The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-04-24
REPLY TO HOUCH.
Mayor Hoos Makes a Brief
Statement About the
Comptrollership.
DEFENDS COMPTROLLER JORDAN
Will Make a Full Explana-
ton In Tomorrow's
"News."

Af,yor TJoos returned to town this after
noon after an absence in the country LOT
few DAYS, and when he got oack 10 ms
desk in the City Hall, his attention Was
directed to the letter of ex-Comperoiier
George Hough. in which he attacked the
Mayor for not re-appointing him.
His Honor was very indignant atethe I'M
plied charge of bad faith, and he at once
said he would prepare long reply when
will he published in tomorrow's News.
It has leaked out that three days before
the Mayor made his appointments he sent
for Mr.. Hough, and told MIN thde ne
would reappoint him if he, Mr.. Hough'
would appoint as his deputy, Robert ..
Jordan. Mr. Hough received the sugseS-
ton kindly because the Mayor urged lhe
appointment of Mr.. Jordan because OF
reasons private to that gentleman,
'I would like to sleep over that sugges-
tion." Mr.. Hough replied, and on the .oi-
lowing day he again met the Mayor ana
fhis time said that he could not apppolht
Mr. Jordan. The substance of that inter-
view is given in the Mayors words snis
afternoon to q News reporter.
..Mr. Hough,'' said His Honor, then
said to me that he couldn't appoint MT.
Jordan because he believed him to be m
competent 1 replied: If that is SO, III
give YOU my word of honor, Mr.. Hougn.
that 1 will remove him in twenty-four
hours 1 told him further that honestly
could not believe in the statement dnat
Mr. Jordan was incompetent, because MS
brothers were financiers of high stand
ing and he had held high position in a
New York bank
s.Further. 1 told him that Mr.. JORDAN
had held the position of postmaster under
Republican and Democratic Presidents,
and if he had been incompetent in the
service of the Government he would nave
al once been removed from SO important
a position as postmaster of Jersey City.
Mr. ,Hough still refused to do what l
asked him. and I put the matter to him as
a Christian and pointing out the reasons
WHY Mr.. Jordan should be appointed,
and urged him to do it,. He still refused
and there was nothing left for me to DO
I'll make a statement in reply to Mr.
Hough. for his letter is SO inaccurate that
l cannot in justice to myself allow 1t TO
go uncontradicted. The public will then
judge"
Throughout the interview between the
Mayor and the ex-Comptroller the name
of Deputy Van Saun was never mention
ed as being such an able and compe-
tent clerk as compared with Mr.. Jordan.
Those who are informed of the ms and
outs of the matter say Mr.. Hough OBJ
iected to Mr.. Jordan because he foresaw
that sooner OF later the deputy would
become the Comptroller and one in the
City Hall who is an undoubted authority
said this morning.
Mr. Hough some time ago made the
statement that the affairs in the Comp
troller's office were of such complex
nature that a new man couldn't become
initiated for some time. Now such
thing is, to say the least, so extremely
dangerous for any city, that it would be
necessary to get Philadelphia lawyer to
worm out the details of the office. Sup
posing Mr.. Hough, while in office, should
suddenly die, what then would happen?
A nice mess it would leave things in!
The Mayor was right to have some one
put in there at >e to get hold OF the
ropes, so that Il ssny emergency should
arise the departmental work should not
be hampered.'