The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-04-02
SHARPERS BAFFLED.
New Jerseys Direct Taxes Secured
Without GO-bciweens-Ab-
belts Good Work.


TRENTON, April 2, 1s9L-Stats Treasurer
Gray aud Comptroller Heppenheimer did
a neat piece Of WORK in Washington, and
the result will be seen before the end Of
the week when Uncle Sans check viii
arrive for $3s0,000 It was TO outwit a
syndicate Of sharpers, who wanted to
gouge s57, 900 out Of the State. that caused
these two officials to hasten to the Capital
and struggle with the Secretary Of the
Treasury.
Under the recent act Of Congress New
Jersey was to have refunded the State
tax collected during the war. Last week
the State officials prepared the proofs in
the claim and were prepared TO send
them to the Second Auditor OF the Treas
ury. Several States had already received
their apportionment and IL was discov-
cred that the reason they had been served
so early was because they had fallen into
the hands Of some shrewd agents, VINO
represented trouble anead which could be
averted by placing the claim with them.
A few days ago the Governor received
from these agents Ia Washington prop
osiuon to collect the money for New Jer-
sey Their fee for the work, which they
stated would be attended with consider
able trouble. was Is per cent.
The claim Of this state In exact figures
s57, 600. The Governor made up his mind
10 get that money, without expendlng a
penny. He had a conference with Treas-
urer Gray and General Heppenheimer,
and the result was that these two officials
spent Easter attending the Washington
churches. Bright ana early on Monday
morning they reported at Senator Nc
Pherson's house, and he took them down
to the Capitol building.
ABBETT'S PAINSTAKING CARE.
They were presented TO the Secretary OF
the Treasury, and he was soon let into
the secret of why they had made the pill
grimage TO Washington. The proofs were
presented, and Secretary Foster looked
them over, and could not help paying
Governor Albeit the compliment by say
ing that the papers were the most COM
plete, and yet the most comprehensive, of
any presented. He was informed that
Governor Albeit did his own clerical
work in this particular case, and the sec
retary humorously said: well, when
Governor Albeit gets out Of position he
can have desk in my office he as
sured the New Jersey officials that there
would be no trouble or bitches, and they
would hear from him before the end OF
the week, in a substantial manner.
The State officials returned home on
Tuesday. The matter Of the disposition
of this money was given some considera-
tion yesterday. Some time ago the State
Board of Agriculture recommended to
the Governor that the money be used TO
create a fund for the building and re-
pairing OF State roads. but it is deemed best
to apply it at once TO more urgent pur-
poses.
The money will he partly used 10 reduce
the floating debt of the State, which is
s350O00 A note of $50. 600 falls due this
week, and another for S150,000 falls due
in June. These two notes will be paid,
leaving balance of over $lSO,O00, which
will be used with other funds OF the State
for the purpose Of building the extension
to the State Prison aud for the extension
of the Assembly Chamber and other al
terations in the State House, so as to Sc
cure additional accommodations for State
officers by remodeling the State Library.
Many Of the officers are not able 10 get
into the State House for the lack OF ac-
commodation. The last and preceding
Legislatures have already made the nee
essary appropriation for this purpose, but
the improvements were unable 10 be car
ried out for lack of funds.
THE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT.
The new Department of Banks and In
surance, which was created by the recent
Legislature, came into existence today by
G. B. NJ. harvey qualifying before the
Governor and filing his bond for S25, 600
with the Secretary OF State. The Deputy
Commissioner will be Thomas Johnson,
who has been in the Secretary of States
Office for some time, and who looked
after the banks and insurance business.
His salary will be s., 500 a year. The
signers OF Colonel Harvey's bond are Gott-
fried Kruger, James Smith, Jr., John
Kean. Jr., and William c. Heppenheimer.