The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1881-06-10
Board of Chosen Freeholders.
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING. WEDNESDAY,
June s, 1881.

Morris County Charities Aid Association
He rehearsed the organization of the
Association some six months ago, ano
explained its object. and hoped for cor.
dial support from the Board. He further
detailed the pressing necessities of a
change at the Aims House, and thought
lpaupers were very different now from
what they used to be, and called atten
ton to the adyisability of compelling all
able>bodied tranps to work.
He also called attention to the exist
ing evils arising from the indiscriminate
mingling of the sexes, and thought it a
sad reflection upon the good name of the
county. He suggested providing for
their separation by another building in
a distant part of the county, He thong hit
the plan would tend to decrease the at
tendance at the Aims House. AS to the
children, he knew the present SUR
roundings were calculated to create evil
impressions, and called attention to a
recent enactment of the Legislature pros
viding for their care In an institution
separate and distinct from the Aims
House, and cared for by charitable per-
sons, with the Board of Freeholders
as guardians.
Rev. MIR. Erdman also spoke for the
Charities Aid Association, and thought
the only difference between the Board
and the people was, that the former had
the power to act. He thought the al
legged truism "The poor ye have always
with you" was falacy, and he hoped the
idea might be controverted here in Nor
ris County. He thought Epauperism
could be much reduced; that while the
average population in the county, during
certain period, had increased go per
cent, pauperism had increased over 100
per cent. With reference to the chill
dren, he thought something should
be speedily done; there should be no
children in pauper institution; the
poor house never has been and never
should be a place for children. He far>
Their suggested that public opinion was
ripe for some authoritive action at the
hands of the Board.
Director Smith supplemented the re-
marks by his testimony, and hoped that
nothing would be done here to hinder
the good work projected by the Associa,
ton.
Mr.. Mather thought something should
be done at once, that such matters were
apt to loose force by beng put off, and
moved that the President of the Associa.
ton be invited to meet with the Trus-
tees, and they be empowered to act in
their judgement. Carried.
Lawyer Smith, of Dover, suggested the
propriety of appointing a committee.
1t was decided that the present Truss
tees should constitute said committee.
On motion, the Trustees were authorized
to consider plans for new building and
other changes and improvements.
necessity of providing for compelling
able bodied paupers TO work.
Court House and Jail bills, contracted
by the old Board, amounting to $453.53
were read and subsequently ordered
paid.
Mr.. MatIier, chairman of comLnittee on
indexing, reported having taken much
pains to ascertain the best mocle ofin>
dexing. The present index was com-
plete only up to 1874, since which time
the records had been kept in temporary
books; also that many OF the old books
needed binding, and could not, according
to law, be taken from the Office for the
purpose, and to have the binders come
here, would necessitate great expense,
and for this and other reasons recon-
mended new books and new system of
indexing. He said there were books
on hand, provided for this purpose,
but which are not of the proper kind,
and recommended disposIng of
them for what they would bring. He
further recommended the system inau>
gurated and now in use in Hudson county.
1t was estimated that four hundred books
would be required for use in copying the
old records, and that the probable cost
of re-indexing up to the present time
would be about six or seven thousand
dollars. In conclusion, he asked for some
action from the Board relieving the COM
mittee of a part of the responsibility.
Mr.. Hopkins, also of the committee,
stated that he had examined different
methods in other eounties,an thought the
proposed investment would be a good one.
IL IL
searching under the proposed system,
and strongly recommended that this
county adopt it.
Director Smith supplemented the res
marks of the committee, by advising
that the proposed method be adopted.
On motion, the report was adopted, and
the committee instructed to proceed.
Mr.. Hopkins reported that Roxbury,
Jefferson and Hanover townships were
in arrearages with taxes, and moved that
the same be forthcoming. Carried.
Mr.: Brittin, called attention to the
Budd's Lane bridge, built last year, and
suggested that Samuel Lee, contractor
for filling in the earth work, should be
Ipaid SO for extra work, a like sum being
paid by the Essex county Board. On
Emotion, the same was ordered.
Counselor Kitchel called attention to
the case of Nargle, the pauper who re-
sisted the authority of Steward Skeilen-
ger, and claimed, that -notwit hstanding
the Court differed with him--.he thought
4 the rules governing the case were suffi-
cient, but, as precautionary measure,
recommended the resad option of the
rules, and the addition of new one to
the effect that when able bodied pau>
Ipers refuse to work, they be turned
adrift and denied further shelter.
/ The rules were re-adopted, and the new
one referred to also adopted. Mr.. Hardin,
questioned the authority of the Board,
Trustees or the Steward to compel pau
lpers to work Counselor Kitchel took
the ground that this could be done under
an enactment passed in 1847. The
Counsel was requested to report at nexl
Injecting. Mr.. Kitchel also called att
tention to the case of an idiotic child
pauper, entitled to a portion of certain