The Jersey City news., 1891-09-18


A special meeting of the Board of FL
nance held at the City Hall, Wednesday,
September 8, 1891. at 8 o'clock p. IN.
Present-President Edelstein. Messrs.
Kenny and Peterson.
Absent-Messrs. Allen and Hitler.
The call of the meeting, which was for
the transaction of general business was
read by the clerk.
On motion the reading of the minutes
was dispensed with, and they were ap-
proved as printed.
PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS AND CoAfAU.
NICATIoNS.
Petition of John b. Shotweil for return
of S62. Al surplus paid in redemption of
lands sold for unpaid adjusted taxes,
etc.
Petition Of George Stetler for return
of duplicate payment of water rents.
Petition of NJ. Hoos for return of dupli-
cate payment of water rents.
Received and referred to the Committee
on Finance.
PRESENTATION OF CLAIMS.
Claims of the American District Tele-
graph Co.. of S34 "a for messenger service.
August, 1891.
Claim of f.. Heppenheimer's Sons, of
S25 for llthographing.
Claim of f. Heppenheimer's Sons, OF
$50 80 for lithographing
Claim of Frank McDermott of $50 for
ice to September l, 1891.
Claim of the United Gas Improvement
Co, of S16.05, gas. City Hall, August,
1891.
Claim of &. William Wenner & Co., of
SO. for stationery for Corporation Coun-
sci.
The above were received and referred
to the Committee on Printing, Stationery
and Supplies.
OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS
The following communications from
His Honor the Mayor were received,
ordered spread upon the minutes and re-
ferred to the Committee of the Whole.
MAYORS OFFICE, CITY HALL,
JERSEY CITY, Sept. 8, 1891.
To the Board of Finances:
GENTLEMEN:-Wi the concurrence OF
your Board the Board of Street and
Water Commissioners advertised for
water pipe. The contract was awarded
to the lowest bidder and the resolution
awarding it was sent to your Board for
concurrence.
Some Of the pipe was greatly needed
and the Chief Engineer telephoned to the
clerk OF your Board to know whether the
resolution had been concurred in and was
informed that it had been. He then re.
quested the contractors to forward the
pipe as soon as possible. The first of it
was delivered in May last and the
balance shortly after. Much of 1t was
laid, some of it to complete the water
supply of the United States Express Com
pany and other large consumers who
needed it. The contractor furnishing the
pipe, who accommodated the Chief En-
gineer by prompt shipment, cannos be
paid, because the contract has not been
concurred IN, the information received in
May turning out to have been incorrect
This is the state of the case as it is repre-
sented to me- The matter has probably
been overlooked, and l respectfully sng-
gest that such action be taken as may
seem to you just aud proper in view of
the facts.
Very respectfully,
OREsTEs CLEVELAND.
MAYORS OFFICE, CITY HALL,
JERSEY CITY, Sept. g. 1891.
To the Board OF Finance.
GENTLEMEN
/ am under the impression that the col
lections of adjusted liens under what is
known as the Martin Act, SO far as they
have been collected from the adjustment
of arrears of assessments for improve
ments, have been diverted from the pur-
pose intended by the act The act in
tended that these collections should be
used to extinguish the debt created to
carry these liens. or what are known as
adjustment or assessment bonds, but the
money, think has been ordered by your
board TO be put in the account called as
sessment account and used to take up inn
y
! ment certificates are issued to enable the
city to pay for an improvement that has
been ordered because the assessment
! upon this property cannot be collected in
| time.
| The certificates bear interest. and are
due in one year. Collections are then
made to meet them from assessments on
the property benefited by the improve
ment. There are property owners who
do not pay up, and SO u balance is left not
provided for at maturity.
To pay these balances. the city holds q
lien on the property assessed. Many
| years ago there were so many of certih-
Gates unpaid from collections that the
amounts were funded in city bonds.
Many property owners claimed that the
assessments on their. property were moi
| fairly levied, and they did not pay up for
that reason Others were unable to pay.
| Other cities were in the same trouble, and
a general law was passed authorizing {
readjustment of these arrears, and the
moneys collected from such readjustet