The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-19
Plums That Will Soon Be
In the Gift Of the Re-
publican Party.
NATIONAL AND STATE PRIZES
Local Members Of the G. 0. ?. on the
Qui Viye As Regards Essex
County Positions.

OF uneasiness in the Essex county Re-
publican family, not only to the little
army anxious to fill the Offices, but to the
few who have taken 1T upon themselves
to superintend the division. While neither
side is saying very much about II, yet 1t
is very broadly limited that the prospec-
tive Federal patronage was the weapon
used to protect the present county Off
Gals. A majority of the latter are identf-
fled with the County Republican Society
faction and their scalps were demanded
because of the action of the Board OF
Works last spring in ousting sundry en-
pIoyes. AT that time Republican officials
were made to walk its plank just because
they were identified with the Lentz or
so-called administration faction, and to
make room for county society adherents.
In the redistribution of offices by the new
Board of Freeholders the administration
wing saw an opportunity to retaliate, and
determined to utilize 1T. But right there
the leaders took a hand and called a
halt.
The speilsmen were taken In line and
counselled. OF the county Offices, it was
explained to them, only five were really
worth fighting for, and the capturing of
them would result In incurring the ire of
the County Society. The leaders of the lat
ter organization are conceded to be in
close touch with Senator Sewell and it
was admitted tina he would come pretty
near controlling the Federal patronage of
the State. If the society followers were
turned down" now. their opportunity
would come later Inc their rivals would
be ignored when the Custom House and
Postofice passed under Republican con-
troll. This would mean the loss of patron
age more desirable than that at the dis
posal of the Board of Freeholders, and
along with losing that, to turn down the
present county officials for factional rea-
son might engender a bitter feeling that
might result in the loss of Common Coun-
ell to the Republicans next spring. As
the offices at the disposal of that body
are now filled by men opposed to the So
ciety, such a result would leave that fac
ton Of the local Republican organization
almost wholly out in the cold so far as
of1ce-holdsng Is concerned.
Still the p~lace-hunters put up a stiff fight
for recognition before they were forced
to surrender.
tiob Toll lC6 lSiditO1
Of a purely partisan nature is on the
cards. In effect it contenplates a change
Of method in the appointment of the city
Law Department, and the Judges and
clerks of the criminal courts. The COM
bined salaries of these offices amount to
s21, 900 in this city and the same in Jersey
City.
At present the legal department, with
a salary of $40, 300, is filed by Democrats,
and under the existing law Mayor Sey-
mour will, in May next, have the appoint
ment of successors to Judges Mott n
Eggers. The newly appointed Judges will
have the selection of clerks, and If
the present law is allowed to stand it
means four new Democratic officials in
$1,000 per annum. Some of the Republic
can managers do not regard this In a
favorable hight. If the Republicans were
sure Of retaining control of the Common
Council, the solution of the problem
would be comparatively easy for the APP
pointment of the Judges and Law De-
,partment could be vested with that body.
will have to elect nine of the fifteen Alder
men to be voted for, as they viii have
but. seven followers: For that reason it
bower from Mayor to Common Council
might have a disastrous effect on the
spring elections, as it would be viewed
solely as an ,omce-grabbing scheme. Then,
Jersey. City Republicans, because the
Council there is Democratic, while the
Mayor is a Republican, and 1t is ex-
pec1ea mat ms successor will be of the
The more radical sugges yesting the
appointing power in the Governor direct.
policy of home rule for municipaIities
Doubt exists, too. as to whether Governor
Griggs would consent to such a scheme.
e was toward the close of the
last session. and then the Governor made
Il quite plain that he would not approve
such a plan.
Some are found, however, who profess
to believe that the Governor could be IN
duced to agree to an act vesting the
power OF appointing Judges in him inst
a. e ne ds at present authorized to appoint
wholly satisfactory, however. hecansa n
the latter appointments Governor Griags
gave Newark a Democratic as well as a
~neRuDlican District Court Judge, and no
Sucn divfslon IS wanted in the criminal
Judgeshtp appointments.
The three members of the Law Depart
ment are under existing law, appointed
running concurrently with that OF his
own; h measure is of a Repubitcan
origin, and II iegislated out of office a
gument advanced in its favor was that
the legal department should be in the
nature ATTIRE OF an ADVISORY council TO the ex-
sympathy with the latter. To give II a
sembiance OF change and at the same
time advance an excuse. 1t has been sug-
ed with the Board Of works. from which hi,
emanates the, major portion Of the work
done by The Law Department:
Jersey CITY politicians VIII hardly com
sent to any scheme except one vestinp
the appointing power direct in he Gov.
ernor Otherwise they are willing to