Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-06-19
.W|TTPENN'S RULE
ENDS IN SEIZURE
Jersey City Treasurer's Work
in Control of New FL
nance Commissioner.
AN ADHERENT OF MAYOR
SAYS THERE'LL BE FIGHT
Work Going on in the Treas
urer's Office Under
Brensinger.
Isnecinl 10 the Newark starI

| Especial to the Newark start
JERSEY CITY, N. J., June a.
| Commissioner of Finance and Reve-
nue. George F. Brensinger Is today in
charge of the city treasurer's office
which Carl G. A. Schumann, city
treasurer under Wittpenn, refused on
| Tuesday to vacate, and the work is
going on as usual Mr.. Schumann
made his grand stand play Tues
day on the advice of Warren Dixon,
who was corporation counsel under
Wittpenn.
Mr.. Dixon advised Mr.. Schumann
that the election of the five commits
sioners was illegal and that the city
treasurer would be responsible for
all the moneys that went through his
department. When Commissioner
Brensinger went to take possession of
the office Mr.. Schumann declared
that he would not turn over the keys
of the office because he intended to
protect himself and his bondsmen.
Mr.. Dixon said today that he did
not believe there would be any court
proceedings instituted in Mr.. Schu-
mann's behalf
well, do you intend to test the
legality of the election?" he was
asked.
No Doubt of a Contest.
II have no doubt pul that it will be
| contested" was Mr.. DiXons reply,
but he refused to say at this time
who would institute the proceedings
or whether he would act for anybody.
Possession of the office was obtained
| by Commissioner Brensinger yester-
day and all moneys were received un-
der his direction. The city treasur-
trs office was closed and the clerks
dispatched their work under Mr.
Brensinger in the comptroller's office.
Last night after conference, Com
missioners Brensinger, Hague and
Ferris had the locks on the door
changed. Two policemen were placed
in the Office by Commissioner Hague,
who is in charge of the department
of public safety, with orders to al
low nobody to disturb any papers or
records.
Mechanics were changing the lock
of the door from the city comptrol-
| ler's office to the city treasurer's
office and two policemen were guard
| ing the entrance to the city treas
urer's office from the corridor when
Warren Dixon, former corporation
counsel passed the policemen and en-
tered the office.
You are using force, I see," said
Dixon.
Brensinger's Action.
81 don't know whether that's what
l am doing" said Brensinger, "but l
am in possession and you will have to
get OUT
"You broke in, eh?" said Dixon.
YES" said Brensinger. 81 broke
in and 1 will break in any place
where I belong. 1 am city treasurer
and you have no right here. You
will have to get out"
Policeman Lynch seized Dixon and
started to push him out of the office.
'It won't be necessary to forcibly
eject him." said Brensinger.
81 see you have the police force
with you" said Dixon.
Yes said Brensinger. 81 have
the police force and 1 have the en-
tire power of the State behind me.
am here by the sovereign will of
the people. Your attempt to en-
barrass the administration and ruin
the credit of Jersey City is not going
to be successful"
Brensinger said that he was going
to stop any further interference by
the former city treasurer with his
execution of the duties as city treas
urer Dixon then left the office.
Prompted by Wittpenn.
The impression prevails that Mr..
Schumann's action in refusing to turn
over his office and questioning the
validity of the election at which
commission government was adopted,
was prompted by former Mayor
Wittpenn.. Mr.. Schumann is being
severely criticised. Property owners
are asking if he believes the election
was illegal why did he not raise this
point before the primary election and
the election for commissioners. These
two elections cost the city many
thousands of dollars, which might
have been saved if Mr.. Schumann's
contentious are sustained. Instead
of making any objection to the cleo
ton at which commission govern
ment was adopted Mr.. Schumann
sought election as one of the COM
missioners. Only after he found him.
self defeated did he complain about
the illegality of the election.
Director of Finance and Revenue
Brensinger had this to say:
"By July must have $1,2S0.00o u
meet the expenses, payrolls and in
: terest charges of that date. I do no
> believe that shall be hamperet
! meeting these obligations of the city
= I expect that the courts by that tim,
| will have smoothed out the hitcl
caused by Mr.. Schumann's refusal Il
| recognize the new city government
/ If the school teachers do not hav
] their three months pay at the usua
( time, July l, they will know who t.
5 blame for the delay. If other EN-
t ployees of the city are unable to Sc
i cure their June pay on time they
t too, will have to blame the gentle
a man who has precipitated the litiga
e ton"
r Banks to Recognize Him.
e The several banks have decided t
t recognize Mr.. Brensinger as the Gus
e todian of the city funds. When tn
members of the law department hav
$ been chosen. which will probably b
n at todays meeting of the commission
d steps will be taken to unravel tn
e tangle.