The Jersey City news., 1891-09-19

Assessments and observation-disclosures on
meters, August, 1891, S465.
3. Awarding contract to John Nolan
for the improvement of Kensington ave
nue. from Bergen auenue TO point 75l
| feet west thereof.
A. Awarding contract to Robert j
Clarkson for the improvement of NORTH
| street from Durham to Central avenues.
g. Three 60 resolutions ordering paid
| certain claims.
! REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES.
! The Committee on Concurrent Resolu-
| tions reported the following resolutions
of the Board of Street and and Water
| Com missioners, and recommended that
| the same be concurred in:
l. Ordering paid .he following pay
| rolls:
! Assessments and extensions-Re-
assessors, June, 1891. ............ $7l2 5c
| Assessments and extensions-Re-
assessors, July, 1891 ..........-. SO W
assessors. August. 1881 .... 412 90
| Assessments and eytenSiOps-Gen-
eral Superintendent, etc.. June,
1891. ............ 9S9 99
! Assessments and extensions-Gen-
eral Superintendent, ETC., July,
Observation-Disclosures. 1891. 9S9 ee
| Assessments and eXtensions-Gen-
eral Superintendent. ETC., Aug
ust, 1891 9S9 90
Assessments and extensions
| Water Registrar, etc. August,
| leJl. o,UOo 81
2. Ordering paid certain claims.
3. Ordering paid the following claims
| incurred in 1889 for repairing streets in
| excess of appropriations the amount to
be paid out of contingent fund Board OF
| Finance, 1S90-91:-
| $40 Bernard keilt.
| So John Clougher.
$24 Andrew Weldon.
| The ayes and nays having been called
| on each of the above resolutions the re-
port was received and the resolutions con-
Cured In by the following vote:-
Ayes-President Edelstein, Messrs
Kenny and Paterson.
| Nays-None.
Absent-Messrs. Allen and Hitler.
The Committee on Printing, Stationery
and Supplies reported the following
claims and recommended that warrants
be ordered drawn in payment of the
same:-
S25, Evening Journal Association, ad-
vertising sale of Water Bonds.
500, Henry Gerber, manifolding clips.
S1877, Jersey City Electric Light Com
| pany, lighting. Collectors office to Aug
ust /, 1851.
$50, Frank McDermott; ice. City Hall to
September 1, 1891.
50. G. William Wenuer & Co., station
cry for CORPORATION Counsel.
SIG 80, q. William Weuner g. Co..
stationery Tor Corporation Attorney.
The ayes and nays having been called
upon each of the above resolutions, the
report was received and the claims Or
dered paid by the following vote:-
Ayes-President Edelstein, Messrs.
Kenny and Peterson.
Nays-None,
Absent-Messrs. Allen and Hitler.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
In this order Mr.. kenny addressed the
f1il 81. hAit,r rInv.a RI
to transcribe his remarks and spread the
same in full upon the minutes:-
MR.. PRESIDENT:-Since the past full
| meeting OF this Board something of a
| revolutionary nature has taken place.
| The Treasurer and Comptroller have de-
| family trampled upon the law and have
| set the authority of this Board at defiance
| tor the first time in it's history. Has anv-
! thing like it even been limited at? 1t
| only remains for this Board to assert the
| powers which have been given to it by
| the Legislature, or to permit each in-
| dividual in connection with The city gov
ernment to act as he may please. 1t
looks just s if we had arrived at that
| very condition of things. | have formed
| these opinions from reported interviews
| that have appeared in the city papers,
| and the action OF the Treasurer in pay
| ing out large sums of money for claims
! of the Street and Water Board out of the
| liquor license moneys without its being
| first appropriated by this Board. 1t is
| gross irregularity, and if a violation Of
| law. which believe it to be, amounts TO
| both malfeasance and misfeasance in
| office, there can be no excuse for the ac
| ton of the Treasurer aud Comptroller,
| as both we'll know that the liouor license
! money for the year 1889 and 1890 was ap-
| portioned by the Board of Finance
| under the provisions of the charter of
| 1871, which gives TO the Board the man
| of . 1n APf + VI
| city. Whence came the necessity for a
| different course this year, and by whom
| were they instigated to do as they have
| done? 1t seems more than that to me,
| knowing the Comptroller as | do, man
in whose keeping would place my life,
| and the official who is charged with the
| duty by the sixth section of the supple
ment to the charter, passed III 1874, of
| reporting to the Board of Aldermen and
| Board of Finance at their first meeting
| thereafter any Irregularities in the re-
| ceipt or disbursement of moneys by the
| City Collector. City Treasurer aud City
| Clerk. think, Mr. President, that it is
right that l should refer again to the
| opinion OF the Cor ooration Counsel lately
! given to this Board as TO his interpreta-
tion of Chapter 127, Laws 1899, Section r.
In it he says that the Board OF Street and
| Water Commissioners We're vested with
the right to expend without further ap-
| propriation for the purposes named the
| one nalfo the license fees collected for
| the years 1889, 1890 and 1891 and
| still possess that right unless
modified by subsequent legislation
while there has been subsequent legisla-
| tion in the shape of Chapter 206. Laws of
| 1891, which repeals every law that pre-
| ceded it that was in any way inconsistent
| with its provisions, yet it was not neces-
sary, for by the very section (Section 12)
| of the Charter Of 1889 quoted by the Cor
| poration Counsel, the money should be
! set apart and kept as separate fund be-
| fore it could be used, for by referring to
| Section 13 of the same act fiud that no
| contract shall be binding upon the city or
become effective or operative until said
bonds are approved by the Board OF
/ Finance, and no such contractor shall
| commence any such work or incur any
| expense whatever TO be paid by the city
/ or by assessment upon property, rs the
| case may be, until the Beard of Finance
| approve OF the ponds. Here are the very
| moneys set apart by whom does not mat
ter, and yet they cannot be used by con-
tract until the Board OF Finance
| first approve of the contractors
bonds as to sufficiency, the principle
is so clearly established by section ID that
to the Board of Finance alone belong the
power and the duty of managing and
cariug the finances of the city. Section
| 13 is still in force Notwithstanding the
opinion of the Corporation Counsel, and
! no contract can be valid for any WORK
done by the liquor license money until IL
is approved by this Board. Section %
chapter 1874 of the laws of 1891 limits the
| mowers trans ferred. 1t does not affect