The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-05-14
REPUBLICANS TO :
FIGHT THE CIVIL
SERVICE RULE
Declare There Was Not a
Quorum Present When ResO=
luton Was Adopted.
EVEN SPLIT IN BOARD
MAY END IN DEADLOCK
Party Lines May Be Closely
Drawn During Contest Over
Yesterdays Action.

There is a possibility that the Re-
publican members of the Board of Free
holders may caucus with a view to
contesting the civil service resolution
passed by the Democrats at the meet
ing yesterday, on the grounds h a at
the time Director Barry declared the
resolution adopted after a viva voce
vote, there was not a quorum in the
room.
lican representative from the First
Ward. declared today that it was his
opinion that there was not a quorum
in the room at the time.
II have not yet spoken with my col
leagues, but we may get together to
discuss the matter" he said. "I do
not know if we will take any action"
From other sources it was learned
that there is a movement on foot to
contest the action of yesterday, and
as the Board of Freeholders is at pres
ent tied if both sides m~arshaled their
full forces. there would be a deadlock
that might last until next election.
1t is understood that the Republicans
will do nothing if they annot win over
Freebooter Mcbride and another Re-
publican who favor the measure.
About 1S5 county employees will
serve under the Civil Service resolution,
and their salaries viii amount to APP
proximately $3.50, 600 a year.
Employees Affected.
The placing of the employees under
the Civil Service Board will affect
those at the Essex County Hospital for
the insane in this city and the branch
hospital at Overbrook; the court house,
jail, penitentiary and the new isolation
hospital at Trenton, when it is COM
pleted.
There is considerable discussion as to
whether the civil service will affect
John j.. Bolan, superintendent of the
court house. His friends maintain
hat ii will not.
At the eleventh hour, with a motion
before the Board of Freeholders to adj
journ, Clerk Joseph A. Wright entered
with the civil service resolution, and
after it had been read rapidly. it was
declared passed by a viva voce vote,
Freebooter Mcbride, Republican, from
Orange, voting with the Democrats.
In the earlier part of the meeting 1t
was not contemplated to introduce the
resolution, but at the height of the
argument over the Court House light
ing plant, County Counsel Elvin w.
Crane left the room and drew up the
resolution. As Director Michael Barry
asked If there was any further bust
ness before the meeting. a Republican
anDaha 1ayag aa hi. F,AN ,aIIf-r FA,
adjournment, and at that time the Re
publicans were in the majority in the
room. A whispered word and Director
Barry sale that there was something
else to be done, and the unsuspecting
Republican withdrew his motion of ad-
journment and then the Democratic
members who had been in the hallway
quietly filed into the room, and the
resolution was carried with two Re
publicans voting for it.
Eaton Fnthered Resolution.
Freebooter Edward c. Eaton was the
maj chosen to introduce the resolution,
and he merely pointed to the paper in
Clerk Wright's hand and moved that
1t be adopted.
The odd feature of the entire manipu-
latlon was the Democratic members Of
the board fighting to put through the
civil service, a pet scheme of a Etepub-
lican Governor, while the Republicans
fought the measure of their own leader,
Inc of the Civil Service Board. which
win be a Republican body.
So sudden was the move on the part
of the Democrats that the Republicans
could not marshal their forces.
According to the provisions of the
Alderman civil service bill, passed by
the last Legislature, at the expiration of
three months county employees are
legislated into Office and cannot be re-
moved, except after a hearing,
The only exceptions TO the act, it is
commended. is one confidential clerk to
the heads of a departments elective
officers, and the heads of departments
aDpointpd