The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-22
BATTING CLAYTON.
The Director Of the Board
of Freeholders ina
Defiant Mood
PROTEST. TO BEGIN WITH
Lawyer Albeit Crowded Out and
Let in Again-Trouble over
a Committee.

could push their way INTO the Grand Jury
Icom where the meeting was held. Free
holders Pagan, Kelly, Hanna, Verdon
and Wilson did mot answer roll call. Di-
rector Clayton defined his position in re-
gard to- the supplementary meeting which
was held last Thursday after he mad de-
taken by the combination. He also ex-
pressed his views about yesterdays meet
ing. Lawyer Leon Abbett sat beside
the Director and coached him. 1t had
been discovered hat under the Law the
Director has the sole power to appoint
committees, and that the DETERMINATION
OF the combination TO have but one stand-
ing committee and then appoint their
own sub-committees would not stand.
AS soon as the roll call was finished Di-
rector Clayton said&
rGentlemen-The Board of Chosen Free
holders OF this county at ats meeting OF
December AZ inst, adjourned and was so
declared by me, its presiding officer, and
now stands adjourned.
An alleged meeting of said Board sub
~seauently held was therefore Illegal. and
an a~djot&pment of said last mentioned
meeting Is also Illegal; and / hereby en-
ter my protest against any action that
meeting, or that may be taken at any
adjournment thereof. +
Il intend her today to preside over a
proposed meeting of the Board of Chosen
~Fsreeholders of Hudson county, notice of
which | have received from the Clerk of
said Board, but [ protest that this meet
ing is Illegal, not having been called in
the manner provided by law"
Il move that the Directors protest be
spread in full on the minutes exclaimed
Freeholder Piercy.
7 move hat It be laid on the table,
s "a ~freehoideS Eichhorn. It was laid
III the proceedings of the last meeting
We're. Irregular" remarked Freebooter
Riordan. and this meeting is Illegal, as
the DIRECTOR says, why IS the Director
here presiding?n
IF the meeting is iIlegal.p replied the
director. my presence won't make it
IF the proceedings Of the previous
meeting We're irregular and iiiega. nm
nnued Freeholder Riordan, why did the
p,Teetor sign the warrants for salaries
II did that simply as an act Of char
ity," replied the Director.
Then the game of talk began in earnest.
All sorts Of questions were fired at Direc-
tor Clayton. but he never lost HIS nerve.
AT times he was puzzled to answer than,
but Lawyer Albeit was at his elbow.
If this melting Is Illegal why are you
here?" again asked Freebooter Riordan.
My presence does not make any DIFF
ference to the legality of the meeting I
naye entered my protest and that settles
a brief intermission from the talk was
taken in order 10, receive the. resignatfon
OF Thomas MeConbss who was appolnted
a cook at the asylum.
F%re MsciHano Wa Pie ae5 apRsssI sts sx sbs5ssa
have been made. in that list since the last
The Freehotasr il mistaken. said
rections." McCornb's res gnat;on and he
resignation Of Title collner. an sttendant
e re aims House were accepted. The
Boalevasasn North Bergen. 1t was re-
ferred to the County Road Committee
when appointed. The bonds of John
Griffin, counsel to the Board and w b
f~ieids.Ndepuf warden at the Penitentiary
Were received and fled. Then the talk
Freebooter Riordan moved that the
Elnance Committee5sbe changed to the
Standing Committee
Freeholder Piercy asked who had APP
pointed any committee. He also demand
candies had been bought from downtown
Freebooter Riordan5 said there was only
one committee. the Standing Committee.
and they had the authority.
Director Clayton declared that M. stand
ing mint had been appointed and
none would be appointed until he saw fit
TO make the appointment.
Freebooter Eichhorn offered a resol,1-
ton that James Westervelt be appointed
a night watchrnan at a salary of $3.50; Ed
ward LAppin. cook at the asylum. at a
salary Of $500; Mrs. A. Nichols, matron
81 the Smallpox Hospital, at a salary of
$500, and Miss Nellie Collner, teacher. at
a salary Of 1920.
Freeholder Percy asked if the matron,s
salary was not an increase of $500.
Never mind" said Director CLAYTON
let it go. it's all the same
The resolution was adopted by a vote
of u to 2. the Director declining to vote.
Mr.. Director" said Freebooter Rior-
dan, IT now request that you appoint the
tandi Committee"
This motion was made for the purpose
OF bringing matters to a crisis. If the Di-
rector complied with h request to APP
point one standing committee consisting
OF all the members exclusive of the Direc-
tor, the combination would proceed to ap-
point the subcommittee out of the Stand
ing Committee. IT he refused to appoint
It was the intention of the combination to
depose him for refusing to perform his
duty. Under Mr.. Abbett's coaching the
Director neither appointed the
nor refused to appoint it.
"a motion to adjourn would be in or
der" he remarked quietly.
~t'reeholder Rfordan insisted that it was
the Directors duty to appoint the COM
required to make the appointment. On a
hint from Mr.. Albeit, the Director said
that he was not quite ready to make the
appointment
cited and moved that the room be cleared
of everyone except members and officers
of the Board and REPRESENTATIVES Of the
press The evident object of his was to
get Lawyer Albeit out. The motion was
carried and the room wac cleared.
Then Freehoider Stuhr, who had not ap-
| parentiy comprehended the scope of the
motion, moved to reconsider. He sat it
was the right of every man to have coun-
sci and the Director could not be deprived
Of that right.
Freebooter Riordan said he did net UNI
derstand that Mr. Albeit was Director
Clayton's counsel The Director had not
said SO, but If that was the case he would
favor a reconsideration. The motion was
reeonsidered and Mr.. Albeit and the lobby
| came back.
Freebooter Riordan renewed his motion
that the Director appoint the committees.
The Director said he would appoint as
soon as he was ready.
You are ~obstructing public business
exclaimed Freeholder Riordan.
Another heated discussion eneued and
the lobby showed its sympathy for either
side by expressions of approval or disap-
proval. Freeholders Riordan and Green
demanded that order be enforced.
Persistent efforts were made TO Induce
or compel the Director to appoint the
committee, but he only smiled and said
7 am not ready, gentlemen,
He invariably declared motions reuuir.
ing him to appoint out of order, and re.
fused to entertain, appeals from his rul.
ing. Things went on in that manner, and
then the combination seeing that further
effort would be fruitless gave up the con.
test. The Board adjourned without fxinf
any date for the next meeting.
The veterans In the employ of the coun.
Il ty who were replaced by the new appoint
meits made by the Board OF Freelo]ders
con1baIEa tlon 90 not propose toA Surrender