The New York herald., 1874-12-18
THE FIGHTING FREEHOLDERs.

JERSEY AS A BATTLE GROUND FOR GREEDX
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. DAY oR ,wRAN-
CLING AND FRAUDULENT ExPosUREs-THA
SMALLPOX SCARE.
The Board OF Chosen Freeholders OF Hudson
county held another meeting at Jersey City yes-
terday, and the attendance OF spectators was
large as usual. The taxpayers who have couple
OF leisure hours to spend seem to have ar.
rived at the conclusion that they cam
not foil to enjoy matinee Of real amusemeAe
In the han OF that Board. The hrst business tnas
attracted attention was . communication from
James Coyle. one Of the members who had been
charged with frauds in connection with the public
business The communication was q legal process
to the courts In January for the payment OF
$4,000. Mr.. Smith moved that 1t be re-
ferred to the counsel Of tho Board.
Mr.. Rub moved as an amendment shat It be re-
ferred to the Committee OF Investigation, with
power to employ the necessary counsel, into
whose ears the committee could pour some infor-
nation not known to many outside the committee.
Mr.. Gibson moved to lay Mr. Ruh's motion on the
table. and 1t was carried. Mr.. Rub sat down. NUT
tering, "Another triumph for fraudn
The most interesting item was In relation to the
liberty pole being erected In front OF the Aims.
house at snake Hill. Bills Tor small amounts are
sent IN for tins pole at every meeting till they
nave mounted up 10 3oUO. MT Kun opened IRE on
this Job ana on his motion 1t was resolved to pay
no more money on this account iii ali the items
are uefore the Board Mr.. Coyle tried to defend
the job. but he was voted down
Job No. 8 was the laying OF . new gas main at
Snake Hill. bill was presented for $780, ana
This was only half the whole item. Mr.. Gibson
asked whether the work had been contracted IOr
according to law. Director ThrocEmorto ton blushed
and replied IN the negative with some hesitation.
few law.abidlng members shook their heads.
The Chairman having guaranteed that the WORK
was being honestly done the bill was ordered
paid.
Then came the smallpox scare. Mr.. Crane sent
IN proposition to remove smallpox patients to
the hospital at snake Hill at the sum oil $l2 for
each removal This brought an .old nouseSs
down on the chairman Of the ambulance commit
zee, MI. Gibson, who was charged with having
lrlttered away time for months on the subject.
Mr.. Smith said that smallpox was increasing so
fast that It threatened to become an epidemic.
Mr. Londregan spoke sharply to Mr. Gibson in de.
fence Of Cranes proposition, when Gibson re.
ambulance pie.
job No. was the largest OF all. Mr.. Schroeder
moved that the counsel OF the Board be instructed
to take the necessary legal steps for the con-
domination OF lands ct Snake Hill not now owned
by the county aud for the sale OF the salt meadows
according to an act OF the Legislature. Mr. Gibson
was immediately on his ieet and on his motion
the matter was laid on the table, Mr.. schroeder
Is the tallcst member OF the Board, and Mr.. Glib
son branded his action as involving the taIlesE
job.
The nnal wrangle was the spiciest. One J. J. Ard
was the lowest bidder for the erection OF the new
pavilion at Snake Htll IT So 2l, ana the contract
was awarded TO him. He asked now to be released,
and motion was made to that effect. GIBSON
made desperate fight, and on his motion It was
the dlnerencc between their bond and the amount
OF the next lowest bidder.