The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-03-25
BREEZY MIR. TUMULTY.
He and Mr.. Van Keuren En-
liven a Board of
Works Meeting.
SOME WORDS ABOUT BILLS.
Street Cleaning Mysteries---Do La
borers Get Two Dollars or a Dol
lar and a Half a Day.

lar and a Half Day.
The atmosphere of the neighborhood of
the meeting room of the Board of Works
was extremely breezy this morning while
the Board was in session, and those who
had come there to watch the proceedings
were entertained with some oratorical py-
rotechnics by Commissioner Tumulty.
All the members were present when
President Kerns called the meeting to or
der, and, although the breeze rufiied the
surface several times it did not display
any unusual force until the latter part of
the session. The Board was considering
the matter of payment Of the bill for re-
moving ashes and garbage during the
period the contract was in allegiance, ex-
tending from December l to January 26,
which amounted to S4,019 Commissioner
Hilliard voted "non on several of the
claims, which finally caused Commis.
sioner Tumulty to rise and protest.
Mr.. TUMULTY PROTESTS
81 want the public to know how I do
business" he said. II want it to know
that this work has been done, and done
honestly In the two months that have
had charge Of this work the entire ex-
pense has been but trifie over $4,000,
whereas while the same work in pre-
Gus year, under like condition, was in
charge of the Commissioner from the
Sixth (Hilliard), it cost $4,000. And now
the gentleman from the Sixth is trying to
prevent the payment for work honestly
done by voting against these claims.
During the time Mr.. Tumulty was
speaking he became greatly worked up,
and emphasized his remarks by vigorous
raps upon his desk.
This brought Mr. Hilliard to his feet,
and he Said:-sI do not rise in anger r nor
in excitement. In what I did W orked
under the direction of the Corporation
Counsel and did what he told me to, only
] made mistake in not having it down in
black and white.o
This statement seemed to ease Mr.. Hill
liard's mind and he went on voting against
the bills
when the Board was called upon to pay
Contractor Byron for cleaning the streets
When Commissioner Van Keuren's name
was reached on roll call he said he wished
to explain his vote. The Board has an
opinion from the Corporation Counsel, he
continued, which says that all work done
upon the streets during December /, 1889,
must be charged against the appropriation
made for that purpose this year. The APP
preparation provides for the payment
of the Street Commissioner, and If the
Board goes on paying all these claims Mr..
Van Keuren cOntended, as the contract
calls for cleaning $50 miles of streets, there
would not be enough left to pay for sweep
ing $50 miles.
The Street Commissioner had not been
paid for some time, Mr.. Van Keuren con-
tended, and if his salary is paid there
would not be enough money left to sweep
200 miles.
AS soon as Mr.. Van Keuren sat down
Commissioner Tumulty jumped up.
Il won't apologize to any one for the
way do my work, - he exclaimed, pound
ing his desk. This work was done
cheaply and honestly Mr.. Van Keuren
was anxious to have this work done when
| wanted it stopped, and now he is.throw-
ing obstacles in my way"
VAN KEUREN AFTER THE CONTRACTOR.
Mr.. Van Keuren stated that the con-
tractor was charging the city 50 day for
men to load the carts and was paying the
men 81. so, and he didn't see why the con-
tractor should make half dollar man
out of the city.
Again Commissioner Tumulty was upon
the floor.
Mr.. Byrne has not bought one of
those claims he hotly declared, admins
tering the usual punishment to his desk. |
sThe men who loaded the wagons were
hard up and wanted their money and so |
they sold their claims.
Mr.. Van Keuren replied that the men
told him they were only getting S1.50 a
day.
''Did they tell you that Mr. Byrne paid |
them that, Z demanded Mr. Tumulty.
s'No," responded Mr. Van Keuren"
WELL then, DON'T began the Com |
missioner from the Second, when Presi- |
dent Kern called him to order. The bills |
for cleaning the streets were finally |
passed, Messrs. Van Keuren and Hilliard |
voting Mo-
The Board was asked to build new
sewer in Sussex street, between Grand |
and Hudson. ]. Herbert Potts, counsel |
for w. w. Farrier, asked for the payment |
OF $l7.93 for erecting a watering fountain |
in front of liquor saloon AS the owner |
of the saloon should pay for the work, it is
not likely that Mr. Farrier will get his |
money from the city
PAssAIc SEWERS.
Mr.. Blair told the Board that it might
properly contribute toward the expenses
Of the suit brought by the Newark Aque-
duct Board to restrain Passaic from build
ing sewers emptying into the Passaic river.
fees. Nevertheless, Messrs. Kerns,
Hilliard and Tumu1ty Indignantly ex-
pressed the opinion that there was no me-
cessity for tn the city to pay extra counsel
pacity. Finally, Chief Engineer Ruggles
explained that the expense referred to
was for printing, for an alyzing the water
and for searches.
The matter was then referred to the
Reservoir Committee, with instructions to
contribute to the expenses if, in their
Judgment, it appeared necessary.
Mr. RuggleS reported that it would cost
IS. 100 to build trestle for unloading coal
at the Belleville Water Works and the
proper committee was instructed to take
measures to have the work done.