Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-12-03
MANY OFFICIALS
TOLOSE PLACES
IN EAST ORANGE
Mayor-eIect Serves Notice on
Three to Look for New
Positions.

East Orange officialdom learned
with dismay today that Mayor-elect
worrall f. Mountain. of that city,
proposes to make radical changes
when he takes the executive chair
at the first of the year.
The first of the officials to learn
they are to be ousted were City Audi
tor Campbell T. Hedge. who has &C
eupied that position for nine years;
Superintendent of Buildings John @.
Scott, who is considered one of the
most efficient office-holders in the
municipality, and James T. Boyle,
secretary to Mayor Julian A. Greg
orv These officials, 1t leaked out
today, were advised by the mayor
elect yesterday to look for other en-
ployment as he did not intend to
feappoint them in January.
simultaneously with the develop
ment that the executive-elect is going
to have certain paid officials walk
the gang plank at the beginning of
the new year. it came to light that
every Democratic commissioner in
the city who was appointed by the
present mayor, Julian A. Gregory,
at the end of the year If the in
coming executive desires their resig-
nations.
other Heads May Fall.
interviewed as he was ascending
the bench of the East Orange District
Court, Of which he has been judge
since that tribunal was opened five
years ago, Mayor-eleet Mountain
talked about the removal of officials
only with the greatest of reluctance.
That the heads of other officials be-
sides those mentioned above are to
fall was broadly limited.
Queried especially about why Mr..
Hedge had to go, Mayor elect Noun
tain would only reply: As they
would say in the army, for the good
Of the service" Mr.. Hedge. who is
Republican, has been one of the
most faithful officials of the city and
there was no one about the City Hail
today that did not voice sorrow to |
have him go.
That Mayor-elect Mountain may |
ind il impossible to remove Mr.. Scott |
developed later in the morning, when |
chapter 50 of the laws of 1914 was
looked up. This law specifies that |
building inspectors OF secOnd-class |
municipalities cannot be removed F.
unless for just reason. It is stated in |
he chapter that the law implies 10 |
inspectors appointed or elected by |
municipal bodies In what manner /
he law should be properly interpreted !
vas not clear TO Mr.. Scott or others, /
md ne has sought an opinion from /
Newark lawyer Mayor Mountain said 1
e was ignorant of this law, adding |
nat he intends to look 1t up.
sorry to See Scott Go.
Regret at the desire to remove Mr..
scott was also voiced by the City |
tIall people. Mr.. Scott was appointed 4
our years ago by Mayor Gregory.
)enial of a widely-circulated rumor
hat Mayor Mountain was Influenced
Il Nry ri a n
ames G. Barradale, who, it is known,
) not entirely friendly to the in
Dector, was made known by the |
xecutive.
Advancing another reason for the |
.ossible removable of Mr. Scott GER |
ain men in the city declare a large
numb of builders are antagonistic /
oward the inspector because Of his !
asistenee upon strict adherence to
very technical law of the city's build
Ing code.
The impression that Mayor elect
Mountain proposes not to reappoint
5ther oflice-holders was CLEANED from
IN assertion he made, which was TO
The effect that he served notice on
Messrs, Hedge, Scott and Boyle not
expect unemployment, merely be-
cause he wanted them to have an op-
Dortunity to look for other jobs.
1t has been current gossip for
months that Mayor-eIect Mountain
intends TO replace City Counsel Boz
den d. Whiting, though he will not
admit the fact. The s1atemakers are
claiming that if Mr. Whiting fails to
he reappointed his successor will be
Franklin w. Fort, son of the for
ner governor. who appointed Mayor
elect Mountain judge of the District
Court. Mr.. Whiting said today he
had not received one Of Mayor
Mountains letters.
Ready 20 Resign.
That the Democratic commission
ers are willing to step out was con-
frTned by Mayor-elect Mountain, and
he said he already has some of thar
designations. The contemplated
move of the commissioners, which Is |
unprecedented in the history of the
city, was taken, they say, because
they did not desire to put the new
mayor in an embarrassing position,
whom he formally takes the executive |
reins. That Mayor Gregory asked |
his appointees to get out OF the city
government il they were not wanted
is admitted.
II had been rumored and confirmed
previous today that Mayor elect |
Mountain was particularly desirous
If the resigna tons Of the police and |
fire commissions. These bodies have |
Democratic majorities. The terms IF |
Fire Commissioners Henry S. Grobert |
and Louis A. STREET. and Police Com |
missioner John c. Lyon do not ex- |
oire this year. but all three have |
stated willingness to terminate |
their official career If this is desired. |
rhe term of Police Commissioner |
James Deignan, who is president Of |
the Police Board, expires at the end |
Of the year, but some are claiming |
there is a possibility Of him being re-
named.
The news Of Mayor Mountains in !
tention to remove Messrs. Scott and |
Hedge came as a great surprise. That |
ne deliberated at length before de- |
gliding to remove the auditor was de- |
clared by the new executive. He ad- |
nitted also he expected criticism
would be aimed at him for removing
he officials
Msyor-elect's Move Surprise.
Mayor Mountains move was partic-
'llarly surprising, because when cam
Daigning for the office he declared
ne would not remove competent off,
Gals. He frequently said he would
insist upon strict craftsmanship in
municipal affairs.
Whom he has in mind as success