The Jersey City news., 1891-09-18

WATER and FINANCE.
Further Opinions on These
A1l-Important Sub
ieCts.
WHAT THE OFFICIALS SAY.
Commissioner Peterson Still Thinks
the Belleville Strike a Game
of Bluff Warrants and
Brokers.
WHAT THE OFFICIALS SAY.

The remark let drop by prominent
member of the Finance Board yesterday
that the war between that Board and the
Street and Water Commissioners con-
corning the disputed claims and pay rolls
was to be carried into Africa,v was dis
cussed by Commissioner Peterson furth err
than appeared in yesterdays edi tion of
THE JERSEY CITY NEWS.
Mr.. Peterson had been asked by a re-
porter for the NEWS to explain this re-
mark of one of his colleagues He dis
cussed the resolution offered by Mr..
Allen at Tuesday nights meeting Of the
Finance Board required all committees to
report at the next meeting all claims re-
ferred for concurrence or non-concur-
renee. The adoption of that resolution,
and the discussion that it provoked, he
insisted, simply opened up the way to
have certain matters publicly aired.
CLAIMS AND AGENTS.
do believe the threatened strike is a
bluff" continued Mr.. Paterson. Ser
Iainly. have an impression that these
men are getting their money all right
These so-called claim brokers are. in the
majority of instances. believe. city
officials themselves. When I first took
my seat as a member of the Finance
Board I asked why these men were
obliged to sell their time. The railroads.
the express companies and other large
corporations pay their employees iu cash.
! wanted to know why there was SO much
delay in bringing the pay rolls of the
Water Department before the Financ e
Board for concurrence. Why, the August
pay rolls are not in yet"
But are not officials who buy up the
claims as likely as anyone else to refuse
to purchase IL they don't get the moneyp
Bprhnnq ~ and MIR ad
1T is interesting to notice. he continued,
"where the squeal mainly comes from.
In one instance at least very prominent
official called the Boards attention to the
fact that u contract for pipe. some of
which was used to supply the United
States Express Company's stables. offices.
ETC., was among those hung up. Well,
as long as the honesty of that claim Is Il
matter for investigation 1t goes along
with other disputed claims just the
same"
Aliuding again to Mr.. Aliens resolu-
tion Mr.. Peterson said-'I have the Cor
poration Counsel's opinion backing me
up in my assertion that the Board is not
compelled to Immediately concur or non
concur in the passage of claims and while
their honesty is in question. l was sur
prised at the re.olution, because it has
always been the custom to talk these
matters over in executive session. AS to
Mr.. Aliens remark that the open meet
ing was the place for the discussion of
snch subjects Pll not gainsay that; but
I'm no great admirer of star chamber
sessions myself. Yes. guess you might
as well say the war will be carried into
Africa; and you may look out for devel-
opments."
MAY GO TO CHINA.
"Tbey may carry the war into China
for all care" said President Somers, of
the Street and Water Board, when again
approached last evening. "All can say
is that when we were ordered to cut down
the pay roll in the water department we
did our best to obey. We cut the Belle
Vile pay roll from $500 mouth down
below $5,200 But we found we were
cripDling the department and were
Obliged to reinstate some of the men we
had laid off,
Commissioner Dugan said strike at
Belleville would not surprise him in the
least.
asked President John EIDE lstein of the
Finance Board if the disputed payrolls
would ever be concurred IN.
Il think the city will pay every honest
claim against her" he said. 1.-THE Finan-
month to pay salaries to Water Depart
ment employees. The payrolls were or
dered cut down $4,000 to $4,000 m onth.
1t hasn't been done, and we've no guar
antee it will ever be done. We can't pay
$4,000 with $4,000 Suppose I say to
you, Give me $1,000 you answer, L
hayen'tgot it, say. But you must give
me S1,00O,"you say, But Mr.. Edelstein,
how can / let you have $1,000 when
don't possess that amount ?" That is q
parallel illustration. ~