Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-01-12
KEARNEY NAMED
AS SECRETARY
TOPOLICE BOARD
The Supplanting of Joseph M.
Cox Came Suddenly and
SensationalIy.

None Of the new police commits
sioners will express an opinion on the
status in the police department OF
Joseph NJ. Cox, for twentv-eight
years clerk and secretary to the Po-
lice Board, who was ousted at the or
ganization melting of the board yes
terday afternoon, as told in the Even
ing Star. The beard appointed as
secretary Jameg J. Kearney.
Members CT the last Police Board
say that Mr.. Cox is clerk to the po-
Ics department, and was merely de-
tailed as secretary. As clerk. they
say, Mr.. Cox received his salary of
5000, and Is protected by civil ser
vice. City Counsel Spauldlng Frazer
said Yesterday that while this does
not appear plausible to him, he will
not express an opinion until he has
looked further into the question.
Clerk" the statutory Title.
AS a matter of fact, Mr.. Cox, in the
language of the act of 1855, Which
created the Police Commission, was
appointed as ''clerk'' and not as "sec-
retary" The word secretary" does
not appear in the act. The word
CLERK" does.
The ousting of Mr.. Cox came as a
blow to tho veteran secretary and to
nearly everyone else about the City
Hall. Mr.. Cox was appointed clerk
to the Police Commission in 1886, less
than a year after the creation Of
that body, and has served continuous
ly, through Republican and Demo-
cratic administrations, since that
time. He is a Democrat.
The new Police Board organized
shortly after 4;30 o'clock yesterday
afternoon. John L. Reid, Republican,
nominated Frederick C. Breidenbach,
his Republican colleague, for the pres
idency of the board. The nomina-
ton was seconded by Commissioner
John II. Donnelly. In accepting the
presidency Mr.. Breidenbach thanked
his colleagues.
Bigelow Starts tho Ball.
Commissioner Frederic Blgelow,
Democrat. Immediately brought up
the question of the appointment #
a secretary and moved that that po-
sition be declared vacant. Mr.. Reid
seconded the motion, and it was car
ried unanimously. A motion. SINH
larly made and carried appointed
James J. Kearney secretary to the
board.
As Mr.. Cox receives his salary as
clerk of the department, the board
will have to fix a salary for Mr..
Kearney. The new secretary is we'll
known in some circles in the city as
q Republican scout" or worker, and
at one time had a considerable repu-
tation as a bowler. He is thirty
four years old and lives at 56 Third
street. He has been engaged in and
about political headquarters for
some time. Mr. Kearney attended
st. Antoninus's and st. Joseph's
parochial schools. He has lived IN
this city all Of his life.
None of the new commissioners
would answer question as to
whether he considered Mr.. Cox still
q member of the department, when
approached yesterday. "All / have
to say about the matter" said Mr.
Reid, 'is that Mr. Cox will Se
treated as fairly as any one man
can treat another" The veteran sec
retary took the matter philosopmcaIly
yesterday and expressed wish that
the new secretary will have every
success IN MS new OutleS.
To Hold Night Sessions.
The board decided to hold its meet
ings at night instead of in the aft
ernoon. as has been the custom of
previous boards. The regular meet
ings will be held on the second and
fourth Thursdays of every month
and will be preceded with a con-
ference on the Wednesdays previous.
The new commissioners were sworn
in yesterday by City Clerk Alexander
Archibald in his office. Many floral
gifts from friends and -wishers
adorned the tables in the Police
Board rooms, when the board or
ganized yesterday afternoon. They
included uoral pieces for Commission
ers Breidenbach and Donnelly, both
"sons" of the Fifth ward, from the
Ironbound Business Mems Associa-
tion.
Mr.. Cox was at his desk as usual
this morning, performing the work
that he has been handling for years.
Mr. Kearney, after being sworn In as
secretary, visited the office, and he
and MIR. Cox discussed matters for
some time. Just what Kearneys
duties are as secretary" as distinc-
tive from Cox's functions ss clerk
have not apparently been determined.