Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1897-05-26
A Letter FROM THE
CITY By THE SEA.
Hitch Betmeen Council and
City Hall Commissioners:
CONFLICTING LEGAL OPINIONS FROA LAWYERS,
EDIFICE DELAYED BY JUGGLING WITH
THE LAW-PLANs SUBMITTED MONDAY
EVENING FOR THE NEW BUILDING.


| am sorry to record the fact that
Council and the City Hall Commissioners
are still at loggerheads. Indeed it is
whispered that this Council will never be
permitted to build the new hall. Can
there be any truth in such silly threats?
| am confident such reports do not come
from the Commissioners for they are not
built that way. But this delay is not
alone vexatiOus, but it is expensive to
the city. 1t costs money to get such
distinguished lawyers as Thompson,
Gray, Pancoast and Endicott, and even
then we seem to be no nearer a solution
of the difficulty. Thompson and Pan
coast says that black is white and the
other gentlemen say white is no color at
all. From what l can gather both sides
are delighted with the opinion of their
own counsel but l fail to see where,
when, or how, the people come in. Are
we to have this matter to go to Court at
more expense and more delay? 1 hope
not. For goodness sake, gentlemen,
'get together" Build us the hall, and if
you must fight do so after the hall is
like Kilkeany cat fight. | had a parley
with "Father" Rose on this subject, and
he assures me that his friends are only
desirous to hasten the building Of the
new hall and to that end they have done
all in their power to assist the Commits
siOners and in fact are still willing to do
more. On the other hand the Commits
sioners say practically the same thing.
Then what is the matter? So far as the
public are concerned they want the hall
and no one will deny that the delay lies
at somebody's door. eIt must be the
Council, or the Commissioners, of this
there can be no dispute. l am going to
predict that when the blame is located
the party to blame won't have any cause
for rejoicing. Already threats are being
made by the friends on both sides, which
is entirely wrong and cannot be produc-
tive of any good. am glad to say that
l cannot trace of these reports to either
of the parties in interest. | am afraid
that both sides are provided with a
goodly number of fool friends. 1t is re-
freshing to hear the law opinions of
friends of both sides, If Judge ThOmp-
son and his colleague, and Mr.. Endicott
and Attorney General Gray were to hear
them, they would be almost tempted to
give up the law and go to catching crabs
like myself. don't suppose that one
of these commentators have ever read
the ordinance relating to the matter,
and it's doubtful if one per cent. of the
number would understand it if they did.
"Father' Rose who as l told you, re-
Gently, had taken to the study of law oc-
cupies no doubtful position. He is ready
to swear by Blackstone, and the great
horn spoon that his side is right. This
opinion is accepted as the genuine stuff,
by about a dozen of his fellow "Com-
Diners" and not one of them, it is said,
would give peanut shell, for the opinion
of Daniel Webster if he was here, SO well
are they satisfied that "Father Sam is
right. George Clinton, ''Joe" Sharp, and
Walter Weyman, who each have a sort
of a legal turn of mind and are somewhat
"up'' in the science of jurisprudence,
shake their heads and up to this writing
have given no opinion for publication.
So these knotty questions must rest for
the while and the people who pay the
bill must wait for new city hall.
The political gentlemen who have been
in close quarters since the Spring cleo
ton are to be seen now and then, as
they skip about from one place to
another seeking some one to scoop in.
They have been sadly missed by the
boys who have been surprising their
stomachs with water since the election.
The sparkle in their eyes tells OF the
happiness at the bare thought of the
good times that awaits them this all
when they will be able to cultivate a
bloom on their proboscis that will make
the Jaqueminot rose feel silly. Their
chiet occupation, when not engaged,
"taking one" will be to keep the run, OF
every new coon that comes in town. Ii
however, they can get enough ''invites'
to keep them engaged "taking one'' the
coons will be left to the care of the police
who will loose no time in marching
them to the draw bridge and pointing
over your way advise them to make for
Pleasantville without delay. There is
something "in the wind going on here
haven't been able to "catch on" yet as
the boys say, but am living in great
hopes. In fact have been real happy
| this last week a feeling | assure you that
| was like new suit of clothes when a
fellows shirt insists on crawling out
through his trousers. The happy con-
dition l own to some kind-hearted peo-
/ pie who let me alone long enough to
''lambast" you. Oh, how l laughed
only to think they 80 kindly let-me alone
while they GRATED on the two hundred
and twenty pounds of the Editor of the
Press wasn't it full mean for me?
have had so much fault found with me
and so many threats, that / have been
liyingin state of disquirtude that il
| almost compelled me to seek consolation
in schooner of John Dolongers Bee
One big fellow was telling what he in
| tended to do to me when he got his
hands on me and all because | hadn't
declared that the Freeholders 'sCombine'
| was infallible and therefore couldn't
make mistake. Goodness knows
| do my best to write such things as il
likely to please every body and why
they won't be pleased cannot fully un
derstand it.
At the meeting of the Council, Monday
evening, it was decided to receive plans
for the new City Hall from any archi
tects who chose to compete. In this, il
seems to me the Council acted wisely fol
several heads are better than one, as 6
rule, when it comes to modern architec
ture. While no one plan might meet al
requirements, it is very probable that 6
structure highly creditable to the city
will be built from all the plans that may
be submitted. Certain modification
may be made here and there, and it il
possible that one plan may be fonnd t.
fill the bill completely; but | hardly ex
pect it. After all the long delays few
days more won't make much. difference
IN hnn
better City Hall, why 30 much the better