The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-05-25
7G REINS9ATE VETERANS
Ine Street and Water Board
Will Take Back Those
Dismissed.
DOES NOT AFFECT SUTHERLAND
Republican Clerks Will Not Get
the Salary for May = No
"Extras" in Improvements
Hereafter.
DOES NOT AFFECT SUTHERLAND

Upon the recommendation of Commls-
sioner Heintze the following preamble
and resolutions were adopted
Whereas, 1t has come to the know
ledge of this Board tina in regulating the
service of various departments the SER
vices of certain veteran soldiers have
been inadvertently dispensed with:
Resolved. That the several chairmen
Of committees be and are hereby author
lied and empowered to reinstate any such
veteran dismissed since May /, when
such ehairmen nave been fully satisfied
by an inspection of the discharge papers
of such veteran or veterans hat be or
they are entitled to the benefit of the
acts of the Legislature relating to vet
Grams; but this resolution h not APP
ply in cases where positions have been
abolished"
Il am pleased" said COMMISSIONS
Brown, the. only Republican member, ito
see that you gentlemen, having discovered
that you nave done a great injustice to
certain men, are willing to acknowledge
that you have done wrong and propose
making amends. 1t is the proper spirit
TO show where our veterans are con-
cerned. AS a whole the resolution is a
good one; but l fail to see why you make
an exception in the case of one man and
make the main resoluti On not apply to
an Office which has been abolished. For
my part I do not think you have a right
to abolish an office held by a veteran.
Unless the clause pertaining to the abol-
ished Office is stricken out will be forced
to vote against the whole resolution
Il wish to inform not only our Repub-
lican colleague" replied COMMISSIONS
Io;-+ro ..l,,+ = ,,,bl;a4a r Iorra +ba+ rua
had no desire or intention to dismiss vet
Grams. 1t is not our fault that a veteran
was dismissed. 1t was the fault Of men
not telling us that they were veterans.
Not a Democratic member of his Board
knew he was voting for the removal of
a veteran. Had we known who were and
who were not veterans we would never
had occasion to pass such a resolution as
is now before US. So far as the aboli-
ton of an office is concerned, it is differ
ent il it happens to strike a veteran.
What right nave we to maintain an office
that is unnecessary. even though such
Office is held by a v~eteran?"
You have no right, in my opinion"
answered Commissioner Brown, ITO
abolish an office which is held by a vet
eran. We should protect veterans on all
occasions. 1 am sorry 1 canno vote for
the resolution owing to the claus per
tanning to an abolished Office"
1T strikes me. Commissioner Brown"
said President Boltwood. rather coldly,
that your great love and respect for
veterans has developed since you have
been in the minority in this Board"
THAT is not so," retorted Mr.. Brown.
Didn't you and YOU Republican COL
leagues dismiss a veteran named sWo-
linsley. who was a keeper at Belleville,
without a moments notice and to make
room for another MANI"
There was no reply and the Heintze
resolution was passed without Commits
sloner Browns vote Its effect VIII be
the reinstatement of eight men who were
employed chiefly as laborers OF mechanics
in the water department.
That part of the resolution, but this
resolution shall not apply in cases where
positions have been abolished" is directed
at G. Frank Sutherland, the assistant
clerk of the Assessment Commission,
whose position was abolished. Commits
Sioner Brown wanted him reinstated with
the other veterans, but the Democratic
no necessity for such an office as Suther-
land occupied. Sutherland has brought
suit against the Board to test its right to
remove him by abolishing his Office. The
case will be heard at the June term of
court.
Corporation Counsel Blair has furnished
the street ana Water bOaTU with dIl
opinion which will make the dismissed
Republican clerks, who proposed suing
for their salaries for the month of May
feel sad. He advises that the mems pay
ceases when the resolution disrnissing
them was approved by the Mayor.
When men h had been engaged by
the month were dismissed in the middle
of the month they claimed title to a
months pay. Pending the settlement of
such a contention, men who were ap-
pointed to succeed the dismissed ones
fnnL fhni7s nf.1oac with tho IndarGfand1n
that should their predecessors recover a
full months wages they need expect no
pay. It is expected that the dismissed
men who proposed suing will abandon
their suits in view of the opinion of the
Corporation ms
Upon the recommendation of Commits
sioner Heintze the Board passed a reso-
luton directing the Chief Engineer to
permit no element of extra work sin the
making of public improvements by con-
tractors. The custom has prevailed here
tofore of llowing contractors extras. The
result has been that improvements ex-
ceeded the contemplated cost in almost
havoc with the special street account.
COMMISSIONS Heintze informed his coll
leagues that there is room for reform in
the making of public improvements. As
chairman of the Committee or Streets
he proposes, he says, compelling con-
tractors to live up to their contracts to
work" scheme has been carried to too
great an extent for the good of the COM
munity.
Counsellors Henry Puster and Robert
Carey appeared before the Board to
demonstrate against assessments levied
and damages awarded in connection. with
the opening, widening and Improvement
of Pearsan avenue. On behalf of Louis
II. Keller, Counsellor Puster showed that
his client had been allowed 1000 damages
for 2,940 feet of property. while Lorenz
Kirchner has been awarded $500 for $50
feet and 5000 for only part of a house.
Dennis Fowler, clerk of the Assessment
Commission, explained that Kirchner's
whole house is to be taken.
For Mrs. Lucinda Lilliendah1, Coun-
seflor Carey interposed objections on the
ground of inadequate compensation for
property e TIL Board as to granta
special hearing on the case.
The proposed opening of Runyon ave-
niue met with a remonstrance from AIDE
1adde Conner. She insists hat an INSULT
Gent allowance for damages has been
made her. Her protest is to be considered.
Applications were made for the improve
ment of Bently avenue and Harmon
street.
Contracts as follows were awarded
Sheridan & Shea Company, sewer in Fal-
1sade avenue; Improvement Hancock ave-
nue.. sewer In Sherman e improve
ment Oxford avenue. Charles O'Ne1lt I'M
provement Thirteenth street, Henry
Byrne; Improvement Leonard street, Ed
ward O'Neill; Improvement Jewett ave-
nue.. Edward O'Nei1l; asphaiting Magno-
liza avenue, William Williams, who repre-
sents the Barber Asphalt Company;
asphalting of Boyd avenue, William Will
Jams; sewer in C1aremont avenue, Cor
nelius Carlin; Improvement of Boyd ave-
nue. with Belgian block, Henry ByTne;
rfngton; main sewer in Morton place., Orb
onf ayef,1le Claremont and Grant ave