New-York tribune., 1902-02-18
NEW-JERSEY NEWS.
MAY GO TO LEGISLATURE.
INDIGNATION OF CITIZENS OF HARRI-
SON CONTINUES TO GROW.
THEY ARE DETERMINED TO HAVE AN EX-
ANIMATION OF THE ACCOUNTS
OF TREASURER GRACE.

ANIMATION OF THE ACCOUNTS
OF TREASURER GRACE
The Indignation of the citizens of the town OF
Harrison over the condition of municipal affairs
tbera is still growing The more they think
about the disgrace which Alderman Henry has
brought on the town and about the inability
thus far of the people to obtain satisfactory
statement of the financial affairs OF the town
the more determined they are becoming TO push
the affair to a satisfactory end either oy the
aid of the Supreme Court or the legislature
The course to he adopted has not yet been
definitely chosen but that either the courts OF
the legislature will be called on TO assist the
citizens, unless the Common Council votes to
have an examination of the books of Treasurer
Grace. which a twO-thirds majority can 40 Is
foregone conclusion.
A prominent citizen of Harrison yesterday
called on a state Senator and ex-judge,
whose ability as a counsellor is widely known
and recognized. After these interviews the citi-
zen was disposed to favor an application to
the Supreme Court for assistance Thls may
be done by procuring the signatures of twenty
five taxpayers to a petition for an examination
of the books Of the treasurer In the opinion or
the Senator just mentioned, the examination
authorized and supported by the Supreme Court
prOba
factory and no more expensive than an ex-
animation by a legislative commission. The
citizen just referred to. who unfortunately. ts
not now member of the Common Council. said
yesterday:
That the necessity for examination Of the
financial condition OF the exists is best shown
but DO not want to accuse any man or set Of men
unjusty and prematurely-evasions and suoterfusess
which have so far been resorted TO- and when; VINO III II
not intended 10 prevent a genuine examination uI,
GpoWnr Sindignati3n Of the citizens of the town
There is good competent reason. If the treas
Council should not feel it a pleasure TO yield 70
the wishes OF the taxpayers on TINS important 9uT
alleged examination made by the Common Coun-
the town bit Of political effrontery by the side
of which the presidents vote TO retain Alder
which. according to his own confession or adrnis-
sgnifoant e # the members Of the Common Coun
Gil or If six OF the eight Of them are content even
can stand it until the opportunity is Afforded them
for 0 pod9 as 'Rr Harrn is ePor to Be Ppocay
I confident that there Is still enough self-re-
papers as Soon Soon as the chance presents itself
But on the. question Of an examination Of the
pie undoubtedly arc entitled. and which any Com.
gb 15 % b esd Sn ~ a i6 ogpoT 9 td MAKE we
are handicapped by the proceedings OF the Com
phasize here that If the Common Council will not
vote for thorough and honest examination OF ne
president OF the Common Council can by force Of
his political shrewdness or position, prevent the
tion to the Supreme Court for the appointment Of
uaily take such steps as will bring the & subject
have the assurance OF member Of the iegisIature
that the subject viii be pushed TO speedy end:
have been t10 informed by President Rice and his
Common Council the cause Of all this 'unseemly
Speaking for myself, feel honored by the inpri-
comes snd IL deserve already 70 be designated
ssneeringly as an ag5tator PROBABLY snaIi deserve
ing citizens. Including myself OF Harrison have
hope and believe of such men as Alderman Henry
and OF the men who have gone on record as his de-
body which. by his own admission. he has dis
gTaced what we want is an & examination ~ L or tne
legal way TO get it, it viii be had.
The position of Alderman Henry when he was
before the Hudson County Court of Special
Sessions. appears TO be in some doubt. Two
opinions are entertained in Harrison. but the
prevailing one is that there is no doubt that
Judge Blair grossly deceived. either by
Alderman Henry or his counsel when that
self-confesSed criminal" he is referred TO
frequently, was before the court awaiting his
punishment for conducting a gambling house.
which his place as chairman of the Police Com
mittee enabled him TO protect as the people OF
Harrison believe he did. whether he did not.
Commenting on this a citizen Of Harrison said
yesterday:
II is my understanding OF the affair and I be-
lteye that l have been correctly Informed. that
Henry. declared emphatically that he showed
Henry this lenency because the prisoner had re-
could not be that Judge Blair knew that Henry
simply had resigned as the chairman Of the police
committee, which was true, and that Henry had re-
tanned his membership in the Common Council and
the craftsmanship Of the license committee.
Notwithstanding the prevalence of this opin-
ion, there is decided and manifest inclination
in Harrison TO Critcise bitterly the action Of
Judge Blair. II is said there that even if Henry
had resigned his seat in the Common Council
MS doing so was so plain confession Of MS
guilt OF the crime charged, and of his deter
nlnatlon 10 eVade. If possible the intiiction OF
the heavy and dsgracefuI penalty which the
law in such cases imposes, that Judge Blair
should not, in consideration of what was due
10 the citizens of Harrison as we'll as the obli-
cation to the law. have let Henry off with A
petty fine OF 800 but should have inflicted
such punishment as would have caused respect
Tor instead OF defiant sneer at both the law
and the court. 4 leading resident said:
AS the affair terminated many reputa bIa ci,izars
sentence which Henry received as a refectfor 1no,,
fully believed that the guilty alderman couIG non
possibly escape Imprisonment at the hands Of sncb
a sound advocate OF the. law as Judge Blair. I'm
fne case or Henry. and they believe that If Judge
counsel by Henry misled Henry would ne ms iS
prison prison io-Gay; Let me go step further. and say
of the town is hoping that if there is no
legal method provided by the criminal statutas
posed ana inhict heavier and iustar one n cor1s
within th% limits OF some statute for Judge Blair
for confempt Sr Court bab aEln8 MN arraigned
or not, there is no doubt that Henry IS held I'm
nave the welfare or the town At heart and that the
contempt for those members of the Common COun-
who voted against the resolution asking him to re-
hed bf Is scarcely less tina" that tn which Henry is
Moreover the act Of Henry. with the apparept
Endorsement of hve other members Of the Common