The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-07-10
SOUTH COVE CASE
Conference in the Mayors
Office Yesterday Be-
tween City Officials.
MUST WAIT FOR Mr.. EDWARDS
sait Respecting the Removal of
tAe Central Railroad Strip Not
Finished Queer Collections.

After an hours discussion, the officials
of the city, yesterday afternoon in con-
ference in the Mayors office, discovered
that they could do nothing with the
South Cove matter until Mr. W. d. Ed
wards. special counsel. returns from Gait
fornia, IN two weeks time.
The conference called to determine who
should control the property was not al
together unproductive. II developed dur
ing an interesting and animated discus
sion these facts:-Sorne individual is coli
lecting rents and paying himself out OF
the proceeds; this same person is threat
ening to libel boat owners for neglect
in paying rents: these threatened people
are besieging the Street and Water
Board, complaining about the libels and
none of the city officials are willing to
assume responsibility of the libels.
Besides Mayor Hoos there were pres
ent:-Finance Commissioners r. Simpson,
H. Kellerst and James Bailey, President
of the Board of Aldermen w. F. Midlige,
President Boltweod and Street and Water
Board Commissioners Heintze. Hauck
and Nolan, Police Justice Nevin. who was
invited to give some light on the pro-
ceediags in respect of the Cove during his
secretaryship 10 Mayer Wanser; Corpor-
dlltn AOutiS0i a. 1o1etAi- OOAPSASt'Si -
torney Douglass and Mr.. George T.
Bouton of the Street and Water Board.
Mr. Bouton, acting as spokesman for
the Street and Water Board, put the sub
ject matter in question in a terse, prac-.
,ical way by asking whether the South
Cove was in the hands of the city, sand
if that were so. in whose hands it was?
For the past month, he said. people had
been coming TO the office seeking to pay
individual rents A woman came one
day and told him that she was to be
ousted from her boat and a man had
threatened TO libel her boat if she didn't
pay up The suit to recover the South
Cove property continued Mr.. Bouton, had
been instituted by the Board of Finance,
which had retained as counsel Mr.. w D.
Edwards The case as he, Mr.. Bouton.
understood it, was not yet out OF the
Courts. and until it was the Street and
Water Board could do nothing. The
Board wished to disclaim any neglect in
collecting rents or wharfage, and it de-
sires the Finance Board TO assume the
authority over these matters. If the
Street and Water Board assumed that
control, it would, he believed, interfere
with Mr. Edwards, the agent of the FL
nance Board. He Mr.. Bouten, would
like TO know the status of the city, case.
Corporation Counsel Blair, in reply de-
tailed the litigation to recover the grant
and said, so far as that was concerned
it was finished.
And the title is in the city," asked Mr..
Midlige.
Yes replied Mr., Blair; "but after the
title had passed a question arose as to
the filling IN of strip by the Central
Railroad and it was a matter of doubt
who should remove that strip-the
city or the railroad. The understanding
was tnat the city should negotiate with
the railroad about it.
rs the South Cove the property of the
Street and Water Board?" asked Mr..
Bouton.
I'VE think so.'' said Mr.. Blair.
I'VE want to know that because, if we
have the control, we will collect the rents.
but that point we want to be clearly un-.
derstood. because we have no wish to
clash with the agent of the Board of Fl
nance. who seems now to be in charge, z
said Mr.. Bouton-
Mayor Hoos said that evidently the mat
ter was in bad shape. He had seen a
man named Tallock who was collecting
the rents. When questioned as TO how
much money ne had collected, he, Tai
lock, said he couldn't tell exactly but per-
haps $500 This sum the agent said had
been consumed in paying expenses. The
Mayor said further that woman told
him that people got away without paying
any rent He thought it high time that
some one should be appointed to collect
these monies for the city. 1t seemed to
him that some method should be devised
the Corporation Counsel not say what
could be done?
Mr.. Blair said that everything pertain
ing to the South Cove had been referred
to Mr. Edwards, and he could not say
what that gentleman had done.
ePolice Justice Nevin was asked to tell
what he knew of the status of the case,
He in a few words rehearsed the facts of
the city's taking possession when Sheriff
Heller and Mayor wanser, after the writ
of ejectment was handed down, went over
to the Cove Street and Water Board
laborerse put Up the barrieades. It was
deemed best to leave the matter in the
hands Of Mr. Edwards because of the
strip filed in by the Central Railroad.
Mr.. Edwards thought that an arrange
ment could be made with the company
and thus prevent any further litigation,
The Attorney General had been requested
to begin proceedings to widen the strip.
No attempt had been made TO improve
the property because of the strip ques-
ton Mr. Edwards had plan of inn
provement Meanwhile new Attorney
General had been appointed and the mat
ter of the strip widening had been con-
sequently delayed. There was slight
source Of revenue Tallock got a per-
centage of rentals If he could, He was
appointed by Mr. Edwards. and was to
turn over to him the monies. Talloek
only began collecting in the spring The
property was really turned over to the
Mayor and Aldermen of Jersey City, and
of the Street and Water Board. That was
the understanding
''Oh, no, interposed Mr.. Bouton. st
was turned over to 5the Finance Board
for that Board was acting in the case
and not ours. Will the Finance Board
assume Control, ceilect the rents and look
afssr the basin r
s,,.ssrs ana Water Board had the control
II lid appoint an agent To take care
ni property One of the women ten-
asst i3ld the Board that the Corporation
Cals:sei had told her that it was turned
over to the Street and Waer Board.
ssSile came to me, said Mr.. Blair,
and | told her that Mr. Edwards had
really had control Of IT.
Would it be proper then. for our
Board 70 go ahead and appoint an
agent2" asked Commissioner i5auck.
fI think not, said Finance Commits
sforer Kellers: there might be ques-