Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-03-22
DEMOCRATS FAIL
IN ATTEMPT TO
ASSUME CONTROL
For Three Hours, Though, Re-
pnblicans in Orange Council Are
Kept Nervous and Anxious.

0bAAN fhAS
Kept Nervous and Anxious.
For the brief period of three hours
the city of Orange was a Democratic
municipal government last night. and
the thirteen members who attended had
a gala night of it. There were speeches
galore. President Andrew j. Heberling. |
who inherited the troublous position of
presiding officer. felt like Uncle Joe Can
non for a while. and the Democratic
minority was suddenly transformed
into a majority of one by the absence
of Majority Leader William A. Calhoun
and Councilman Harry w. Bergman.
the latter supervisor of bills at Tren-
ton. They had visions of several ap-
pointments. While nothing came of the
short period of control except talk.
everybody in the council chamber, with
the possible exception of City Engineer
Fred T. Crane, who heard a motion
offered to remove him from his job of
msnylyears' standing. enjoyed a breezy
session.
When the matter of confirming the
bonds of several minor officials was
before the council there was some
sparring by the Democrats, who had
counted noses and found themselves
holding control of the council. Despite
objections from their colleagues, the
Democrats forced a recess ana went
into a caucus and decided to discharge
Engineer Crane. Herman Willie and
Walter Patton. of Tax Collector Frank
G. Coughtry's Office. and Walter Will
kinson, of the water departments office.
Clerk Wfikinson's bond had beer ac-
cepted through the action of Council
man Coleman voting with the Repub-
leans earlier in the session. but the
Democrats decided to remove him and
give the position to William kearney,
of the Fourth ward, who was deputy
warden of the Caldwell penitentiary
and a popular member of the Fourth
ward Democracy. Daniel Coleman, jr.,
and NJ. Mulvihill were slated for pros
pective vacancies, and John j. Bracken,
who was d Democratic candidate for
the Assembly, vas to replace Engineer
Crane.
~ l6lQIllSQ ~ lDGlI DldGeS
and then some routine was attended to.
Previous to the departure of Democrats
from the council chamber to caucus
there was talk about the unfairness of
taking advantage of a majority when
TWO of the members were at Trenton
working for the city's interests. 1t was
called peanut politics, and the wordy
battle was renewed when Minority
| NJ inrify aadar Eiparop ,,oxvad fbat
the office of City Engineer Crane be
declared a
The motion was put, and Councilman
Murray arose to discuss a point Of
order. He reiterated the peanut
politics speech and declared he never
in all his experience saw anything so
cheap n gave an extended dressing
down to the Democrats.
I'D like to know what Mr.. Murray's
point of order was" said Mr.. Fineran.
"All I heard was a speech
Mr.. Murray retorted that the motion
offered by MI. Fineran was out of order
n President Heberling announced he
would not give a decision on the point
Of order made during the meeting, bu:
would announce it later"
With prospects of a wait Councilman
Dolan, from the Democratic side, called
out, you had better bring in our cots. .
Mr.. Fineran wanted to appeal from the
anticipated decision of the chair on the
Murray point of order. but it was ex.
planned amid laughter that no decision
was announced, hence no appeal could
be taken.
Councilman Cheetham said under
legislation recently passed n signed
by Governor Fort it would be impos-
sible to remove a city engineer without
first preferring charges against the ac-
cused official, and while some small talk
continued a motion to adjourn was de-
feated by the Democrats. Before q
plan that la been formulated to de-
!, clare the presidents chair vacant and
substitute Councilman W. Stanley
Grinsted. a Democrat, the latter decid-
ed to end what seemed a hopeless pro-
ceeding by moving for adjournment
With the six Republicans joining glee-
fully in this motion the vote was I te
6 and the farce-comedy was over.
Majority Leader William A. Calhoun
this morning. in explaining his absence
said he was at Trenton TO oppose the
passage of senator Ackerman's' bill
providing for trackage changes on rail
roads.
''This bill. if it becomes a law" said
Mr.. Calhoun. would enable the Lack
awanna Railroad Company 10 change
its tracks in this city. The act pro
vides for So per cent. Of tire cost TO sc
on the railroad corporation and the
remainder on the city. That improve
ment will mean a million-dollar ex'
pense for Orange alone. and our share
would therefore be s350,00o. I thought
it more important to fight that thar
attend the Council session. I also Sc.
cured an adjournment or the Passaic
Valley sewerage matter, and we viii
have g hearing tomorrow afternoon
Councilman Berrym2n was looking
after his work as supervisor of bills al
Trenton.