The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-27
CITY AALL SHAKEN UP
Mayor Hoos Wants the Door
keeper, One Elevator Man
and a Fireman Dis
missed.

Mayor Hoos, today, gave the City Hall
Commissioners the shaking up he prom
ised few days ago. THE News" ex-
clusively told of the inspection His
Honor made OF. the City Hail. 1t also
told of the unnecessary efApioyes who
were being retained to keep the mons
frosty in order
When the Commission met at noon to-
day Clerk Farrell received the following
letter from His HONOR
October 25, 1897.
To the Honorable Board of City Hall
Commissioners
Gentlemen-I would most respectfully
call the attention of your Honorable
with the maintenance and conducting of
our City Hall. I believe that these ex-
penses can be diminished to certain
extent The office of "door-keeper'' is a
our city cannot afford. If ever any ne
cessity for such an office existed 1t was
done away with when the directory tab
lets were erected. Considering the fact
that most people ordinarily enter the
City Hall only for the purpose of paying
taxes or water rents, and that officials
stairs, it seems to me that the building
could get along well enough with one
elevator. I would also venture the sug-
gestion that l deem two fremen suff1-
cient.
This building, 1 am satisfied, can be
maintained just as well at reduced cost
and now that your Commission has had
some experience in determining the re-
quirements necessary for the maintenance
Of the same 1 urgently request your
Honorable Board to make such changes
in the interest of economy as will readi-
ly suggest themselves to your good judg-
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD HOOS, Mayor.
The doorkeeper referred to by the Mayor
is Charles Cooper. 1t is reported upon
excellent authority that Cooper was ap-
pointed to oplige the Rev John L. Scud-
der. Cooper's duties have never been de-
termined further than that he keeps
chair down all day and is put to the
trouble of drawing a fat salary every
month. The Mayor says the place held
by Cooper is bold face sinecure which
he does not propose countenancing.
There is absolutely nothing for the
man to do,' said the Mayor today, s4and
1 am surprised that our City Hall Com
missioners retain him. The members of
that Board say they favor economy. If
that be true they will not only dismiss
the doorkeeper at once but will reduce
the force of firemen and engineers and get
rid of one of the elevator men. No branch
of the city government has a better oppor-
tunlly OIL reducing It's SAp6llStS tHdn Tic
City Hall Commission, and 1 deem it the
duty of those gentlemen to make at least
some of the dismissa1s I suggest. Ex-
travagance will not be encouraged by me.
| want to see reductions all along the line,
so that taxpayers may know that the city
is being economically conducted. Our tax
burdens are already too heavy and it is
the duty of every official to see that sine
cures are not created.
1t was reported thoS morning that
Cooper, the doorkeeper, will be bounced.
It is also said that one of the elevator men
will be dismissed AS to the reduction of
decision has been arrived at.
The Mayor also sent the following COM
munication to the Commission
Oct. 25, 1897
To the Honorable Board of City Hall
Commissioners
ENTHUSIASTICALLY an application was
made to me by w. Irving, of the Naval
Reserves for permission to give an hours
concert aon the City Hall steps on New
Years eve. 1t seems to me that such
concert would afford the people of this
city some pleasure, and that they would
not abuse the privilege of listening by in
illring the building or grounds. In any
event the city's police coulds protect it's
own, if necessity demanded such meas
ureS.
/ referred this matter to your Honorable
Board and trust you will see fit to recon
slider your adverse decision, If such is the
case, and grant this small favor.
Yours respectfully,
EDWARD HOOS, Mayor.
It Is understood that the Commissioners
will allow the concert to take place owing