Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1869-05-11

passing bills, but Immediately on re-
assembling in the afternoon, the nine
gentlemen from the rural precincts who
for the past five months have had
"alms-house on the BRAIN" INDUCED
in q number of inconsistencies" which
were shown up in the clearest and most
positive manner by Messrs. Justus Nor
ris, Abel S. Hetfeld, John Bembridge
and Joseph McCord, who represented
the city in the old Board.
The Committee appointed to audit
the accounts of Thomas B. Budd, Esq,
the County Collector, reported that they
had disallowed the vouchers for some
$35, OOO-money paid by the said col
lector on the order of the alms-house
committee. This report gave rise to
spirited debate-Mr. Morris leading off
with considerable eloquence, and laying
bare the unprecedented action of the
country members. Mr.. Morris, in the
course of his remarks, rehearsed the
aims house question. He said that
more than one year ago, Mr.. Webster
member from Plainfield-at time
when the members from Elizabeth were
green, offered resolution, which was
unanimously adopted, that all commit
tees should have power and authority
to audit all bills contracted by them.
| In November, six months thereafter, at
a regular meeting of the Board, reso-
luton was offered showing the want
which had been long felt for county
aims house, and calling for the appoint
ment of a special committee, with full
power, to select grounds and purchase
or erect buildings to be used for this
purpose. A majority of the Board
were present, and every member at the
meeting voted for the resolution-Mr.
Webster, presiding at the same, and
making a speech at the time, strongly
favoring the project. The committee
lost no time in going to work, and after
looking about, finally agreed to pur-
chase the valuable tract of land with
comfortable and commodious buildings
thereon just at the outskirts of the
city, property formerly belonging to
the city of Elizabeth. After its pur-
chase became known, the rural gen
tlemen became very much alarmed, and
concocted to render the action of the
committee null and void-even urging
the Director to go to the Collector, and
forbid that officer from paying over any
monies on the order of the committee.
But the Collector, acting as he had done
in hundreds of previous cases, and hav-
ing the law for it, had already paid over
the purchase money. Well, matters
went on till the middle of Jan uary,
when Mr.. Webster succeeded in getting
resolution passed resembling his for
mer resolution, that the Collector should
pay on the order of committee. The
above is plain statement of facts, not
to be controverted by any one.
Mr. Morris dealt with the above facts,
and e1fectually hushed the "other
side," who really seemed at loss to
know what "tack" to make next.
Mr.. Hetfeld gained the floor, and an
swered the gentleman who were so anx-
ious to know just how many days the
members of the committee had been
engaged in the alms-house matter. He
thought the less that certain members
alluded to the expense attending the
purchase of the aims house the better
| it would be. He felt that he had earn
ed the small amount set down in his
bill, and since he had been a member
of this Board, double that amount had
been saved the county by his being alb
sent from the grand dinners ordered by
! the Board. Several hundred dollars
had been expended at Mr.. Weymann's,
and as much more at Railway for din
ners, drinks, segars, and ct ceteras; and
it came with poor grace for these gen
tlemen now to begrudge the small sums
of money which had been fairly earned.
Talk about such economy-he scorned
it. 1t made him blush to think of the
extreme modesty of certain members.
Mr.. Hetfeld was interrupted by one
of the rural gentlemen, who inquired
whether he had not partaken of dinners
at the expense of the county; to which
he replied that he had eaten one or two
dinners, but ON ascertaining that there
was no law for it, he had abstained from
the pleasures of the festive board and
he was perfectly willing at this time to
pay for the dinners which he had eaten,
at the request of the members.
Mr.. John Bembridge thought one
thing had been overlooked. The Aims
House committee had served some three
months and more, and had not trans
acted all the business in five days, as
had been insinuated. Such thing
might happen, as that man could
earn $40 in 80 days. He could not see
why a Freebooter should not be able to