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

port his contention that Mayor Wanser pos
sesses no right to review the action OF the
board on the matter of appointments, Mr..
Simpson cited the case of Haight VS.. Love,
10 Vroom, IA, with Judge Jonathan Dixons
opinion and the case Of McDerm1tt Us.
volved a dispute over Sectlon
"a, of Hoboken's Charter. Mr. Brinkerhoff
omitted to quote the judges opinion IN une
latter case when writing Mr.. Simpsons
speech. From this point Mr.. Simpson trav,
eled on to the dispute over the Detwiller ana
Peterson affair, and argued that from Mayor
Wanser's action In that matter his positlon
in the present case is inconsistent. 10 estap-
lish his statement that by many ACTIONS the
Mayor has recognized the act Of 1893 as con-
stitutional, and consequently is wrong IN ms
present attitude denying its constitutional
ity, Mr.. Simpson mentioned the appoint
ments of John Brennan, Fire Commissioner
Henry Pattberg. Commissions OF Appeals
E. w. Woolley, Commissioner Of Appeals;
James S. Bailey, William H. Beach and
Thomas j. Degnan, Board of Education;
James Fl. Love, Tax Commissioner; Nelson
j. II. Edge, Free Library Trustee, james u;
Hasking, Sinking Fund Commissioner, and
Hugh Abernethy, Police Commissioner,
all al t Of B Balra Of x're Fina SSa1fmi in a
accordance with the provisions of the act
Mr.. Simpson alluded to Mi. w. D. Edwards
opinion sent to Mr.. John P. Feeney on April
IS. 1898. in relation to Mr.. Abernethy's APP
pointment. Then the long speech closed
with an attack on Messrs. edwards and
Weart who, he said, had not done their
duty, followed by a justification for their
removal and the appointment OF Messrs.
Brinkerhoff and Erwin, and general throw
ing down of the gauntlet to Mayor Wanser
to Institute legal proceedings against Messrs.
Brinkerhoff and Erwin to test the constl-
nationality of the act of 1893 under the au-
thority of which he claims they were APP
pointed.
speech, handed the opinions alluded TO from
Messrs. w. B. Williams and A. Q. Garrett
son to Clerk Finck, who read them to the
board.
During the reading of these very long and
very dry documents, both, of course, patt1ng
the commissioners on the back for their &C
ton, and assuring them that they are right
and everybody else In general, 2 the
Mayor in particular are wrong, Mr.. Spencer
Weart entered the room and sat in the lobby
beside Comptroller Hough and the Mayors
Secretary, John Nevin.
BEDELL N KILLER READ SPEECHES.
When Mr.. Finck got through with these
voluminous documents from the lawyers,
Commissioner Bedell rose and, pulling out OF
his DOCKeU Ills Sp66cu, WulC III
hoff had kindly drafted and typewriter for
him, slowly read his endorsement OF Mr..
Simpsons views, and said that no action
should be taken with regard to the Mayors
communication.
President Killers turn came next, and he,
like his colleagues In this discreditable
Drug-Fielder-Second National Bank deal,
whipped out a type,written speech n toio
the board how much he endorsed MIR. Simp-
sons arguments against permitting Mayor
Wanser to interfere with the actions OF the
Board of Finance. Mr.. Hitler maintained
that what had been lone was done in the
best interests of the city. He said nothing
about the interests of the drug trade, but
.repudiated the statements of "evil-disposed
legged deal to which l was said to be a party
Deal? No deal was necessary, he, argued,
since four members of the board, exclusive
of himself, were favorable to the change, he
called it.
Just as Mr.. Hitler sat down, Mr. Detwiller
again rose to speak, and again was CURLY
informed by the President that he must wait
until ''new business" came up. Mr.. Weart,
too, left his place in the lobby, and stepping
up to the rail asked to be heard.
-s'Presently, sir" said Mr.. Hitler, between
puffs of his cigar.
Turning from Mr.. Weart to Mr.. Simpson
he listened to that gentleman's motion to go
into executive session for a few minutes.
This was carried and the -four commissioners
retired to the Comptrol1er's office.
Meanwhile Mr.. Weart, who appeared IN
dignant at the statements made by Mr..
Simpson and echoed by Messrs. Bedell and
Hitler, that he had not done his duty, ex-
amined the published statement of the
charge and conversed earnestly with Clerk
Nevin. The lobby chatted and smoked until
the commissioners filed. in, headed by Mr..
Ill NJ. na4xv;1Io. ~ tho ,.aor fonH-
ing very much worried and heartily sick OF
t he entire proceedings.
HMr. Bedel resumed business by moving
that the vote be taken on receiving the
Mayors veto, and it was promptly voted
down. Three mays" and one AYE" and
that from Mr.. Detwiller. Mr.. Detwiner
tried twice to put the usual resolutions re-
speeding vetoes, but no seconded his
motions and they were ignored. Finally Mr..
Simpson, after Intellectual attempts by MIR.
Detwiller to be recognized moved the resolu-
ton at mead of this article.
DETWILLER'S STRONG
Here Mr.. Detwiller at last obtained a
chance to speak, and declared that the meet
ing was no place to decide SO important a
question which involved questions of law. 1t
should be, he commended, left to a higher
court. Frankly the speaker admitted his
share in appointing MeSsrs. Brinkerhof and
Erwin, and at the time thought the board
had the right, but now finding that that
right is questioned he insisted that the Board
of Finance had no authority to force the
matter when the Mayor objects, but ought,
as a matter of duty, to take the Mayors OBJ
iections into consideration and act harmoni-
ously for the good of the city. Tn board,
he concluded, ought to sacrifice its personal
views to that end. For that reason he would
oppose the resolution of Mr.. Simpson. A
vote was taken with the result, three ayes
n one nay.
WEART FACES THE EDWARDS.
~ move we adjourn" exclaimed Mr..
Bedell and the motion was about to be put
when Mr.. Spencer Weart entered the en-
closure where the commissioners sat and fat
ing them said:-
HGentlemen, you seem to be in q dispute
as to who shall control the official posi-
lions of Corporation Counsel and Corpora
ton Attorney. Whoever possesses that con-
troll cannot control my reputation. My
reputation | have been very careful OF,
bringing it unsullied into the municipal
office / occupied, and expect to carry it with
me in that same state to my grave. Mr..
Simpson has said I did not DO my duty, Mr..
Bedell echoed that statement, and you, sir
turning to President Hillier), re-echoed IT.
Mr.. Weart here paused q second, then step
ping closer to President Hitler and looking
him full in the face, said, in a firm and dig
nified tone:-
81 ask you if you stand by that statement
Have l not lone my duty2"
KILLERS C-oNTEMPTIBLE ACT.
President Hitler could not return Mr..
Weart's fearless look; but, wheeling in his
chair towards Mr.. Bedell, ~insultingly said
st is moved and seconded, that we now
adjourn and put the motion h~urriedly te
avoid a reply to Mr.. Weart's question.
Mr.. Weart said nothing, but his face
showed his disgust at such cowardly and un-
gentlemanly treatment.