The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-02-01
FACAN' S
FREAK
VI: to.
Designation Of Allan 1.
MoDernott to Con-
duct City Cases
Blocked.
NO REASON STATED
Many Consider the Mes
sage imperative Under
the Charter for
This Reason.
SAME OLD NOTHING TOsAY"
Is 1t a snub to George L.
Record or a Partisan
Slap at the Demo-
cratic Lawyer?
SAME OLD NOTHING TOSAY"

Mayor Pagan this morning vetoed the
resolution passed at the last meeting of
the Board Of Finance in which that body
authorized Corporation Counsel George L.
Record to engage Allan l.. McDermott
his predecessor, as associate counsel IN
the litigation now pending which involves
the city's rights in Thirteenth, Dudley
and Norris streets The veto is as fol-
lows::-
Jersey City, N. j., Feb. I, 1902
To the Honorable the Board of Finance
of Jersey City,
GentlemenI herewith return to your
Honorable Board, without my approval
the following resolution, passed at your
meeting, held January %. 1902, to witt
Resolved, That the Corporation Coun-
sci be and he is hereby authorized to re-
tain Allan L. McDermott as associate
counsel for the Mayor and Aldermen of
Jersey City in the litigation now pending
or hereafter to be started involving the
rights of the city in Thirteenth street,
Dudley street and the foot of Morris
street. upon the terms as to compensation
contained in the letter of Mr.. McDermott
to the Corporation Counsel, dated Janu-
arv II. 1902 and by him submitted to and
filed with this Board
(signed) MARK NJ FAGAN,
Mayor.
Mayor Fagan, 1t will be noticed gives
the Beard of Finance no reason for his
veto and he refused this morning to give
/ his reasons for publication.
This caused stir in the City Hall to-
day and a great many say that the veo
10 invalid because the Mayors reasons
are not given.
The famous new charter, Chapter 127
of the Laws of 1889, mas this to say about
veto powers:-
And be it enacted, That the mayor
of any city shall have the right to
veto the acts of any board provided
for in this act, or any other board in
any such city, and copies of all rsao-
buttons or other matter duly certified
shall be furnished the mayor or every
such city, and he shall have ten days
| in which to consider them in eacn
case before signing or returning them
| to the board respectively, with his
/ obiections 80
| 1t is held that the Mayors cenmunica-
| tion fails to State any objections and
/ therefore does not comply with the law.
] There are many who think this action
the most extraordinary in Mayor Fagan's
administration He has always looked up
1 to Corporation Counsel Record and a ma
jor:ty of his acts have been guided by
Z that gentleman. Mr.. Record asked the
/ Board of Finance for the authority to
engage Mr.. McDermott and he spent a
| long time at the meeting urging the FL
nance Commissioners to pass the res3lu-
/ 1
/ Mr.. Record at that time III a latter to
the Finance Commissioners said that ne
1 mad besn unable and wou.d be unable to
get the points of the litigation in ques-
/ ton in hand in such shape as to give him
confidence in trying the eases for the city
and the Commissioners were of the same
/ opinion.
/ Mr. McDermott informed Corporation
/ Counsel Record that he would be CAD to
take up the cases and fight them to the
end and he expressed himself as confident
of success He said that he would not
fix any price on his services but would
allow the BOARD of Finance to fix the
amount he should receive after the close
of the cases.
Both Mr.. Record and Mr. McDermott
were out of town today and could not be
seen.
/ There is a great deal Of speculation in
duiged in about the City Hall as to the
motive of Mayor Fagatls veto. The aues-
tion is asked whether it was designed to
4 promote economy or as means OF punish
ing Allan l.. McDernott for his part il
the recent campaign and to prevent his
appearing to advantage. in q matter SO
vitally interesting to the city. Thief there
are some who seem to thinks that Mayor
Pagan and Corporation Counsel Record
have clasfhed and the former i trying to
crowd Record out by putting the respcn-
sibility Of the city's legal matters up %
him unassisted, at time when the Cor
poration Council is incapable Of handling
the cases because of his lack of familiar