciation of the
| act by voting to sustain the Mayor in his
| veto of the Brinkerhoff-Erw appoint
| ments.
The Commissioner passed the monthly
| payroll, which includes the salaries OF
| Messrs. Brinkerhoff and Erwin as the law
| officers of the city, and Mr.. Fraser's salary
for the time served by him until the judg-
ment of custer was procured.
~EDELSTEIN DIDN'T % UP.
Mr.. Edelstein was true to his word and re-
manned away from the meeting. As
a result the three members present
transacted the business before the
board without secret conferences.
The decision of the Supreme Court in the
Edelstein- Fraser case and the letters of SEN
| ator DAILY were received and regularly filed.
| This done, routine business was taken up.
Mr.. Brinkerhoff submitted for inspection
| AssembIyman CAROLS bill, providing for
| the completion of reservoirs by the floating
| of thirty-year bonds not to exceed $125, 900.
| Theibill is now pending in the Legislature.
A petition from the Board of Education,
asking an appropriation of $4,000 with
which to pay the salaries of the teachers of
| School No. 25, was referred to the Corpora
ton Counsel, as was also a second for s., 900,
| for the furnishing of Annex No. 20.
City Clerk Scott reported a deficiency OF
S4S9.S 81 in the election appropriation. He
asked that this sum be appropriated as soon
as practicable.
Comptroller Hough's report was received,
| and 1.100 comics ordered printed George
Bouton's report of the doings OF the
Street and Water Board was also filed. The
appointment of M. M. Kenyon to Comp
troller Hough's Office as assistant until April
at $3.50 per month was concurred in.
FOL CLAIMS
The Board decided to give the Street and
| Water Commissioners $500 for the pay
ment of claims for work done on public build
ings prior to March Is, 1893. On the advice
of Mr.. Brinkerhoff the Board declined to
| give the Street and Water Commissioner
$500 additional for armory rentals. The re
quest for $1,000 to pay for the cleaning of
sewers during last summers cholera scare
was also reported adversely upon. II re-
solution of the Fire Board asking for $4,000
for the establishment of a paid department,
which was passed over Mayor Wanser's
veto, was received and referred
to the Committee of the Whole. The petit
ton of the Street and Water Board for
the repairing of the Mercer street sewer,
was adversely reported upon, it being stated
that no additional appropriation for such
purposes could be made until the original
appropriation had been exhausted. The
board c~oncurred in the award to John Hop
kins for the construction of a sewer in Reser-
voir avenue, a second to Thomas Cavanagh,
to be constructed in Seventh street. The
board then adjourned to meet next Satur-
day afternoon at four o'clock.