The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-11-08
Those old, old CLAIMS.
The Finance Commissioners
Look Over Them
Again.
CLOCK AND PUMP BILLS.
Employees Seem to Have Ordered
Goods Whenever They Felt In
clined-SOme Claims Sold.
LOCK AND PUMP BILLS.

Finance Commissioners Kenny and
Hitler held a consultation with several
claimants against the water account in
the office of the Finance Board yesterday
afternoon. No definite action could be
taken upon any of the claims. because a
quorum of the Commissioners was not
present. The two Commissioners pres
emit merely questioned the claimants with
reference to their claims so as to intelli-
gently discuss them at the next meeting
of the Board on Tuesday evening. No
vember II. Ali the claimants will be
notified to be present at that meeting.
Among the IN 1n~terrogated yes
terday was Adolf Walter, whose claim
for Sc for repairing clocks brought down
from Belleville was presented on Deem
Der l. 1890. The bill was not itemized.
Mr.. Kenny said to him:-"We are sworn
officers of the law. We can't handle the
peoples money as we please. How 40 we
look at the clocks, turn a hair or ONE
thing of that sort, and then ask any price
upon your work you saw fit. That isn't
business
Mr.. Walter replied he had never been
informed That an itemized bill was ncces-
Sary.
Henry r. Worthineton, the pump man,
was on hand to see about several of the
hung IN" claims. One for S64. 25 was
itemiZed and regular, and was passed by
the Street and Water Board OF October
&c of last year. Another bill of MIR.
Worthington for $8.50 was concurred in
by the Board of Finance August Is, and
MIR. Worthington didn't know it. But
Mr.. WOrthington surprised the commits
Siouers somewhat by asking what had
become of q bill amounting to $3.50. so,
dated December 10, 1896. This claim has
not reached the Finance Board.
A representative of the firm of Hauck
Bros. was present to answer questions
relative to the hung up' claim against
the city for wood furnished for the Belle
vile works. The claims aggregate SlS2,
and the wood was delivered for $14 a
cord. The representative stated that
this was one dollar "a cord less than was
charged private customers. 1t was
sawed and split before delivery.
: Michael j. Griffin was also questioned
regarding his four claims, s43, $2S. $27.
aud $50 for janitor's supplies. Mr.. Griffin
admitted that the supplies furnished
were not ordered by requisition from the
Board of Street and Water Commits
sioaers. nor by its President. The janitor
simply left the orders and the goods were
furnished. This appears, according to
Mr.. Griffin, to have been customary. Mr..
Kenny remarked that if employees could
order goods at their own sweet will there
was no use OF having Municipal Boards
to transact that sort of business. Mr..
Griffin said the charges were reasonable.
james Hart, who has been employed by
the Street and Water Board distributing
water notices, has not received a cent
from the city for his services since Feb
ruary last. His name does not appear
upon the pay roll of the Water Depart
ment. Yet his claims have been regular
ly passed by tins Street and Water Board
and certified &c by the Chief Engineer.
"a funny way of doing business re
marked Mr.. Kenny. and Mr.. gHillier
agreed with him.. Yet continued Mr..
Kenny, these poor men who do their
work should be paid for their services.
This is a horrible state of affairs"
Hart explained in answer to questions
put to him by the commissioners that he
had sold all mis- claims to a man named
ElGrkp