The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-11-05

records ~thereof-and from this we are re-
quired to judge them-appear- TO be In
stances in which the party WAS denlt with
aud considered because sffiicted with dis
ehse, but regardless OF this, they appear
TO be cases in which the person committed
10 such Aims House, was committed
thereto by reason of the fact That such
person made application MS The law directs
for relief as a pdupe or TpOOr person. des-
titute, i'll want, etc.
The record referred to Is to this effect,
and further shows that the questions to
be determined by the Owe seer OF the
Poor aforesaid, as to legal set Element of
and whether or not the applicant was
properly chargeable to the County OF
Hudson. were all determined SO AS TO
bind and charge the county in the prem
ises.
ln other counties than this, after aDpll-
cation is made to the Overseer of the
Poor for relief, in cases snch as above
mentioned, the questions of legal settle
ment and whether or not the person an
plying for relief is entitled thereto intitl
place sought to be charged or else where'
are all determined and settled by n
tribunal specially designated therefor
apart from the Overseer; his functions
therein being to furnish md lay before
this tribunal such proof Us may be pro-
durable on the question Of whether the
person applying for relief in the county is
entitled thereto or not.
Bnt here in Hudson County, by au act
OF the Legislature, approved March 10,
1874, we have the anomaly in legal pro-
vision, whereby ali the cases of relief to
be afforded to persons of like condition,
are to be sought out, inquired into, taken
up, heald and finplly decided by Il iudg-
ment rendered by one and the same per-
son or. tribunal, to iwt-
The Overseer of the Poor of the munic-
ipality in which a person making applI-
cation with or without proper ground
therefor, may be.
The Overseer under this singular law,
may take and dispose of the case in all its
aspects. and bind the county indefinitely
therefor on the mere statement, with
mouth, of the person who may apply.
1t the Overseer in his wisdom deems it
impracticable to swear the applicant then
no oath need be taken AT ali in the case;
no other witness need he produced.
In support OF what | have just said if
this regard and what the law itself pro-
vides in its W language, | quote from
Section 2 MS follows:-
That it shall be the duty Of the Over
seer of the Poor to whom said applica-
ton is made. to enter the name of the
applicant on his register, and the name
OF all witnesses examined in the case,
and examine the applicant under oath,
if practicable, and such other
person as may be produced
and inquire into the estate
ann condition OF the applicant, and also
whether said applicant is c%hargeable to
the city. town or township where said
application is made, or whether charge
able to any other city. town or township
in the County of Hudson, and if so
chargeable, to make an order of remov ]
of said applicant to the County Aims
House II chargeable to the County of
Hudson, and to remove such applicant to
the County Aims HOuSe.D
There is a redeeming feature in the
law, 1T is true, by way of an appeal.
which may be taken from the order of
the overseer to a Judge of the Court of
Common Pleas, but it is not always con-
venient to pursue this method OF appeal.
do not intend to indulge in criticism
of this law further than TO say that it's
requirements as to the measure of proof
in The direction above indicated are, |
submit. altogether too convenient and
should be supplanted at the earliest, con
venient opportunity by a provision which
shall renner less easy the path to our nOW
attractive Snake Hill, where our Aims
House stands.
In other words, we should have a law
more In ~consOnance with the popular
idea of common sense requirement, some
thing calculated to afford protection to
the taxpayers as we'll as to the taxeater.
L, of course, do not mean to charge BY
what l have said above that any wrongs
have been inflicted under this law as it
stands; / simply intend to indicate the
possibilities which may ariss under it.
Respectfully submitted.
JOHN A. MCGRATH,
Counsel, etc.
Freebooter Noonan moved the report be
received and printed in full in the
minutes.
Adopted.
From Hugh Dugan, County Collector,
Received from A. NJ. Bruggemanp,
Director-at-Large, seven Thousand. six
hundred aud sixteen dollars ($7, 616) for
support of insane In county institutions
of Hudson county.
HUGH DUGAN,
County Collector.
On motion of Freebooter German the
report was received and ordered printed
in full in the inmates.
From job A. McGrath, Counsel, mott
flying the Board of the appointment of
the Commissioners to condemn lands,
with names of same, were received and
ordered filed.
SPECIAL REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
From Freeholders Ellis, Tierney and
Hennessey, Special Committee on Re
vision of Lists for Supplies:
To tine Honorable the Large
and Members of the Board Of Chosen
FroeholderS OF the county of Hudson;
GENTLEMEN-Your Special Committee
appointed at the last meeting of the
Board, with instructions to revise and
prepare specification lists for supplies for
the County Institutions, would respect
fully report as follows:
We would recommend TINT con-
tracts for supplies be made for
a wear as heretofore, and we have
therefore revised the list for the
next fiscal year commencing Decembe +
1, 1891, to November 30. 1892.
We have carefully gone over the stock
of all kinds in hand in the Storeroom
and County Institutions, and have en-
deavored to accurately calculate the
quantities that will be required.
Appended to this report and forming
part thereof, will be found copie, of the
amended specifications which we recon-.
mend9d as the basis for the next bidding.
Said copies of lists will be printed, and
posted in the clerks Office on or before
Saturday, October 81, 1891.
We recommend the following resolu-
tions TO be printed n appended to each
specification, wiz
Agreement forming part of contract
with the County.
The above are estimated quantities..
more or less required to November 50,
1891. to be delivered free OF charge to the
County, in the Storeroom at Snake Hill.
or otherwise hereinafter provided for, in
quantities, more or less, as may be or
Tered in writing by the storekeeper or
person acting AS such, or other person or
committee acting for and in behalf of the
County therein. to he hid for in darnjl