The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-08-03
DAVIS IN, SMITH OUT.
Change in the City Collec-
tors Office Unostenta-
tiously Made.
ANONYMOUS BOUQUETS
Everything Running Smoothly
Already Courtesy of the
Retiring Officials.


Without the slightest formality Robert
Davis today entered upon the duties Of
City Collector Some of the admiring
friends of the new Collector proposed ar
ranging an informal reception. but 10 that
proposition Mr. Davis fnterposed strenu-
Gus objections and the plan was aban-
doned.
1t was about haR-past nine o'clock
when Mr. Davis. accompanied by HIS
Deputy, Mr. Thomas higgins. crossed to
City Hall from his offices at Nos. 12 and
"A Mercer street. At the Mercer street
entrance the new Collector was met by
party of friends, who extended him and
his popular deputy warm congratulations.
At the inner door of the Collectors
office Mr. Davis was met by his prede-
cessor, Mr.. Simeon H. Smith. The Col
lector and ex-Collector shook hands cor
daily. Mr. higgins was introduced to
the former Collector and the three officials
retired to the Collectors private office.
On table in the centre of the office was
an immense basket of magnificent red
roses. II had been sent to the Collector
by friends, who knowing his antipathy
for a display of any kind, had refrained
from attaching their names to the card
which was hidden among the flowers.
In most Democratic manner the af-
fairs of the Office were discussed. and the
ex-Collector promised if there was any
assistance he could render until the af-
fairs of the department were thoroughly
understood by the new employees. he
would do so gladly. Collector Davis
thanked him
The books of the office were turned over
to Mr. Davis, and subsequently the keys
of the Office, desks and combinations OF
the safes and vaults were surrendered.
For more than an hour Mr.. Smith re-
manned with his successor. Before leav-
ing Mr.. Smith wished Mr.. Davis every
success. He said goodbye to the clerks
who have served under him so faithfully
and departed
Collector Davis and his Deputy held
short consultation, and it was then an
nounced by the Collector that in his alb
sence his Deputy would be in charge of
the office, and that his instructions must
be followed in every particular. With
this understanding Mr.. higgins at once
entered upon his new duties. In the coli
leeting bureau, where Mr.. higgins will
hold forth, he found a magnificent basket
of cut flowers. Who the d61of was Is
not known.
BY eleven o'clock everything in the
office was in smooth running order and
only those familiar with the old officials
could have known that any change had
taken place
Ex-Deputy Collector Ackerman renain-
ed in the office some time after Collec-
tor Smith had retired. He gave, Mr..
higgins a few points about the duties
which will be his in future. No man left
the City Collectors Office with better
wishes than did Mr.. Ackerman. He has
been faithful to a degree. punetual and
generous. He is man well advanced in
years and his friends fear he may have
some difficulty in procuring a new situa-
tion.
After Mr. Ackerman left, Mr.. Myles
McCartin, who was Deputy Collector un-
der P. H. O'Neill, went into the CoIlect-
ing Department with Deputy higgins.
Mr.. McCartin will remain with Mr.. Mig
gins until such time as he has learned
the ins and outs of the office.
Mr. Miggins is a young man. and has
the reputation of being a particularly
bright one. 1t is predicted that he VIII
make as efficient a Deputy as the city
has ever had In the transaction of busi-
ness he is strict, and he will doubtless
adopt regulations of his own for the gov
ernment Of the Collectors office.
The new clerks entered upon their du-
ties and were instructed by the old em-
ployes OF the discharged clerks, the
only one seen at the office today was John
Wandle. He had been clerk for fifteen
years.
At noon, as Collector Davis was about
to go out for luncheon, he was honored
with a visit from Mayor Hoos. Mayer
and Collector had a long talk In the lat
ter's private Office.
Collector Davis will make several
changes in the arrangement of the Office,
His private office is already being re-
fitted
There will be no more changes In the
clerical force until December l.