The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-01-25
THE MAYOR DEFIED
The Commissioners Override
the Paid Depart
ment Veto.
STOKER GREEN DISMISSED
He Persisted in Selling His Salary
Warrants Contrary to the
Department Rules.

The Fire Board had a very lively meeting
last night, and it was all brought about by
the trial of George w. Green, stoker of en-
CINE No. s. The charges against this man
were that he had sold his salary warrants
for December and January, and that ne also
contracted debts which he refused to pay.
Only about one month ago Green was fined
three days pay for selling his warrants,
and was then cautioned that a repetition of
the offense would lead to his DISMISSAL from
the department.. 4
When the charges were read to Green, by
advice of Judge Noonan, his counsel, Green
refused to plead. w. D. Edwards was pres
ent in the interest of the city and he told the
Commissioners to proceed just the same as if
Green pleaded not guilty. Judge Noonan
claimed this was unfair. He said Green had
a perfect legal right to sell his salary war
rant if he desired to. TIL salary was his and
his alone and he had a right to dispose of it as
he pleased. In regard to contracting debts,
Judge Noonan claimed that this too was a
personal matter, and it was no business OF
the board whether these debts were ever
paid.
H CITY'S EVIDENCE.
Mr.. Edwards to offset this argument Of
fered in evidence the rules and regulations
of the Department approved in 1891. These
provide that no member of the Department
shall be permitted to sell his warrant or to
contract debts and not pay them.
Thomas Cummings, q clerk in the office of
the City Clerk, testified hat Green had sold
his December and January warrants, and
that he was in the habit of doing this. Judge
Noonan and Mr.. Edwards at this point got
into an argument over the evidence, and
Commissioner Kern said
1--WE are wasting too much tlme. This
man has been in the habi Of selling his
salary warrants and defying the board"
The second charge was then taken up and
Charles NJ. Fichtl of Jackson venue testified
that Green owed him SCI and that he was
forced to disposess him. He said Green
owes a grocer $3.50 and many other debts.
That he made it a practice not to pay debt
Mr.. Fichtl concluded his remarks thus
81 pay taxes in this city and I'll be hanged
if 1 want to pay the salaries of such men as
Green.n
The Commissioners dismissed Green from
the department.
OVER THE MAYOR VETO.
The Commissioners next took up the
Mayors veto of the resolution concerning a
paid fire department, n passed the resolu-
ton over the veto. Commissioners Kern
and Donnelly voted to override the veto, and
Commissioner Brennan voted to sustain the
Mayor. Mr.. Brennan said the Mayor took
good grounds for his veto, and he believed
the city was not able to expend the money
necessary to create a paid department. He
said the Mayor knew the condition of the
finances of the city better than the Com
missioners, and that his advice in the matter
should be followed.
Superintendent Brown reported that there
were four fire alarms during the past week,
and DR.. Arrowsmith reported that he had
treated fourteen horses during the last two
weeks. The board transacted some routine
business and adjourned.