The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-01-09
Common Council.

NC JANUARY meeting OF Council was
held on Monday evening last.
The following extract from the Trea-
surer's monthly report exhibits a crafty
ing fact to our citizens
81 beg leave to offer you my congratu-
lations on the fact that the city is out of
debt fol the first time in at least twenty
years. 1t will be seen from the above
report that we are are not only out of
debt but have advanced 1851 .85 to the
Public School Fund. This amount will
be repaid during the month of January,
/ 1884. With as low tax rate as we now
have, with an unfailing water supply,
gas, fire and police protection, railroad
and water transportation and water DOW
er, and no city debt, we are probably bet
ter of than any other city of the third
class IN the State, and some effort should
be made to publish these facts in order
that others may be attracted to this place
and thus the business interests of the
place caused to flourish.
HOLMES D. ELY, Treasurer.
Mr.. Smith, in presenting the report,
said he Joined in the congratulations of
the Treasurer. 1t was the consumma-
ton of the efforts not only of the present
members of Council but also of some
who served in previous years, and who
are not now here. He reminded the
Council, however, that to bring the fiscal
year to proper termination the efforts
of the Tax Collector were still necessary
to meet current expenses.
report from the City Solicitor in re-
gard to the law suits the city is engaged
in, was referred to the Laws and Ordi-
nance Committee.
The proposals for the keeping of the
poor being opened, were found to be as
follows: ]. S. Everett, $780, G. Prall
Wilson, 5000. Mr.. Wilson being the low
est, on motion, was awarded the contract.
Some discussion ensued on the propriety
of making it for term of years, instead
of single year. The Poor Committee
were directed to confer with Mr.. Wilson
in regard to the matter and report to
Council
The City Property Comm ittee reported
an attempt to break out of the city Jail,
some weeks ago, and that the wall had
been injured. A proposition was intro
duced, to line one of the cells with boiler
iron, at an estimated cost of 5000, which
was adopted and the work ordered done.
The Special Committee on the suppress
sion of the unlawful liquor traffic, offered
the following report, which was ordered
placed on file:
To the President and Members of Council.
Your Special Committee on the sup
preston of the unlawful liquor traffic,
herewith report, that in the fulfilment of
their duty another attempt was made to
bring prosecutions against unlicensed
vendors, at the December term of the
County Court, but are obliged to an
nounce their failure, although Though no
neglect OF fault of the Committee or their
Counsel. At their request their Counsel
wrote to the Prosecuting Attorney of the
County, stating that this unlawful traffic
was still carried on in fragrant defiance of
the law and asking that subpoenas be is
sued for certain persons, home witnesses,
whom it was believed could give import
ant evidence Some of the prosecutions
would have been against persons not now
under indictment, and who are believed
to have been violating the law alike, I'm
der license and no license Councils. The
number of subpoenas did not exceed five
in each case, excepting one, in which six
were asked for Believing that the law
abiding portion of the citizens of Lam
bertville were entitled alike with other
Jerseymen, to the protection of the laws
of the State, or at least, that 1t was not
the province of the Prosecuting Attorney
to exclude them therefrom, their surprise
was great when the following letter was
received in response, which is here given
that the public may judge of it for them
selves:
FLEMINGToN, Dec. Sd, 1888.
W. f. HERR:
Dear Sir:-Yours received. | do not
think we should put the county to any
more expense in your liquor cases, until
it is decided whether the Grand Jury and
Courts have jurisdiction. The bill for
witnesses before was large and more so
than it should have been.
Yours,
E. P. CoNKLING.
Thus the matter at present remains,
With the cases in the Supreme Court de-
layed against the earnest wishes of the
Committee and their Counsel and the
Prosecuting Attorney of the County OBJ
jectlng to proceed with others.
G.. X. MELLIcK,
ALEX. SILvERs,
AMOS SMITH,
Committee.
On motion, the Council adjourned.