Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-06-17
W|TTPENN REGIME
ENDS, COMMISSION
ASSUMING OFFICE
Five Sworn In TO Rule Jersey
City Under New Gov
ernment.
NEW OFFICERS SHOWERED
WITH FLORAL OFFERINGS
Fight for Corporation Counsel
Between McDermott and
Milton.
fFrom a staff corre.pondept.1

JERSEY CITY. N. j.. June IL
The end of the Wittpenn regime came
shortly after l1oon today, when the
five new commissioners took the oath
of office in the flower bedecked alder
manic chamber
The irony of fate was in evidence
throughout all the proceedings.
Mayor H. Otto Wittpenn surrendered
the key of the city--in reality that
of the mayors office-to Commission
er Mark M. Pagan. who has been
elected mayor by his colleagues. The
retiring and incoming mayors were
introduced by Thomas F. Meaney, the
mayors secretary. But the introduc-
ton was superhuous bit of formali-
ty for five years ago the two men
went through the same ceremony. At
that time it was Pagan who vent out
and Wittpenn who came in.
Another queer feature lay in the
fact that City Clerk John H. Morris.
a Wittpenn man, who swore in the
commissioners, had been himself
candidate at the commission election.
He was administering the oath to
his successful rivals.
the cheers which greeted the swear
ing in of Michael l. Fagan, the new
city clerk. He had been ousted at
the commencement of the Wittpenn
administration.
Someone in the crowd shouted.
Pagan has come back!"
The cheering was thereupon re-
newed with fresh vigor.
Immediately after the inaugura-
ton, the commissioners went into
session and passed a number of reso-.
lutions One introduced by Bren-
singer did away with various city
boards and departments. Frank
Hague then introduced one doing
away with the office of city collector.
city treasurer and the like. When he
came to the office of mayor. which
Wittpenn held. there were loud cheers
for Hague.
Another resolution provided that
Brensinger should act as city treas
urer, comptroller and collector until
the appointments in these depart
ments were made.
Police Judges Named.
John Warren was then named
judge to succeed James Butler. and
Charles F. x. O'Brien to succeed John
w Queen. Their salaries were fixed
at $500.
Hague introduced a resolution FIX
ing the salary of the mayor at $500
and that of the commissioners at So
600; Moore introduced one stipulating
that the commissioners meet every
afternoon at 4 o'clock, legal holidays
excepted; Fagan. one calling for pub
lie hearings on every important mat
ter of public policy, and Moore, one
in favor of publicity on all occa-
sions.
The Fifth Ward Progressive Club,
of which Mayor Pagan is a member,
presented fountain pens to all the
commissioners.
Congressman Eugene F. Kinkead
was an interested spectator of the
proceedings Brensinger is a protege
of his. A Newark delegation was
present and congratulated all the
commissioners. especially Hague. who
was the leading figure throughout the
day. Deputy Fire Chief Towey and
John P Curtin was with the New
arkers.
Many Floral Pieces.
The council chamber. where the in
auguration of Jersey City's first COM
missioners took place, was a verit-
able bower. All the commissioners
were recipients of many floral pieces
There were two big horseshoes from
the Lambs Club and the Tammanee
Club for Frank Hague, as well as a
picturesque pillow of roses from his
friends in the Horseshoe District.
Commissioner Pagan was the re-
cipient of a horseshoe marked Good
Luck from his friends. Several
church societies and the congrega-
tion of the Lafayette Reformed
Church sent bouquets to A. Harry
Moore. and George +. Brensinger
and James j. Ferris were also re-
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