The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-04-18
WANTS TO GET HUNK
Ex-postmaster Sam Dickinson,
Out of a Job, Assails a
Brave Veteran.

On April 2 last there was introduced in
the Legislature by Mr.. Harding a bill to re-
peal ssAn act concerning the terms OF office
of city collectors in cities of the first class"
That bill passed the House yesterday. Al
though introduced by Mr.. Harding, it en-
anates from ex-Postmaster Dickinson. The
intent of the bill is easily devined. 1t is to
place the official head of City Collector P.
H. OiNeill under the guillotine. The bill is
not considered a partisan measure, but q per-
sonal one, intended to make a snug berth for
Dickinson. The failure Of the latter to Sc
cure the State COMPREHENSIVE leads to the
attack upon Mr.. O'Neill.
1T is a contemplate trick, y said a promi-
nent republican this morning. Up. II.
O'Neill is a democrat and a true one. but
never In his official career did he
perform an act Of q mean character.
HE is an efficient official. He does more
work for less money than any man who ever
held the Office. He is under bonds to the ex-
tent Of $780, 600 and is paid o salary of $500.
It is ridiculous. What surprises me most,
however, is that Sam Dickinson who pro-
fesses to be a republican should attack Mr..
O'Noill. Republicans are continually passing
laws to protect old veterans. / would like
to known where in the city we have any
truer veteran than the same P. Il. O'Neill.
He was in the war and served our country
well. To GUST him from the office he holds,
because he is a democrat, is unfair and I'M
just and is inconsistent with Republican meth
DDS, do not believe that any fair minded
republican will support the measure. Sam
Dickinson's personal matters should not be
settled by our representatives in the Legisla-
ture. If the people don't want OeNeill to re-
Dickinson give them an opportunity to say
SO by their ballotsa"
o'NEILL FoUGHT-DICKINsoN FED
The sentiment prevails In all parts of the
city and Dickinson is being loudly CON
deinned for the course he is pursuing. Its
a fact which cannot be denied that while
City Collector ONeill was in the front ranks
in the late war Int lying in the Belle Isle
and Libby prisons, Sam Dickinson, who is
pursuing him now, was feeding at the
public crib Of Hudson County. Dickinson's
position at that time was a clerical one in
the office of County Clerk George w. Cas-
sidy. Since that time he has gained a livel-
hood at the public expense, save from 1866
to 1861, when he was travelling through the
West.
In 1884 he was an active ward politician.
P. II. O'Neill at that time was g. messenger
in the atflce of the City Collector. OaNein
had gained considerable popularity and
Dickinson Knowing him to be q hustler. en-
listed his assistance ia a ward fight. ONeiH
went to Dickinson's aid and won for him the
hardest fight of his political life. O'Neill
and Dickinson were the best of friends until
1888, when the former was sent to the Leg
stature. That was the year the new charter
and twitted O,Neill that he Dickinson
would defeat the measure.
A FAMOUS RIDE.
He would probably have done SO had not
O'Neill and John P. Feeney taken the famous
'''hand car" ride.
The charter was passed by the House and
sent to the Senate. The Senate stood IL to
ing at Harvey Cedars, near Barnegat Bay.
His vote was necessary to pass the charter.
O'Neill and Feeney volunteered tC get him.
Arriving at M"inewahkin, which IS seven
miles from Harvey Cedars, they discovered
that they could not procure a conveyance
with which to reach Harvey Cedars. The
night was intensely cold. Mr.. Feeney de-
clared that he could go no further. O'Neill,
who wore a heavy Irish freize coat, de-
termined, not to be baftled by
the elements, gave his coat to
Feeney, and again the search for
Senator Smith was resumed. As a last
resort permission was asked of a certain
railroad president to, allow them to use a
hand car with which to reach Harvey
Cedars. The request was granted. Five
men were engaged to man it, and off in the
cold started the two Hudson Assemblymen.
They found Senator Smith. and the ext day
~triuinphantly escorted him to the State
House, and by his vote the charter was pass
ed. Dickinson was beaten and by O'Neill
and Feeney. Since that time Dickinson has
threatened to avenge himself, and he is
attempting to do it now. Mr.. Feeney has
been legislated out of Office of Chief of the
State police by him, and now That same gen
tleman is venting his spite on Mr.. O'Neill by
knocking out the law which protects all
old soldiers.
The charter was submitted to the people
and adopted. 1t resulted in Dickinson's tenn
porary retirement from office, and now Mr..
O'Neill and his friends only want fair play.