Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-06-20
Jersey C|TY'S NEW
!. Commission SPLIT
ON APPOINTMENTS
Stormy Session and Fight Over
Law Department Nom
nations.
CORPORATION COUNSEL
BONE OF CONTENTION
Mayor Fagan's Opposition Is
Overcome and John Milton
Named After Battle.

fFrom staf CorrespondenfJ
JERSEY CITY. y. j., June 2o.-At
a stormy session today the FIVE new
commissioners split on the question
of appointments in the law depart
ment.
II was only after stubborn and pro-
longed opposition on the part Of
Mayor Mark NJ. Pagan and Commits
eioner A. Harry Moore that John Mil
ton was named corporation counsel;
John Bentley corporation. attorney.
and Thomas Brogan assistant corpor-
alton attorney.
The principal fight was over the
corporation counsel. Mayor Pagan
nominated George L. Record. who
was defeated by a vote of two to
three. Commissioner Moore nomi-
mated two men, former Judge Robert
H. Carey and Assemblyman Walter
L. McDermott, both of whom were
defeated by the same vote.
Pagan Urges Delay.
The mayor opened the meeting by
urging his colleagues to defer making
any appointments. His attitude was
that a public meeting ought to be
held in order to ascertain what pub
lie opinion was in regard TO the
Offices.
THE position of corporation coun-
SELL" he said, requires a brilliant
lawyer and one especially expert on
questions of taxation. The success of
the present administration depends
upon the taxes and upon the finances
of the city.
Jersey City is now in a very de-
plorable condition. It will be impos-
sible to raise the money that will be
necessary unless we have a tax
expert as corporation counsel, for
upon him will fall the work of rails
ing funds"
Ferris Opposes Him.
II can see no reason for delay" saiS
Commissioner James ]. Ferris
want legal advice II the men seIe
ed are found not to be competent,
will vote against them at any time"
! He asserted that he was not trying
/ to create an Office for friend or
someone who had done something for
him.
George F. Brensinger, commissioner
of finance, insisted that any further
delay would be dangerous to the city,
Il have no doubt that some of the
biggest lawyers in the city," inter
rupted Mayor Pagan. would guaran-
tee their services absolutely free fol
the time being. Benefit always comes
from a thorough discussion l cannot
see any hope of success il we go or
in this manner"
! At this point Commissioner FRANK
Hague. who had so rar been silent
said:
IT have been criticised for not tax.
ing immediate action, and l feel thai
a corporation counsel and his assist
ants should be selected at once
am ready to stand by all the pledges
l have made and I shall vote in th'
way my conscience dictates. 1t il
two weeks since We were elected ant
it is high time TO make these appoint
ments. The people will abide by oul
decision.
Il suppose they will have to-. tn,
mayor retorted bitterly.
This aroused Ferris. Il don't thinl
that was well said" he exclaimed
unless the mayor has something per
sonal in the matter"
Mayor Pagan protested that there
was nothing personal in his attitude
I'm merely speaking of my ex
perience when I was mayor of Jer
sew City before and of the very in
volved litigation of which the pub
lie has not the remotest idea Abou
my only campaign pledge was L
submit all questions TO the public"
Ferris then moved a resolution t.
make the appointments. and it wa
read by the city clerk, Michael
Fagen. It provided for the NAMING
of a corporation counsel, at tn
same salary as heretofore, $4,000; ;
corporation attorney. at $4,000, an'
an assistant at $500.
The mayor again protested and
said that premature action would b.
most unfortunate.
The resolution was adopted by
vote of to ?, Moore and Pagan vot
ing may"
John Milton Nominated.
Then Hague nominated and Bren
singer seconded John Milton as cor
poration counsel.
Moore said that he had a substi
tute motion. He explained that h
had in mind a man who for five year
had been corporation counsel of Jer
sey City; that his nomination was alb
solutely non-Dartisan and that it wa
not intended as a criticism of anyone
His candidate he asserted knew tn
tax system from A to and had mad
special study of the commission
form of government.