The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-01-20
FEARED EDELSTEIN
Members of the Board Of
Finance Failed to Hold
a Meeting.
WHAT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED.
Edelstein and Peterson We're On
Hand to Demand Their Seats
DAILY Excited.
WHAT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED.

muddle through its various stages, as re-
ported in these columns, believed that
there would be a circus at last nights
meeting of the board. 1t was confidently
| expected that John Edelstein would demand
his seat. He was on hand to do so, but
wasn't given the chance, for the reason tnat
| the Board of Finance did not meet.
AT half past seven o'clock last night Clerk
Martin Finck of the Board of Finance en-
tered his office and at once busted himself
| preparing for a meeting OF the Board. be
had been in his office but a short time when
| Senator DAILY appeared. Mr.. DAILY is Mr..
Edelstein's counsel and secured the decision
| in his clients favor in the quo warranto
proceedings against Mr.. Fraser. Mr.. Daily
| was not in a talkative mood. He felt lndig-
nant, and looked it.
AT fifteen MINUTES before eight O'Clock
| curiosity seekers began to arrive and in
short order the aldermanic chamber was
crowded. While everybody in the vicinity
| of the Finance Board was in a state OF ex-
| element, two gentlemen might have been
seen standing near the steps leading into the
| hall laughing and chatting as unconcerned as
possible. They were ex-President of the
Board of Finance John Edelstein and ex-
Commissioner George w. Peterson.
AT Fl FINANCE OFFICE.
On the minute of eight o'clock both gen
tlemen proceeded to the Board OF Finance
| office. Entering the Aldermanic Chamber,
they effected an entrance to the Finance
office by a rear door. ,
When they entered one could have heard
a pin drop. There were in the office al the
time Senator DAILY, Clerk Martin Finck,
Mr.. Erwin, Tax Commissioner James Clarke,
Mark Curley, Superintendent OF Public
Schools SNYDER, Street and Water Commits
sioner Somers, Fire Commissioner John
Brennan and Jacob Zummerle.
The first gentleman to break the silence
was Mark Curley.
Both Mr.. Edelstein and Mr.. Peterson ac-
knowledged the salute. Then everybody
shook hands with the two and a general con-
~versation began.
TOOK THEIR OLD
Mr.. Peterson made his way to his old seat
to the left of the Presidents chair, seated
himself, placed his hat on a chair near by,
Mr.. Edelstein contented himself by taking a
seat near the big safe in the corner.
sit looks natural to see you here, Mr..
Peterson" ventured Mark Curley.
Eyes" was the reply, smany changes
have occurred. I see Mr.. Finck has
changed things about SO that this is quite a
pleasant office now"
: sThere are finer chairs here now than
you used to have,n interrupted Curley.
1--WE didn't need chairs replied Mr..
Peterson. 1--WE never used to sit long.
What work we had to do. was done
promptly
All this time not a Finance COMMISSIONS
had put in an appearance. Finally a light
was discovered in Mayor Wanser's private
office. A lively discussion was evidently
going on inside, for the noise of a heated dis
cussion could be heard without. The report
was quickly passed around hat the Finance
Commissioners were in the Mayors private
office and were afraid to face the music.
Color was given the rumor by Clerk Finck's
occasional disappearance for a minute OF
two.
MEETING ADJOURNED.
At fifteen minutes after eight o'clock
Clerk Finck walked to the big safe where
Mr.. Edelstein sat and closed the door with a
bang. He pursued a similar course with a
private box on his desk. He then called the
roll, mentioning the names of Commissioners
Hitler, Fraser, Bedell, Simpson and Det-
willer. No one responded and he declared
the meeting adjourned.
''This is a sneaky piece of business" said
Senator DAILY, certain members OF this
board usurp a mans Office, and then are
afraid to abide by the consequences; they
attempt to evade the law
Senator DAILY then served upon Mr.. Finck
a copy of the decision of the Supreme Court
in the case of Edelstein VS.. Fraser, and at
the same time a judgment of custer, to be
served on Mr.. Fraser. The Judgment OF
custer was obtained yesterday afternoon
from the Supreme Court clerk Benjamin F.
Lee. In addition to these documents the
Senator filed with the clerk a communica-
ton from Mr.. Edelstein to the President Of
the board under the law. A second COM
m~unication bore the signature OF Senator
DAILY. 1t was as follows
DALY'S LETTER.
herewith enclose judgement of custer In the
case, the State er ret. John Edelstsin VS.. John
D. Fraser, lately recovered in the Supreme
Fraser is no longer a member of your honorable
body. Inow ask that Mr.. Edelstein be per-
mitted, without further trouble, to take pos
session OF the office which was unjustly with
held from him SO long, by the conduct Of Mr..
Fraser and the recognition OF your honorable
body.
Court. you will flnd the Court held THAT the
defendeut. Fraser, without pretence OF right.
nsurped this Office and still holds it in that I'M
awful manner" The enclosed Judgement is
sufficient warrant for doing as / suggest.
W D. DAILY.
PETERsoN's DEMAND
Mr.. Peterson, in a communication to the
board maintained that Commissioner Det-
willer had usurped his seat in the board and
that in future he would demand recogni-
ton.
Clerk Finck placed the communications in
Ills luSluo DOChcE, lOIhcQ LII liz olA PHO
ceeded to join those members of the board
who were unseated in Mayor Wanser's pri-
vate office.
Senator Daily was mad and disappointed by
the action of the board in refusing to admit
his client.
81 will give those gentlemen until Monday
next to meet and recognize these orders Of
the Courts. If thep don.t do it by that time
| will mandamus the whole lot OF them.
They can't evade the law with me-"
sHow is it you intended demanding recog-
milton tonight?1 l asked Mr.. Peterson.
II wasn't going to demand recognition, .
he replied. 81 was going to take my seat.
I have always been a member of the board,
and am now. Mr.. Detwiller has been
merely acting as an unauthorized substitute.
Another thing, the decision of the Supreme
Court says that Mr.. Fraser is a usurper. It
further says that he is not a member of the
Board of Finance and never has been a
member. If Mr.. Fraser has not, Mr.. Det-
willer has not. I am still a member of the
Board of Finance, and some people will find
it out to their sorrow"
BEDELL SAYS DAMN.
Commissioner Bedell was the only member
of the Board of Finance who put in an APP
pearance at City Hall this morning. He
made his way at once to the Finance Boards
office. looked over the decision of the Su-
preme Court, then the Judgment of
custer against Mr.. Fraser and,
lastly, the communications from Senator
DAILY and Messrs. Edelstein n Peterson.
Having read them, he gave Clerk Finck a
few instructions and departed.
Mr.. Bedell said he was not In the Mayors
private office last night or in the City Hall
at all. In reply to my query
- x-l.n. hn rnroc anI r xr-hn