Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-08

NOT EMPOWERED
TO MAKE CONTRACT
Continued from First Pasel


Paul ]. Moore's room to discuss the
matter with the commissioners. The
commissioners did not take action on
the matter in any form.
After several of the manufac-
turers saw that the commissioners
were firm in their stand they held q
meeting behind closed doors Loud
talking echoed about the place Re-
porters were barred from this gath
ering.
Mr. Benedict stated at the first
hearing with the commissioners that
q contract had been entered into by
the Board of Fire Commissioners in
1902 with q competitor.
Commissioner Burke, replying TO
this, said:
Mr. Benedict, that is not SO. At
the time that contractwas signed the
mayor and council We're in charge. 1t
was during the administration of
Mayor James M. Seymour that the
contract was entered into"
II defy you or anyone else to pro-
duce any contract entered into by the
mayor or council with a rival con-
Germ stated Mr.. Benedict.
"Do you want the key of the
safe?' asked Mr.. Burke
MIR. Burke then explained that the
legal department of the city is very
capable one, and without information
from 1t the commissioners cannot act
further in the matter.
Il may also reiterate that the legal
department In 1902 together with the
mayor and council, entered into the
contract with the competing concern
and not the fire commissioners,
stated Mr.. Burke.
A. ID. Il. Issues Invitations.
1t developed that representatives of
4 ~ IN 1s.,t,, tlRa.+ 4,,ar TI,nfY.
printed reply to the statement made
last week by the Fire Commissioners,
had included invitations to their sub
scribers to attend a meeting of the
Fire Board, ito be held in the City
Hall at 1880 o'clock tonight" The in
vitatons We're sent out by special de-
livery and reached their respective
destinations about 6 o'clock yesterday
afternoon. AS there had been no uIl-
derstanding between the Fire Com
missioners and the A, ID. 7. people
that anything more than conference
was to take place, the change of pro-
gram naturally surprised the commits
sioners. They had been kept in the
dark as to the A. ID. T. plans
Some of the A. ID. T. subscribers
later told the commissioners that they
could not understand why they were
asked to attend the meeting, but as
Vited them. When the real situation
was explained they shook their heads
and promised to have something more
to say about the invitation feature of
the matter.
During the course of a controversy
between Mr.. Benedict and Commits
sioner Burke, while the former was
giving his views as to what the com
missloners should do, when they
should do 1t and how the should do
IT. Mr.. Burke turned to President
Weber and remarked; "Why not let
Mr.. Benedict take a seat in the board
and run things absolutely? He is a
sort of attorney general and city
counsel all in one. We will do any
thing in our power for our citizens
and taxpayers. We know them and
know that they are good people. We
respect them and ] feel that they
appreciate the fact that we mean to
do our full duty and do full justice to
them. They are intelligent business
men, and as such no doubt realize
that We constitute a subordinate
branch of the city government onl
and are not vested with the power =
execute contracts of the nature y.
the one under discussion, which may
involve what Is termed a franchise"
MIR. Benedict Peppery.
MI. DtIltuiCL was pIA SiSttttb anu
somewhat peppery.
II want you to act right now" said
he. you have our pamphlet and
can read it and settle it in a minute
I'm q minute?" queried Mr. Burke.
'tWhy we allowed you several days
to digest ours"
But yours contained twenty five
pages" returned Mr.. Benedict.
"And yours contains twenty-seven
pages" fired back the commissioner.
Here the discussion assumed the
nature of good natured repartee be-
tween Mr.. Benedict and the commits
sioner, each Laughing at the others
sallies
1--WE had more to say, perhaps"
said Mr. Benedict.
Certainly more 10 explain" re-
turned Mr.. Burke. Now | may add
that this latest literary production of
yours has got it all over anything
Robert Louis Stevenson ever turned
out. You say it Is a true story, re-
plying to what you call our mis-
statements. Why not have it drama
tized? 1t would make u HIT with
the movies
THAT will do for YOU" said Mr..
Benedict you should have been
lawyer. You would make a top
"If L could attain to your class I
would die happy and no doubt
wealthy" smillngly replied the COM
missioner.
In the course of the controversy,
when the New Jersey auxiliary COM
pany's contract was referred to by
Mr.. Benefict, it was suggested that 1t
might be "a nice thing on the part of
Mr.. Benedict to wait until that con-
GERMS rights We're called into play.
The New Jersey company would no
doubt show that 1t had contract
with the city.
Make this case Of speak for
yourself, John, remarked Commits
sioner Burke
According to Mr.. Stratton, there
are about fifty subscribers names
missing from the petitions asking the
board to again connect the A. ID. T.
system.
"Why do these subscribers not sign
the petition?" asked Commissioner
Stratton of Mr.. Benedict.
''oYu know some of them reside in
HARRISON" was the reply advanced by
Mr.. Benedict.
well, if they reside in Harrison.
why. then, are they on the official
1ist?" said Mr.. Stratton.
Eyes, the people of Harrison are led
to believe that we must give them
fire protection under the A. ID. T. con-
tract" interjected Mr.. Burke.
mo. indeed, they do not" said Mr..
Benedict.