The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-03
JERSEY CITY's FINANCES.
The Lack oT Money In the Treasury TO Pay
the Salaries for March.

The account given some timo ago in THE
Sun OF the financial condition OF Jersey CITY
has been verified by recent events The war
rants for tho salaries Of the city employees for
the month OF March are now in tho hands OF
City Treasurer Earle awaiting his signature.
Mr.. Earle has deferred signing them because
nj present the city has not money enough to
meet them Tho money In hand amounts to
about $4,000. and II is required for and Is
being applied to. the payment OF interest duo
on Tuesday on outstanding obligations For
some tmo past. he says it has not been GUS
tomary to sign all the warrants on tho first Of
the month and with the exception Of the Fire
Department tho employees OF tho different
branches Of tho city government have generally
remained unpaid for several days aitor tho
first Of tho month owing to n lack of money. A
loan Of 100000. and interest to tho amount Of
t150,0O0, will become duo on the first of May.
They represent the annual loan which is mado
every year in anticipation of taxes and tho
usual May interest.
Mr.. John Mullins the President OF tho Board
OF Finance. told n reporter for THE SUN. last
night. that tho financial condition Of the city
has been misrepresented. and that the tempo
rary embarrassment OF its affairs had been ex-
nggeraed He declared that the inference of
bankruptcy drawn from the failure OF tho
Ignorance Of the true situation OF affairs. Tho
delay had occurred in previous months with
out exciting any attention. The salaries. he
said. will be paid In n few days and there Is no
reason 70 anticipate any serious consequences.
The $4,000 claim duo to the Equitable Life In
surance Company. he added had been merely
extended. not renewed.
Freebooter Conroy, Chairman NJ the Finance
Committee OF the Hudson County Board Of
Frceholdcrs. told the reporter that Jersey City
has not yet paid cont Of its county tax for the
present year. This amounts TO 100000 The
city is In arrears In its county tax accounts for
every year since and including 1874 with the
exception ~ 1876. and these arrearRges aggrc-
gate f96i, 600. To enforce payment Of at least n
| portion OF this indebtedness the county intends
! To- institute suit against the city. Some of the
! frocholders are. however of tho opinion that
| rs the city could not now satisfy any Judgment
| that might be obtained without selling some OF
| its real estate the better course would be To
! borrow 100000 for three months. A decision
| as to which plan to adopt is expected To- be- made
at the meeting OF the freehoders to-day.
| Those familiar with the subject concur In
! auributing tho present condition OF Jersey
| City's finances TO the difficulty In collecting
taxes. The laws OF the State provide it Is said.
no adequate means for enforcing such pay
ment No sales Of delinquent taxpayers prop
| erty have been made since 1871. The statutes
| governing the subject are peculiar. valid
| title cannot be- obtained under such sales and
the owner OF house may allow his taxes e.
accumulate without much danger OF being
! Ousted from possession.
| Comptroller Nelson furnished tho reporter
| with the following statement showing the un-
| paid taxes OF tho city: