The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-22
DASTARDLY POLITICS.
Republicans Talk Of Taking
Colonel Smiths Case
to Court.
LOVE OF SPOILS BEATS PATRIOTISM
They Hope if He is Out to
Gain Control Of Street
and Water Board.
LOVE OF SPOILS BEATS PATRIOTISM

Politicians are greatly worried about the
| right Colonel Robert G. Smith has TO re-
tain his seat in the Street and Water
| Board.
Cooperation Counsel Allan T.. McDer-
mott has given a verbal opinion 10 the
effect that the Colonel need NOT resign.
That opinion docs not satisfy the Col
oneFs friends, who say they know he
need not resign. What they want 10
know is whether the Colonel can legally
hold his seat. and vote on matters which
may come up. Mayor Hoos is perfectly
willing that the Colonel should retain his
seat and draw the salary of the Office,
believing that he is justly entitled TO it
for having given up his private business
to go to the front
The Mayor has in the event Of It's be-
ing found that the Colonel's sea- is va
cant the power to appoint his successor.
The Mayor entertains the belief thai he
can appoint for the whole ~unexpired term.
That being his opinion Of his power il
the premises. he says, even should he ap-
point a mar it would be with the dnder-
standing that such appointee would re-
sign and make room for the Colonial up
on his return.
1 1 - tA3Ai liz AACkiCA NONAS
only appoint until next spring when the
next regular municipal election is held
So complicated is the situation that the
members of the STREET and Water Beard
have decided to pass no measures where
it SO happens that the Colonies vote
would be the third one.
AT the last meeting Of the Board Com
missioner Heintze was away. Commits
sioner Boltwood was on hand and so
was Colonel Smith. Before going into
open meeting every resolution that was
to come up was read and the three Com
missioners, exclusive of the Colonel,
agreed to vote for them. Had there been
any to which there was opposition, but
which could have been passed with the
ColoneFs vote, it was to have been with
drawn and held out until such time as
it has been decided what rights the
Colonel has. The Democrats want the
Colonel to remain in the Board, n they
do not propose agitating the subject Of
his right to stay.
hi morning there. was a rumor af1oat
Which could not be traced to a reliable
source that the Republican County Conn
mittee proposes nominating a Commits
sioner to succeed the Colonel next spring.
The party leaders are said to be greatly
opposed to any such scheme, declaring
that it would prove a fearfully unpopu-
lar move to attempt to grab the office
of a man who surrendered everything to
go to the front to fight. The Republic
ans are being closely watched. however.
Another rumor which has been going
the rounds for the last day or two is
that the Republicans propose getting the
Colonels case into court some how. in
order to get an opportunity to nominate
a successor TO him IN the spring. BY do
ing so the Republicans see a possible
chance of regaining possession of the
Board. The term of Commissioners
Heintze and Boltwood expire next year.
Colonel Smith forced out three Commits
sioners would have to be elected. The
Republicans are preparing to max a red
hot campaign.
1t is said they propose e-ndeavoring to
stir up trouble among those Democrats
who are friendly to Heintze and Boltwood
by having their campaign orators dwell
on the alleged turn down of those gen
tlemen. The Democrats are building
fences getting ready all through the
line to give the Republicans as hard a
fight as they ever had.