The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-05-11
H00S' LEGAL FIGHT.
Will the Financiers Retain
Allan McDermott in the
Quo Warranto Suit.
BACKING UP MAYOR Hoos
Street and Water Board Asks
Messrs. Blair and Douglass
to Keep Out of 1t.
FINANCIAL POINTERS SOUGHT
Comptroller Hough 10 Furnish
DATA on City Debt and Mar
tin Act Proceeds.
MORE DECAPlTATIONs COMING
Rut the Changes Propabiy VIII
Not BE Made Until June -
Water Outlook.
MORE DECAPlTATIoNs COMING

Mayor Hoos has decided to give former
Mayor P. F. Wanser hard fight in the
quo warranto proceedings which the lat
ter has instituted. Shortly after the
papers in the case were served on Mayor
Hoos yesterday he sent a letter to the
Street and Water Board. In it he ad-
vised them of the course being pursued
by his predecessor He also asked that
1nasmuch as the present law officers are
Republicans and are appointees of Mayor
Wanser, that Mr.. Allan L. McDermott
be retained as special counsel to look
after his interests and those of the pres
ent city government. The Mayor has
sent a similar communication to the
Board of Finance, but that body has not
acted on it as yet
The Street and Water Commissioners,
however, or at least the four Democratic
members, did not hesitate very long over
the Mayors request. They granted it and
showed their intention of supporting the
Mayor, tooth and nail, by adopting the
following resolution
Whereas, On his retirement from
office the Hon. Peter F. Wanser, late
Mayor of Jersey City, gave notice to his
successor, the Hon. Edward Hoos. the
present Mayor, OF intention ton to test the
the Laws of 1897, until final adjudication
is had in the Court of Errors and APP
pealS; and
Whereas, The Hon. Edward Hoos has
requested the concurrence of this Board
in his reference of such litigation to Mr.
Allan L. McDermott to represent the
present city government as counsel in
premises;
Resolved. That Mr.. Allan L. McDer-
mott be and is hereby authorized to rep
resent the present city government and
the Corporation Counsel and the Corpora
ton Attorney be and they are hereby
directed to refrain from in anywise ap-
pearing in any court to represent the city
government or any department thereof in
any litigation involving the constitution
of iSsT''
The latter clause is such an unusual
one that it caused genuine surprise
among those who were present at the
meeting of the Board. Commissioner
Brown opposed the resolution, but it was
nevertheless passed by the votes of the
Democratic members. The resolution pro-
,sdes for the expenditure of money and
must consequently be sent to the Board
Of Finance for concurrence If it is con-
CURED in by that body Mr.. McDermott
will be retained at the citys expense. If
Il be non-concurred in he may be engaged
by the Democratic City Committee to
fight Mr.. Hoos' legal battle.
The Board of Finance meets Thursday
night and what disposition is made of the
resolution will be watched with keen in
terest The Board is Democratic, the ma
jority being Commissioners Bailey, Kel-
lers and Midlige. Some people entertain
the idea that Messrs Bailey and Kellers
will continue to vote with Messrs Brau-
tigan and Simpson and shut out Mr.. Mid
lige. There are others who think other
wise. Party lines may be closely drawn
for the first time Thursday night.
The strictest party man in the Board
is perhaps Commissioner Simpson. How
ever. like President Brautigam, he pre-
fers harmony to discord, and it is thought
probable the whole Board will vote for
NJ nxorar,,,ott,s s,,rlo,,n,a,+ T., order
W.T. aioAD = ino.. e'.p'os o.osl
that the question as to who should have
control of the city government be de-
....z .,o5;,,, a,,d ,,,;+ta,,+ ,,ra;,5;oa
.erlnineu speeoiis anu "isAou' p'e'u1'ee
Former Mayor Wanser and Mr. McDer-
,tt t,o-,-e,-o,. ,r. ,ot ~, tho hest ternos
No. ~ ~, r,,,;
ticians that the ex-Mayor will use his in
s.,.a,sao - ,,a,,a -, rriars ,,1ooa7 u, the uav
,1aDss4..s a,s.ss,s,+~,,t NJ
.1-1-44 In ~ 49,. IJo.,s,
Allan L. McDermott wan De nayor f1oos
counsel in the litigation He mas con-
uu.,eu = .,sS s,,ater, - s.x,s M.,ror
1t through 70 Victory, nc says way =.
Hoos is confident that MS counsei VIII
have no difficulty in establishing his title
to the office of Mayor. Former Mayor
Wanser believes that Messrs Coroin
corbin wilq reseat him and establish the
constitutfonality of the Macarthur Act.
The report that Mayor Hoos had aban-