The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-03-16
The Grand Jurors Show Up
the Dishonest Methods
of the Board.
INDICTMENTS HANDED up
Only an Expert and Many Months
Work Can Unravel the Boards
Accounts.

this morning by Judge Knapp, who
thanked them for the earnest man
ner they had endeavored to
investigate charges against public
officials and the efficient work
they had performed. Among
the batch of indictments was
one against the twelve Freeholders,
who THE JERSEY CRY NEWS said
exclusively yesterday We're in
dicted, and also one against Board Of
Works Commissioners Cannon, Tum-
ulty, Kean and Watt.
A long presentment was handed the
Court, and argued by Prosecutor
Winfield, which showed up the
workings of the Board of Freeholders
worse, if possible, than the old Bum
stead ring.
The Grand Jury respectfully present
that from investigation they find that the
business of Hudson county intrusted to
the Board of Chosen Freeholders is con-
Quoted by said Board in an unbusiness-
like, irregular and unsystematic manner,
whereby wide avenue to corruption and
fraud is continually open.
ONLY AN EXPERT CAN DO IT.
They find that no pretence is made to
keep an orderly and systematic record Of
the order, purchase and delivery of sup
lies to the county institutions. They are
baffied in their investigations by the lax
methods of doing business by said Board
Obstacles in the path of investigation,
placed there designedly or through ignor-
ance, require more time for removal than
the Grand Jury can bestOw, and the pro-
tracted labor of experts would be required
to fully reveal the evils which have been
wrought and are now covered by the bung-
ling, II not corrupt management of said
Board
They are happy to present that the
Penitentiary is most creditably managed,
andits warden maintains perfect system
of books covering the order and receipt Of
supplies for that institution
Outside of that institution great con-
fusion exists in the management of the
affairs of the county. Goods are supplied
upon acquisitions made by committeeman
of the Board of Chosen Freeholders seena-
ingly without check or hindrance. In
stead of these goods being sent to the
storekeeper to be drawn thence upon
requisition by the heads Of other institu-
tions they are in many cases sent directly
to those institutions. BY this means the
storekeeper is ignored and is unable to
keep an account OF the supplies furnished.
SAMPLE ITEMS QUOTED.
These examples of extravaganza are
quoted =
A bill for two barrels of turpentine, for
which nearly three times its value was
paid.
Three barrels of asphalt, which were not
worth $50, were charged for in the sum of
$11692, and this bill was paid
For twelve boxes OF lemons $l02 was
paid.
For four crates Of berries s4s was paid
For one black diamond tablet for the
Hall of Records 1878 was paid, when the
same was not worth more than $780,
For ice furnished to the Court House
and Jail for the months of July and
August, 1888, 10000 pounds were paid for.
For ice furnished to the Court House
and Jail for the month of September, 1888,
1000 pounds were paid for.
For ice furnished to the county institu-
tions from July II to August is, 14S tons
were paid for,
A bill for s., ,137 for printing County
Road ballots for the last election was sent
to the Board of .Freeholders by the argus
Printing Company, when as q fact the
books OF said printing company show that
the charge therefore was 1900. This bill,
however, bas not been paid.
The Grand Jury find upon investigation
that many positions, to which salaries are
attached, are sinecures and of no possible
benefit to the taxpayers. They mention
one as a sample. There is an officer known
as vinegar inspector, who draws salary
of S55 per month, but has never done any
work The act of the Legislature estab-
fishing such Office should be repealed.
The Grand Jury finds the vouchers of
LID .1.r To-. fftf.fa
ton entirely or being improperly verified;
the claimant in some instances verifying
his own claim before himself as an oath
taking officer They also find itemized
bills bearing no date but that contained IN
the jurat of the yerification. They
find that large bills of special
articles, like fish, covering period of sup
ply of three or more months prior to De-
cember /, 1888, are paid, together with
mass of other claims, after the commence
ment of the new fiscal year, carrying with
them the evidence of obligations incurred
in excess of the appropriations for the
fiscal year of 1888.
SPENDING MONEY FAST.
That on December 6, 1885, which was the
sixth day of the present fiscal year, bills
aporegating a very large amount, mani
fesfly contracted in the last fiscal year,
but In nearly all the cases without date,
were paid by the Board of Chosen Free
holders.
The amount is said to be $4,000.
Verified duplicate bills of paid claims
have passed through a loose routine OF
certification by committeeman or clerk,
and payment by the Board is liable to be
made unless their duplicate character is
detected by the exercise of the unaided
memory of the storekeeper. Checks and
guards are entirely wanting to prevent
the payment of such accidental or designed
duplicate claims.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Grand Jury, after advising that
necessary checks be put on the storekeep-
ers and contractors, recommend that con-
tracts be made for year instead OF semi
annually.
III. That a month before bids are re-
ceiyed, a complete inventory of all goods
on hand should be made, and exposed at
the office of the Board.
III The specifications which are now %
a great extent false and misleading. should
be made to truly show as, near as may be,
the kinds and quantities of supplies that
win be required to be furnished on con-
tract.
w. Samples of all goods should also be
exhibited.
v. The Board should request every bid
der to file with his bid a sufficient bond.
The storekeeper should keep an account
with the head of each institution, charg-
ing against such institution at the outset