The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-23
HOOS AS PEACEnAKER
He Hears the Collins Ross
Controversy and Orders
an Apology.

As the result of q little controversy be-
tween Mayors Private Secretary James
NJ Collins and HalIman Joseph Ross,
that occurred in the rotunda of the City
Hall late Wednesday afternoon, an I'M
promptu hearing was held by Mayor HOBS
in his office this morning. The result was
en- apology ON the part of Hallman Ross
for warm words used in the controversy
to Mr. Collins, and the incident was
closed.
An exaggerated account was printed of
an interchange of words between the two
attaches because of accusation by Mr.
Collins that Hallman Ross was steering
couples seeking the Mayors office TO get
married away from the City Hall in the
interest of nearby Justice of the
Peace. Mr.. Collins told Mr.. Ross that
several complaints had been made to the
Mayors office by such couples, and that
in one instance the party making the com
plant said he was impressed with the
idea that the hallnlan was working in the
interest of a matrimonial bureau.
Mr.. Ross is very mild hammered and
courteous gentleman, and he indignantly
denied the accusation, using ward words
to enforce his denial. Mr.. Collins,
though sorry that the complaints made
it necessary to call the mailman down,
grew indignant at the manner iri which
Mr.. Ross han answered him and immedl-
ately sought City Hall Custodian Datzs s
office to complain against the hallmau.
Mr. Rcss followed him. Mr.. Datz was not
in his office and some more warm words
ensued between Mr.. Collins and Mr..
Ross The Mayor was out of town for
the day yesterday, and when he read the
account of the little fracas between the
hallmar and his private secretary this
morning he sent for both ard also for
Custodian Datz.
Mr.. Ross again denied that he ever
stored from the Hall any couple seeking
marriage He said that such couples often
stopped him and asked about licenses
and other matters necessary to enable
them to legally marry.
Custodian Datz said he had always in
structed Mr.. Ross to treat every caller
with the utmost courtesy.
The Mayor told Mr.. Ross that he
thought Mr. Ross owed Mr.. Collins an
apology for the warm words he has used
in making his denial; that Mr.. Collinss $
position was an important one Mr. Ross
said he was very indignant at the charge
and might have used strong language. He
thereupon apologized 20 Mr.. Collins.
When asked after the hearing what he
had to say, Mr.. Ross said
81 have nothing whatever to say ex-
cer. that the whole thing was an un-
fortunate misunderstanding"
The trouble grew out of a matter of
wedding fees Mayor Hoos never has ac-
ceptem them himself, but allowed them
to be divided between his clerk, Dennis
Ryan and Messenger Peter Golden These
fees are sometimes worth .'divying, and
Secretary Collins after hearing some COM
plants and insinuations to the effect that
Hallman Ross was steering away cou-
pies from the Mayors office in the inter-
est Of a certain Justice of the Peace, was
actIated by a desire to protect Messrs
Ryan and Golden in protesting to the
Mailman against such a practice.
1'Humph," said Messenger Golden, dis
Guessing the controversy and shifting his
chest $50 Mr.. Ross thinks he's the only
one versed in legal matters pertaining to
marriages, as If had not for six months
sat at the feet of that learned exponent
of law, my distinguished colleague Denny
Ryan, now enjoying sojourn In Europe.
what my friend Denny don't know about
the requirements of the law In matters
pertaining to marriages is not worth
knowing. And I learned from him more
in six months than my friend Ross will
ever know.