The Jersey City news., 1906-04-05
Quo Warranto Proceedings
to Be Instituted to Test
the Commissions Consti-
tutionality
WRITS SERVED YESTERDAY
SUIT SAID TO BE THE LATEST
MOVE OF THE DIcKINsoNITEs
IN THEIR WAR on THE TAGAN
PARTY

I
The latest move on the political chess
board in local politics is the effort OF the
Dicksonites to oust the present City Hall
Commission, which is under the domina-
ton of Mayor Pagan. Quo warranto
proceedings were yesterday instituted in
the hope that the law under which the
| Commission holds Office be declared un-
constitutional True copies Of info:ma-
ton were yesterday served on CITY Hsll
Custodian James M. Connolly, City
Treasurer William F. Ely, Comptroller
Thomas McEwan, who constitute the
Board, and upon Clerk u. A. Ransom.
Jr.
The information in the quo warranto
proceedings were fled by Attorney-Ge Gen-
eral Robert McCarter Copies of infor-
nation We're served by Howard Cruise,
who is Clerk of the Second District
Court. The Commission has nearly q
score of positions. at its disposal. These
include an engineer, fireman, two eleva-
tor men, mailman, night watchman,
eight cleaners and Eve porters, and the
combined salaries amount to about 81 QUO
a month, Should the law be declared un-
constitutional the custodianship of the
City Hall would revert back to the City
Marshall, who is Democrat, having
been appointed as such by the combina-
ton of Dickinsonite Republican and
Democratic members OF the Board of
Aldermen
The information Is as follows:--
"Robert HI. McGarter, Esq. Attorney
General of the State of New Jersey, who
sues for this State in this behalf comes
in his own proper person here into the
Supreme Court of said State, before
the Justices thereof. at the State House,
in the City of Trenton, on this Both day
of March, 1905, and for said State of
New Jersey gives said Court here to be
informed and understand that J. w. Con-
molly. William F. Ely and Thomas Nc
Ewan, Jr., of the city of Jersey City. in
the county of Hudson. for the space OF
six weeks and upwards have and each
of them has unlawfully held, used. and
executed and still does hold, use and ex-
ecute the office of City Hall Commits
sioners of the city of Jersey City and to
have held. use and execute and enjoy the
said offices and liberties. privileges and
franchises thereof without legal election,
appointment. warrant or authority what
soever.
"And said Attorney General further
says that all this is under color Of Chap
ter 391 of the Lave 0 1895, entitled. A
Further Supplement to the Act entitled,
"An Act to Enable Cities of the State to
Furnish Suitable Accommodations for
the Transaction of Public Business
title as amended approved April 10, 1887,
which supplement was approved April 5,
1895, and which said supplement the At
torney General here gives the court to
understand is wholly unconstitutional
and void, as being special law regulat-
ing the internal affairs Of cities; such
supplement being wholly special legisla-
tion-the establishment Of the City Hal
Commission mentioned being predicated
and depending upon unreasonable and
unconstitutional classification. namely
! the nom completion of a contract for the
building of City Hall within the time
mentioned in the contract for its compile
| ton Therefore the Attorney Genera
for said State prays the advice Of the
| Court here in the premises and asks why
the said James M. Connolly, William F
Ely and Thomas McEwan. Jr., should
not be made to answer to said State by
what warrant they claim to hold, use
| execute and enjoy the liberties, privileges
and franchises Of a Board Of City Hal
| Commission Of said city Of Jersey City
and by what warrant each Of then
| claims to hold. execute. enjoy the office
of City Hall Commissioner Of such city
and the liberties, privileges and franchis
| es thereof