The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-11-15
STEALING A neat MARCH
The Old Freeho1derS Pre-
pairing to Do Six Months
Business for the New.
THE MEETING YESTERDAY AFTERNOON
Counsellor McGrath's Device to
Save the County from Being
Overwhelmed with
Lawsuits.
THE MEETING YESTERDAY AFTERNOON


An unusual thing happened yesterday.
The Board of Freeholders mustered a
quorum and held a meeting. After
every one had recovered from the snr-
prise, at finding eleven members present,
the number needed to make quorum,
Freeholder Pairson asked to be excused.
This the director refused to grant; for, he
said, without Mr.. Pairson no business
could be done.
SUITS AGAINST THE COUNTY
After going through some routine busi-
ness a communication from John A. Nc
Grath, counsel to the Board, was read 1t
stated that William.R. Cook had begun
suit against the county to recover the
amount he claims to be due him for sup
plies furnished the county. Another
Communication from the same official
informed the Board that. JUDGE Douglas SIS
had rendered Judgment against the
county for $147.01 in favor of Wood q
Menagh, for supplies furnished. Coun-
sellor McGrath asked to be instructed
fvhether to appeal from this decision.
1.-THE bill is evidently a proper one,"
said Freeholder Turner, ''and don't see
why it should not be paid. The goods
were furnished and no question has been
raised as to the quality"
s'These people," replied Counsellor Nc
Grath, who had listened attentively to
the reading of his communication, saw
fit to sue the county instead of waiting
for their money like everyone else. Now
should everyone who has an unpaid claim
sue for it | could not care for the cases
and would require one or two assistants
to aid me. Judgment in this case, in my
opinion, is contrary to law"
While the members were wondering
how many others that have had requisi-
tions are likely to sue to recover the
amount due them. Freeholder Rollston
asked if these particular goods had been
furnished by requisition.
GOING FOR TURNER.
ssThey were,n replied the Director.
ssWho ordered them?"
ssF'reeholder Turner" Clerk Boyd put
what right had he to do this? Was he
authorized by the Board?" continued Mr..
Rallston.
HE was not authorized" answered
Clerk Boyd.
"This discussion is entirely out of
ORDER said Freeholder Nelson, Mr..
Turner's only Republican colleague.
stWe are not Investigating the purchase
of these articles, but are to decide
whether an appeal shall be taken or not.
= III LnlS Judgment. Is pau. lub6TJSCtcu
Counsellor McGrath, lit will establish
dangerous precedent"
He probably meant by this that the
same course of procedure would take
place in all unpaid acquisitions and the
number is legion. 1t SO thoroughly
frightened those who were responsible
for the requisitions that motion at once
prevailed to refer the matter to counsel
with power.
This means that an appeal will be taken
and the present Board will by such ac-
tion be relieved from the attempt to pay
other like claims until the decision on
the appeal is given, perhaps months
years.
Counsellor McGrath notified the Board
that next Tuesday the Court of Errors
and Appeals will meet and by resolution
Counsellor Thomas f. Noonan was
directed to appear and prosecute the ap-
peal at the expense OF the County.
THE HALL OF RECORDS.
County Superintendent Cannon sub
mitted stinging rebuke to Contractor
John A. Brown for his refusal to proceed
with work on the Hall of Records and
asked to be relieved from further respon-
sibility unless the Board compelled Mr..
Brown to live up to his contract. 1t was
referred to counsel.
A requisition by Mr.. Cannon asking
for some stove pipe, fire stoves. some
water pipe and small quantities of other
hardware was laid on the table.
Warden Ryan, of the Almshouse, re-
ported tnat the number of inmates for
the past month was 629; employees, II,
making a total of 646, maintained at a
cost of S3,341. 43. The report of Warden
Grimes, of the Penitentiary, shows that
for the same time there were 21S inmates
and 81 employees, or total OF 249 The
cost of maintenance was 2,78O.S4 There
was no report of the Asylum read.
A JUNKET TO NORRIS PLAINS
The Board directed Clerk Boyd to ar
range for the annual visit to Morris
Plains, which will take place some day
next week
BY resolution the Board transferred
500, ,258.2 20 from permanent Improvement
account to incidental expenses and
les; $35 was also transferred from the in
terest account on County road and bridge
bonds to incidental expenses.
EUCHREING THE NEW BOARD.
A resolution that will make the con-
tractor friends of the Board happy next
! prevailed. 1t was to the effect that a
committee be appointed to prepare a list
of supplies for the six months next after
December l. and to advertise for propoS-
ais for the same. This move takes the
wind out of the sails of the incoming
Board and deprives 1T OF considerable
pap.
II was ordered that a warrant be
drawn for 5000 to the order of Joseph NJ.
Noonan in payment for his services in
preparing the present dietary system.
Freeholders Nelson and Turner were the
only one who voted no. The bill of
Architect Giele for 5000 was also paid.
Director Steger appointed as a commit
tee to prepare the list of supplies:- Free
holders Boyle, Nelson and Rollston, three
outgoing members. and the Board ad-
journed.
MAD AT Tun nnNNEPS