The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-04-24
TAKING HOLD.
New City Officials Assume
Duties Of Their Offices
Today.
Mr.. HoUGH MAKES A SPEECH
Again Complains of His
Dismissal Treasurer Hep
penheimer at His
Desk.

Immediately after the Board of Finance
had this morning organized and approved
of the bonds of the City Comptroller and
City Treasurer preparations were made
in these departments of the city govern
ment for the outgoing of the old officials
and incoming of the new.
Ex-Comptrollers Hough was standing at
his desk at eleven O'Clock and before him
were piles of papers and books These
were in reference to the interests due on
city bonds, lists of the bonds and
voiuminous mass of memoranda pertain
ing to the Martin Act property. Every
thing was in apple pie order and there
was nothing left to do but turn them
over to his successor Mr.. Robert S.
Jordan. The clerk from the Finance
Board few minutes after eleven o'clock
came from the meeting upstairs and
handed an envelope to Mr.. Hough, and
the minute the new Comptroller came in
followed by his deputy, Mr.. Steve Egan.
The outgoing deputy, Mr.. Van Saun, stood
behind his old chief and after a moments
rather embarrassing pause Mr.. Hough
said to his SUCCESSOR
MIR. Jordan, owing to the circum-
stances, OH the part of the Mayor, In
connection with your appointment, my
own self-respect compels my immediate
withdrawal from the office Had your
appointment been agreed upon a month
or more ago it would have given me
pleasure to have explained fully the
routine business of the office, provided
you were willing to devote your time to
it, and / had also been given an oppor-
tunity to make other business arrange
ments I could not, however, in the
specified time impart information in the
intricacies of the office which it takes
years to acquire. The books of the city
were closed at noon on Saturday, and the
work of the present month to date COM
pleted, SO far as lies in our power.
I'm order that you may not be embar-
rassed in your work we have prepared
for the interest upon the city debt, due
May l, and also the SAIL, 900 bonds due
May 10 next, and the interest on same.
I hope you will enjoy a prosperous term
and the loyal support of your subordi-
mates as has been my good fortune. and
that when your term of office expires
you will be treated with more considera-
tion than I have BEEN
Comptroller Jordon bowed and briefly
remarked that he would do his best to
perform the duties of the office to the
satisfaction of the city.
"Have the subsequent taxes been paid?''
asked Deputy Egan.
''They have not" replied Mr. Hough,
and pointing to bundle of papers, add
ed that they contained the certificates of
each piece of property acquired under the
Martin act, stubs for interest on the city
nothing to do but draw the check for
them. He added further that at any time
he would be pleased to come and explain
any matters to the Comptroller If he so
desired, and before leaving the room with
Van Saun, handed in the designations of
his clerks.
The first was from David H. Hilton, who
added that he was unable to express his
thanks to Mr.. Hought for kindness during
his clerkship.. Similar expressions were
made by NJ. NJ. Kenyon and Isaac Van
Saun.
Having formally taken hold of his office,
Comptroller Jordan said that he would not
say at present what changes he would
make among the minor officials of the de-
partment They might be held over and
they might not. As to the work of the
Office he said:-
1--WE have got to get down to grind
for some time. The work will be hard,
but am confident that the public will
have no cause of dissatisfaction"
In the City Treasurer's Office the turn
ing over of the papers of the office to
Gen. w. C. Heppenheimer was as in
formal and simple as could be. Assistant
Treasurer w. F. Ely handed a lot of cash
and checks to the new chef and at once
proceeded to endorse them and prepare
them for the bank just as if he had been
doing nothing else for the past six
months. The cash to the city's credit in
the banks amounts in round numbers to
about 81, 500 0G0. When the bank books are
returned then there'll be some work. At
present Treasurer Heppenheimer will
make no changes in his office, but like his
neighbor the Comptroller, he may.