The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-01-08
STRAW BAIL With Bids.
Startling Admission Made
By the Freeholders.

institutions at the Penltentlary. This
rumor was not verified by the actions of
the members, for the proceedings were in
the main harmonious and great deal of
accumulated business was disposed of.
Perhaps one reason for there being no
open revolt by the kicking members, who
have been ciamoring for patronage, was
the presence of reporters, and an
other reason was, that certain old claims
of long standing and some close contracts
were arranged to the satisfaction of the
kickers.
TO EXCLUDE THE PRESS
Certain it is that as soon as the COM
mittee were called to order by Chairman
kimmerly, and it was announced that
Freeholder Hennesey was the Only alb
sentee, Freeholder Pairson asked that the
members of the press be requested to re-
tire. He said in regard to this that a
committee meeting is not the property of
the public until it becomes the property
of the Board, to which it reports. For
this reason he moved that no reporters
should be present.
lnasmuch as every member of the
Board of Freeholders is q member of the
County Committee on Institutions the
action of the committee is at once the
property of the Board, for every member
knows it.
Freeholder Donnelly realized this fact
and said with considerably energy:-
II don't believe it is necessary to do
this. We are not here to do wrong and
can see no objection to the public know
ing what trans plres."
He moved to amend by laying the
matter on the table. Freehulder Pairson
explained that he did not object to pub
l1ciCy, but the committee had rule to
exclude reporters, and the rule should be
followed OF rescinded.
The matter was settled by Chairman
Parsons motion had not been seconded,
and instructed Assistant ClerktN Noonan to
proceed with regular business.
FIRE DANGER AT THE ASYLUM.
Owing to his illness. Clerk Boyd was
absent, and assistant Noonan read COM
munication, from DR., King. which set
forth that there was danger of fire in the
addition to the Asylum, because the gas
lights were SO low that patients
could reach them From the fact
that this could not be now
avoided he recommended that an
exit be provided by the construction of
bridge that would connect both build
ings. Referring TO the gas, Freeholder
Pairson said that the patients frequently
got hold of the jets and that they ought
not to be there at ALL The subject was
referred to the Asylum Committee.
Warden Grimes, of the penitentiary,
reported that since the last meeting of
the committee l42 yards of crushed stone
had been duarrled, ana he also said he
had been requested by the station post
master near the Court House to ask the
committee to provide two mail bags. At
present the mail is not carried in any
thing and some is frequently lost. The
chairman appointed Messrs. Phngstein,
Ellis and German to take action in the
matter.
1t was also ordered that the stage used
for conveying prisoners to and from
work be repaired 5s d cost net to exceed
$3.50, and requisition from Warden
Grimes for razors, homes, carpet sweep
ers and several other small articles of
hardware was received.
vALUELESS SECURITIES.
The committee then took up the re-
quest Of b. Mccormack to be allowed to
withdraw his bid to furnish ice at 81 per
ton. Mr.. Noonan offered a motion that
the request be granted, although the con-
tract had already been awarded and the
next lowest bid was 81 higher.
II object TO this, said Freeholder
Pfngsten, "for it is a bad precedent to es-
tablish, for this man has already given
bonds 70 fill this contract"
"Oh,' said Freeholder Donnelly, "these
straw bids have been going on for ten
years"
1.-THE bonds on these contracts are not
binding" " said Freeholder Pairson, 'and
you can't compel Mccormack to fill his
contract"
This surprising piece of information
was argument enough to allow McCor-
mack to withdraw his bid, but for what
reason the bondSmen on contracts cannot
be held responsible was not made known:
The contract will now be awarded TO
McDermott for IS a ton, and the county
must be the loser. A requisition for some
baskets was returned because informal.
Warden Ryan, of the Almshouse, noti-
fled the committee that the gas at the
Almshouse is very bad, and to learn the
cause Superintendent Lundy, of the gas
works, was sent for. When he appeared,
he said the scarce supply of gas was
because he had not capacity enough to
supply the building; that there ought to
be another holder" for the one now
used was never intended to supply all the
buildings that have been erected of late
years. The oil he used was supposed to
be crude petroleum, but it was an inferior
article. The first part of a barrel was
generally good, but the balance bad.
"How long has this been the case?" he
was asked.
II have not had good Oil in four years, -
he replied and thereby caused dismay.
"The kind of oil we should have" con-
tinued Mr.. Lundy, lis tested regular Pc
tIoleum oil of O gravity of 4S or 49 per-
centage. The quality of oil makes a
difference and good quality will stand
75 per cent. of air, while the kind we use
stands but 35 per cent. They were
amazed when told by Mr.. Lundy that he
usually works from half past five a. m. to
half past nine p. m, and this at Snake
Hill. too. A committee was appointed to
investigate the gas.
ALMSHoUsE REPORTS.
Warden Ryan reported that for Deem
| ber the total number of inmates at the
| Almshouse were CAT, of which were male
adults, pa; male minors, 1870, female
| adults, 162; female minors, 81; employees,
| II. the total cast of maintenance was
| S. 5000, and average, SOS l-3. There
| were twenty deaths. The Warden asked
| for some dishes, saying he was entirely
| out of supply for the main building and
| pavilion.
| DIR. King, of the Asylum, reported that
| for December his institution contained
| 113 male inmates and 15l females. The
number of employees was 26 and the
total cost was SO 42S.4l.
| PASSING IRREGULAR CLAIMS.
| Chairman Kimmerly said there were q
number of claims of employees not regu-
| larly appointed that had hung fire for
months and asked to have them disposed
| of. About Il dozen for salaries were re-
| commended by the committee to be paid,
| different freeholders vouching for them.
| Freeholder Kimmerly notified the
| Board that he had seen crushed stone
| the day before carted to private yard
| on the Secaucus road, and wanted to
| know by what authority il was done. He
| was told by the other members that il
| had heen sold as usual A resolution was