Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1904-12-20
STACEY SCORES
ON DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS
aFa AND HOLDS UP THE SCHEME.
Democrats We're Prepared to FIJI
City Offices When Republicans
Seized an Opportunity to
adjourn Before the Nom
nations We're Made.

D6mOCfutlC m6mD6fS Oh bne bOhru
of Aldermen were caught mapping last
night whsn the regular meeting was
held. ana the republicans scored a
point. In the language of the poet,
Alderman Stacey "seen his duty and
done it," Word had leaked ont that
the democrats were going to appoint
city officers last night, that Alderman
Smith had returned to the fold and
that the republicans were to be beaten
at their own game. Just before Alder
man .at-large Pfeiffer called the meet
ing to order, Aldermen loft and
Smith went outside for conference.
They were not present ut the roll call.
The minutes of the meeting were read
and one communication had been
acted upon, when Alderman Stacey
jumped up and moved to adjourn.
The two democratic aldermen had not
yet returned and it left the republicans
with one majority. The motion was
carried before anyone had time to
think and when the two democrats
returned it was to learn that the
meeting was all over and that as no
date had been fixed for an adjourned
session, no more meetings were to be
held before the new board convened
at the first of the year with the re-
publicans in control.
The democrats were at a loss to
understand it all They were beaten
in clean fight and had to admit it.
The republicans were up against a
great game and ID looked as If they
would lose when MIR. Stacey saw the
hole through which to escape and
acted in an instant.
The situation is this. At the be-
Rinning of this year the terms of
several of the city officials expired.
The democrats were unable to agree
on the new appointments so the pres
en- incumtents ara merely hold-overs.
Then, at the session of the legislature
last year, the republicans had law
passed fixing January l, 1905, the date
for the expiration of all city officers.
This meant that If, as has now hap
pened, the republicans should get in
control of the city government. they
could fill all the city hall jobs with
their own men. All during the year
Alderman Smith has been voting with
the republicans and has thus made it
possible for tho minority to control
affairs.
1t seems that Alderman Smith has
been won back in the fold and that
the democrats have, ut last, agreed
upon men for the various offices the
terms of which have expired, and.
the appointments were to have been
sprung on the Board of Aldermen last
night. AS for the law making all
terms expire with the first of the
year, the democrats hold that such q
statute is unconstitutional and ii
carried to the courts will be thrown
out. In that event, the republicans,
wkile having control of the city coun
Gil, would have democrats in all the
appointive offices.
The democrats are much exercised
over the defeat of their plans and have
set about to repair the damage. 1t is
claimed by them that wheD the maj
ority of the aldermen petition the
alderman -at-large to call O special
meeting, he must do SO. Accordingly
the four democratio aldermen sent q
petition to Mr.. Pfeiffer this morning
asking that such meeting be called
for Friday night. The republican,
do not agree with the democrats in
this matter and they declare that the
next meeting of the aldermen will be
when the new board conyenes on
Monday, January. 2.
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