The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-25

sei;ye the city Is q a Of the munich
One stirring event which. though of re-
tho chief "reminiscences of the old City
Hall. Is the memorable occasion when
John Nevin, Mayor Wanser's private sec
r ssnr . vdoWned" e I'd redonbsable Sen
troversy which the Democratic Iesis:
which vas called tie "Wanser wing
pointments Of the Mayor should be con
firined by the Board OF Finance before
the appointees could take office. The
M ataanse E EdeTa n th ailen time ai aHaslst saa Ct
and Peterson. Messrs. Edelstefn and
P~eterson's term expired. Mr.: Peterson
could have been ~reappointed. but re-
stein was given another term. That was
out of the question and the Mayor ap-
pointed Messrs. John D. Frazer and
Joseph Detwiller.
The Board met in the Mayors private
office and organized. Messrs. Detwiller
and Frazer were confirmed by Messrs.
Allen, Hitler and Bedel, While this was
applying for an order to prohibit the
Mayor from making the appointments.
Mr.. DAILY hurried down to the City Hall
to serve the order. Mr.. -Nevin met him
at the entrance to the Mayors private
office and refused him admission. Mr.. DAILY
showed his orders from the court and
demanded admission. Mr.. Nevin re-
manned obdurate in spite of Mr.. Days
threats and the new board was organ
lied.
II the old walls could only talk what
political secrets they could tell. For over
thirty-five years they have stood immov-
able and heard all sorts of campaigns
planned, dickers and deals made. and
schemes discussed for the advantage of
both parties. Here the leaders of both
Of the big parties have met and com
ferred, n here financiers nave discussed
economical questions and means for
maintaining the credit and financial honor
of the city. How reminiscent the old
Council Chamber could be and what tales
they would tell of stormy times when
citizens here appeared before the Alder
men to protest against some license or
to advocate the passage of some ordin-
ance or to take action in some case of
National rejoicing or calamity at home
or abroad.
Anecdotes of the numerous men who
have been associated with the old City
Hail would fill a book. There was the
versatile p. H. O'Neill, who in those days
was a power in the local Democracy, and
who utilized that power so much to his
own advantage that he was known all
over the State as the Boo-Ba of Hudson.
He was a familiar figure about the Hall
and any stranger who visited the build
ing was sure to ask for him. Another
was jeremiah Cleveland, brother of
Mayor Orestes Cleveland, known to the
younger generation as Uncle Jerry"
mo HldH VINO ever nelu a CITY OIQce was
more popular both with Democrats n
Republicans than was Jerry Cleve-
land. He was whole-souled and genial
and everyone who came to know him
learned to esteem and like him.. He was
as good an official as he was a compan
ion n regret was expressed on all sides
when he left the Hall. His successor.
Colonel Samuel Dickinson, was also one
of the prominent figures about the build
ing in its last days. His standing as the
boss" of the Republican party in Hud-
son. the representative of General Sewell
in the county and a man who was not
above a dicker with the Democratic lead
err, gave him a prominence which made
people turn their heads and look at him
as he sauntered the corridors.
Another prominent figure was Thomas
Halstead, who for thirty-three years has
been in the office of the City Clerk and
is there yet. During that time he was
secretary to Mayors Tausig and Collins.
In the same office is Nicholas Furey, who
has held he same position there over
twenty years. These are but a corporais
guard of the large army of men, all more
or less interesting. who have had Offices
in the old City Hall.