The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-08-07
No Great Necessity for
II Just at Present.
But IT'S DONE EVERY YEAR
Freeholders on Stone Crushers and
Convict Labor-Mr. Lambs
Bad Boy Dolau Becomes
a Fugitive.


more than six months This money, It
was stated. was 10 be obtained in antici-
patton OF uncollected taxes for the pres
ent year. AS soon as the resolution,
which was offered by Freeholder German,
was read by the clerk. Judge McGrath,
counsel TO the Board, asked the Director
what the loan meant. and added that he
knew nothing about it and he would not
advise the Board under the circumstances
to vote for It.
1T is what is done every year nearly"
replied Freeholder German. II believe
the law makes provision for It."
Generally in or about Sc ptember."
said Freeholder Ellis, "mou ey becomes
scarce. aud some townships run behind
in paying their taxes Interest IA lls due,
and It has been the custom TO DO ROW in
anticipation of the taxes not co llected.
"Well, ] have conferred with the Col
lectOr several times" said Judge Nc
Grath, "and he has never said anything
to me about any townships being behind
with their taxes. When townships be-
come in arrears the Collector usually
comes TO me and asks me 10 send the
townships q notice TO pay up. lie has
not done so in this case. and, as said. l
Will not aQNl9e you 10 Iuake the loan.
While Judge McGrath was speaking
Freebooter Coyle listened nervously. and
rs soon as the Judge finished, he jumped
to an upright position and excitedly ex-
claimed:-
II do not think it is necessary for the
Counsel to tell this Board what TO do
until he is asked to. The Board Is sup
posed to know its own business, and to
know enough to ask for advice when it
wants IT,"
FREEHoLDERs EMBARRASSED
These remarks were received in silence
by all, and some OF the Freeholders
looked embarrassed. Freeholder Pfing-
stem was the first to recover from the
effects, aud in an apologetic tone he said
that the Counsel had only endeayOred to
do his duty.
YES" said Judge McGrath, land /
want to say 10 Freeholder Coyle that as
long as am Counsel to this Board will
advise it whenever / think it is proper
that should do SO. 1t has always been
the custom, and it is but right It is
what am retained as Counsel fer"
81 don't want the Counsel to run away
with the idea that this is personal" re-
turned Freeholder Coyle, "but do want
him to know that he is NOT u member of
this Board. know my business. and /
suppose he knows his.
Further controversy was prevented by
the Director, who instructed the Clerk to
call the roll. line RESOLUTION 10 DOiTOH
the money was then adopted.
The Penitentiary Committee reported
that 1t had found the bid Of Z. j. Condor
for stone crusher to be informal, and
had thrown it out II recommended that
the contract be awarded to the Gates
Iron Works for the amount OF its bid,
| 81, $50. 40.
II would like to ask you, Mr.. Director.
what is the amount of the appropriation
for the stone crusherf" said Freehoider
Coyle.
1T is" answered Freeholder Ellis for
the Director, 's5. 600 IN the appropriation
for the present year and S3.O0U IN the ap-
preparation for the next year"
II move to lay the matter on the table"
said Freeholder Coyle-
Il second the notion" exclaimed
Freeholder Pfngsten-
THE PURCHASE LEGAL.
81 wish to say" interjected Freeholder
Ellis, "that | sought to the advice of our
Counsel in this matter. Freeholder Coyle
fears probably that it is not legal. The
Counsel informed me that we have per-
| feet right to purchase stone crusher, and
! use the s., 900 in next years. appropriation
| for 1t, providing we do not make IL pay
crusher we now have Is about the only
source or income we have at present. and
| with new one we could raise much
money to go toward the support Of the in
stitutions."
II believe what the Counsel says" Mr..
vote TO pay more money than we have
been appropriated"
II would like to hear the Counsels opin-
| ion," said Freeholder German.
Judge McGrath said in reply that, in
| his opinion, the Board had perfect right
| to contract for the crusher and to pay for
| it ont of next years appropriations, pro-
| viding an appropriation for it was made
| in the next tax levy, He h6d no doubt
as to the legality of such u contract.
| Freeholder Pfngsten, for wonder, had
been a silent listener during this debate,
| but he could remain unheard no longer.
| He plaintively complained to the Board
/ in a tone Of woeful sadness that he knew
/ nothing about the matter at all, although
| he was a member of the Penitentiary
| COMMITTEES. He had been ignored COM
| pletely. This melancholy confession ap-
parently did not depress the spirits Of
/ Freeholder Noonan greatly. for he gruffiy
| exclaimed -
"If Freeholder Pfngsteu would attend
| the committee meetings at Snake Hill
he would know all about tpe affair"
| Freeholder Nelson favored the purchase
OF the crusher and the awarding of the
contract, for he believed the county
could sell much crushed stone and re-
| ceive considerable money for IL.
The vote to table the matter was then
| taken. The motion was lost. Ihe orig
ipal resolution next came up. but before
a vote could be taken Freeholder Cor
man asked the Director II the county had
a right to sell crushed stone TO private
persons? The Freeholder said he had
| been assured by the best legal authority
in the State that the county had no right
to sell this stone, and compete with pri-
yate persons with convict labor. he
asked Judge McGrath for his opinion on
the subject
The Judge refused to give an offhand
opinion. He said it would require a
search Of the laws. He would give the
Board a written opinion II it was wanted,
but he was not prepared to give verbal
one just then.
CONVICT LABOR UNPOPULAR
Twenty minutes were next consumed
| by several Freeholders who desired the
lobby to know that they did not favor 8
competition between convict labor and
that OF the honest working man, and
then the contract for the crusher was
awarded to the Gates Iron Works.
Stableman Barton at Snake Hill sent
the Board a pathetic obituary notice OF
the old horse sJim." and then bids fol
metallic cases for the Registers Office il
| the new Hall of Recoros were received
| There were but three. The Specially
Manufacturing Company offered TO fur
nish them for s3, 1871. 10; the Trenton
Manufacturing Company WAS willing Z
do the work for s3.l5l.50, and Edwsrt
Kelly OF this city agreed TO furnish wha
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