Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-01-04
ORANGE COUNCIL
SQUABBLES OVER
CITY COUNSEL JOB
Mr.. Birkholz BaIks Mr.. Lords
Ambitions and There Is Sar-
casm and Repartee Galore.

"a vi "a 49,
he may be given by the municipal de-
partments of Orange, smiled for a few
brief minutes last night and permitted
the reelection of Willett b. Gano as city
clerk, Frank G. Coughtry as tax col
lector and Nathaniel J. Burton as audi
tor, but the smile faded and a wintry
chill again pervaded the council cham
Der when the office of city counsel was
named. The Nemesis of City Counsel
William A. Lord promptly Joined the
Democratic seven when a motion was
made by Minority Leader John c. Fin
eran to postpone the selection Of that
official and others over to April |.
Councilman Grinsted moved to lay
the selections over indefinitely, and
while this motion failed 1t precipitated
a string OF speeches intended as sar-
casm, explanation and other thin IS, all
of which did not change the at itude
of the Third ward man. The Republic
cans got wind of Mr.. Birkholz's friend
~ feeling toward the three officials
named, who were later paid a compli-
n1ent by Mr.. Fineran, and decided to
ollow up their anticipated appoint
ments by presenting Mr.. Lords name.
The effort was futile, however, and the
selection of the officials, with the ex-
ception of the three decided upon, was
put over to April.
After so1ne preliminary verbal SPAR
ring, each side asking reasons for the
strange situation in the Council, Mr..
Murray warmed things up by denounc-
ing the hold-up of officials as a cheap
specimen of politics."
1T is just in line with the action of
the RpnphlipnnG IN NpM Xanr'c - m
piled Mr.. lFineran, Gin waiting out of
the Council chamber. 1 might add
there is a precedent in the hold4up by
the Republicans of the appointment of
a city counsel, when Thomas A.. Davis
held over until Mr.. Lord was finally
selected. If the Republicans will give
their exact reasons for marching out
of the Council meeting / may give our
reasons for the hold-up of appoint
ments.'
Mr.. Murray Explains.
Mr.. Murray, who nae a carefully pre-
pared speech, rose and read it. lie said
the Republicans were committed to the
work of carrying out the wishes of a
majority of the people by choosing
members of their party for the
offices.
And 1t is the duty of every Repub-
~ h'oii " tdIty OQl tlt Will
Of the people us expressed by a ma
jorlty of the voters. and on strictly
partisan matters should vote with his
party said the First ward man. He
said the reason they left the meeting
ON New Years Day was that unless
every representative of the party was
in his seat there was danger. Mayor
Seymour, Mr.. Murray declared, had
been asked to await the arrival of the
Third ward member (Mr. Birkholz), but
had called the meeting to order when
he was absent. As no quorum was
present when the Mayor did call the
meeting, no business, of course, could
be transacted, and Mr.. Murray re-
liberated that he and his fellows
marched out, las was our duty to the
people who elected U.S.
Nov, l will give my explanation,
and l don't need any manuscript,
either" retorted Mr.. Fineran. THE
reason we feel perfectly safe in watt
ing to make appointmentssis that there
are as good men, and some better
men, in the city available for the posi-
tons the incumbents hold. We have
Republican officials who laid sidewalks
ten feet over the line into West Or
ange. and l would not vote for such as
~ tit2ts wv ia = NV oDDootu itt III ~
men reelected tonight because they are
good men, we recognize merit in
city employees: and if it came for the
discussion in the Democratic party of
names for the offices filed tonight the
incumbents would get support from the
Democrats; but as to the other places
we feel they can be filled by better
men than those VINO IRE there
Some Sarcasm.
Mr.. Calhoun marveled that the Demo-
Gratis should stop at Mr.. Lords reelec-
tion on a question of laying sidewalks,
as he did not think the job was in the
province of the city counsel. Mr.. MUIR
ray, Who's demand for an explanation
from the Democratic leader provoked
Ibis reply, said Mr.. Fineran should
bring out his good candidates now and
not wait until next April, while Mr.. Lee
Master announced that Mr.. Fineran had
a slate of appointees in his pocket on
Saturday, and Mr.. Bergman chimed in
with a suggestion against holding over
the par excellence list of Mr.. Fineran's,
which brought a retort that when Mr..
Fineran needed Republican advice he'd
seek il. The latter also settled the
matter Of the alleged Democratic slate,
which obtained some publicity, by re-
citing that one man with q good busi-
ness and a $500 public appointment,
was named as a Democratic nominee
icr u $4,000 job. in the list of Democratic
candidates as published.
Previous to the meeting there was
much buzzing about of Republican
leaders. but their suggestions for har-
mony did not penetrate the embittered
member from the Third. He gave the
representatives of his party a jolt, how
ever, before the meeting by summoning
them into an ante-room. with Mr.. Lord,
TO investigate the source of a rumor
that Mi. Birkholz had voted for him
self and that MIR. Lord had the writ
ten ballots from the hat on New Years
Day to indicate that the deposed leader
supported his W candidacy for presi-
dent. Mr.. Birkholz got the seven Dem
ocratic cotes for president, but sup
ported President Heberling, the caucus
choice. There was no show down of
the alleged ballots and no proof of the
charges. and then the group marched
back to the Council.
That no end of influence has been
suggested in various quarters to move
Mi. Birkholz is generally known, the
highest State authorities, it is under
stood, having been urged to butt into
A the row, but wiki no success.