The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-25
COLLECTOR DAVIS
Mayor Hoos' Present to
the Hudson Democratic
Leader.
CORDIAL COMPLIMENTS WITH IT
Office Accepted and Thomas
]. higgins Named AS
Deputy.
REPUBLICANS MUST GO
Force of Tax Clerks to Be
Changed--Political Aspects
of the Appointment.

Robert Davis, the leader of the Demo-
cratic party, was appointed City Col
leetor. this morning. by Mayor Edward
Hoos. The appointment takes effect
August 8. 1t is for the full term of two
years. The salary of the office is $1,000 a
year Mr. Davis succeeds Simeon H
Smith
Thomas higgins, ex-Assistant Post
master, has been appointed Deputy Col
lector, by Mr.. Davis to succeed Deputy
Ackerman. The term of the Deputy runs
with the Collector. The office pays $500
a year.
The appointment has caused general re-
joicing among Democratic politicians, and
Republicans admit that the Mayor has
made an excellent selection.
4 Mr.. Davis was at the Mayors office,
Saturday morning. discussing personal
and public matters. From ten O'Clock un-
til long after twelve the gentlemen were
closeted together. During the whole in
terview, not a word was said about the
City Collectorship. When Mr.. Davis final
ly announced his intention of departing,
the Mayor opened a private drawer in
his desk and drew therefrom a long en-
velope.
Mr.. Davis" said the Mayor, II have
had something for you for several
months. have refrained from giving 1t
you, only that the time might be oppor
tune The time has arrived when I think
you should be made the recipient of a
present you richly deserve and which you
have earned by the splendid leadership
of the Democratic party. The present to
which 1 allude is contained in this en-
velope.
The envelope. an official one of the
Mayors office. was addressed to:-
Hon. Robert Davis.
Mr.. Davis broke the seal and read his
appointment as City Collector.
Before he could say word, the Mayor
extended his hand and said
TT is my sincerest wish that you ac-
cept this office. From the day 1 was
elected Mayor of Jersey City, I deter
mined that you and no. one else should
get the position of City Collector
have always wanted you to be a part of
my administration. If you will accept
this office you will be comforting a favor
upon me and will, believe, be acting
in way that will please not only every
Democrat but every property owner who
has the interest of the city at heart
"You are familiar with the way city af-
fairs are transacted and I know you will
find no difficulty, even at the start. in
conducting the office smoothly
Mr.. Davis thanked the Mayor for his
appointment, said he appreciated the
l,fx~
and said he would gladly accept the
office.
II can assure you. Mr.. Mayor he said,
that politics will not enter the office.
The City Collectors department. is one of
the most important branches of the city
government. and 1t will be my aim TO
conduct it properly and have the work
done promptly, satisfactorily and well.
will devote all the time that will be re-
quired for the proper management of the
office and will be governed to some ex-
tent by the methods adopted by preced-
ing Collectors"
The Mayor was pleased when Mr.. Davis
accepted the office. He was relieved. too,
because it had been reported that Mr..
Davis might decline the office If he con-
sidered that it would interfere too much
with his private affairs. 1t is as much
due to the persuasion of warm, personal
and political friends that Mr.. Davis ac-
cepted the office as anything else. He
had no particular desire to hold an office
of any kind, because it imposed new
duties upon him.
At the Mayors request Mr.. Davis said
nothing about his appointment ca Satur-
hsaxr fh,ai
pleasure of making the announcement
himself today. The Mayor mads the ap-
pointrnent public as soon as he reached
his office this morning. Collector Davis
would have been sworn in today had he
not promised to attend the outing of the
Freebooter Groth Association with Sher-
iff Heller and some other friends. He
will take the oath of office tomorrow.
City Clerk O'Donnen will administer it.
Just before leaving his office in Mercer
street, Collector Davis announced that he
had already appointed Thomas higgins to
be Deputy Collector There will be several
other changes in the clerical force of the
Collectors office. Mr. Davis does not like
a Republican for political reasons. ana it
is known that every Republican in his
office will sooner or later walk the plank
Deputy Collector Ackernlan had no no.
tion that he would be retained. He has
already promised to remain in the office
even after the expiration of his term TO
give his successor any information he
may desire,
Nfyles McCartin. who was Deputy Col
leetor under p. Fl. O'Neill, viii be pro-
vided with a berth in the office. In what
he win serve is not known Out
side of Mr. McCartin no other appoint
ment has been decided upon by Collector
Davis. William Fl. Vermilye, a Repub- |
lican Alderman. who is also a clerk in the
Collectors office, will have to go. 1t Is
reported that Myles McCartin viii sue
eeed him.
Judson NJ. Startup will be removed. His
Office likc that of Alderman yermilye. |
pays 81. .200 a year. James Merritt. the col
ored messenger will not be retained
Merritt was originally appointed by p.
II. 5O'Neili When the Republicans came |
into power Merritt organized the Wan
ser Colored Republican Club. 4 Davis or
EIoos Democratic Association would not
save ssJinlss scalp this time.
There has been some talk Of a sue
cessor being named to John Wandle.
al