Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-04-21
REPUBLICANS VOTE
TO GUST 50 CITY
HALL DEMOCRATS
G. o. P. Aldermen's Steering
Committee Decides Spells
Must Be Shared in Party.

The jobs of fifty men at the City
Hall are in jeopardy today simply be-
cause they are Democrats. That was
made apparent when eleven members
of the steering committee of the Com
mon Council got together last night
and decided that these jobs shall be
filled by Republicans. They plan a fine
/ exemplifcation of the spoils system, and
will not Jake into consideration eff
cheney or any other qualification that
the present incumbents may possess.
The mere fact that the men are Demo-
Gratis is to seal their doom, IL these
spoils-hunters are to have their way.
One man, Alderman Jerome I. Con
| gleton, said that he would not be bound
by the caucus last night, and that he
would fight on the floor Of the Com
| mon Council to oust any man against
whom the only charge could be brought
Is that he is a Democrat.
The committee met al the City Hail
last night. AS soon as the eleven
Aldermen representing the eleven
wards with Republican representation
in Council had gotten together they
opened a city manual and started in on
their consideration of jobs. 1t was sug-
gested at once that as the entire office
force of the city sealer of weights and
measures was Democratic 1t be cleaned
out forthwith.
Mr.. C~ongleton was recognized by
Chairman Wohlfarth at that point and
proceeded to give his ultimatum. He
said that he proposed to judge men by
their work and not take into considera-
ton the question of politics. After
much argument it was voted to rec
ommend the cleaning out Of the de-
partment but reconsideration finally
led to the decision to save. If possible.
the official heads OF Messrs. Caufield
and Desch, of that department.
All action taken last night was
couched in words that made it appear
final. AS the eleven aldermen present
constitute more than half Of the Re-
publican majority. they felt that what
ever they agreed upon would stand.
The first vote taken showed that Mr..
Congleton had failed to hold the New
Idea aldermen from the Eighth and
Ninth wards. He voted alone against
the dismissal of men because they were
Democrats, the tally being 10 to l.
Department after department was
taken up. The buildings department
was a subject for long discussion be-
fore it was voted to spare Republi-
cans and veterans. but to dismiss
eight Democratic inspectors. Except
Superintendent of Buildings William
P. O'Rourke, who Is a Spanish war
veteran, the committee voted to spare
onlv Assistant superintendent John H.
O'Rourke and Inspector Edward Duffy
Of the Democrats there.
There was no opposition to the mo-
ton to have a superintendent of the
city almshouse whose wife should be
matron. Alderman Baum has a can
didate for that place, one Corey, of the
Ninth ward. 1t was voted to retain all
Republicans in the Office of Receiver
of Taxes Ross and to dismiss all Demo-
Gratis u one. All Democratic watch
men, u cleaners, ordinary clean
ers, elevator men, Chief Engineer Colt
fried Dries, one engineer, three fremen,
twenty-five persons in. all, were listed
to go from the City Hall pay roll alone.
The several committees Of Council
will have the distribution OF such
places as Market police. 1t was in
formally stated by the Republican reg
ulars that in due time the entire force
of the city's expert office would be
ousted and Republicans appointed. All
the auditors office force is slated to go
II Congleton does not beat the mad
scramble for spoils, with the exception
OF Chief Clerk Andrew K. Brady.