The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-07-16
A GRIEVOUS WRONG DONE
Mr.. Peterson's Six Months De-
lay Cost Many Poor
Men Fifty Per
Cent.
OVER SIS, 600 ORDERED PAID
Wanser to Offer New Obstruction
just a Few Rolls Returned
for Certifcation.

JUST q Few Rolls keLufne0
for Certification.
The long struggle of the Board of Street
and Water Commissioners to secure the
concurrence of the Board of Finance in
their payrolls has ended. The victory is
to the credit of the Street and Water
Board.
The Finance Board met last evening
at six o'clock and held one of the liveliest
sessions it has ever held. OF the hung up
payrolls, aggregating $4,000 or more,
$45, SIT. So were concurred in.
At half-past six o'clock President
Edelstein announced that the prelmin-
ary hearing upon the disputed payrolls
should be public one. and President
Madden of the Street and Water Com
missioners, CLERK Bouton, Chief Engineer
Ruggles, and several reporters filed into
the meeting room. Assistant Water
Registrar Farmer, Assistant Clerk Toll
son and Police Commissioner Kelly, Tax
Commissioner German and several other
officials remained outside. Clerk Ger
man spread the S75,000 worth of payrolls
out before him on his desk while Clerk
Bouton arranged his in his lap.
President Edelstein said: Gentlemen
we are here to hear explained these dis
puted and long neglected payrolls. This
hearing is public one and it is the wish
OF this Board that each payroll be taken
uD separately. We will now proceed"
Commissioner Peterson occupied a seat
to the left Of the chairman where he was
enabled to examine every payroll brought
up and cross question the Street and
Water Board representatives.
PAYROLL NO. l.
The first payroll introduced was for
laborers repairing water pipe in Novem-
ber. 1891. aggregating 50, 7S1.50
"How was this payroll presented to
your" asked President Edelstein Of Clerk
Bouton.
s'These pay rolls are submitted by the
proper foremen at the first of every
month y was the reply. 49,
"Are afidavits always attached to GER
| tify as to the correctness of the pay rolls"
continued Mr.. Edelstein.
'Yes, sir; and l believe that You will
find these documents with af1idavits
made by Joseph Carroll. the Superin-
tendent, Charles Maxwell, Assistant Su-
perintendent, John Welsh and Thomas
| Trotter.
Addressing President Madden, MIR.
Edelstein asked, do you believe the
payroll to be correct in every PARTICULAR"
II do" Mr.. Madden replied.
ado you know OF any way of finding
out further If these payrolls are correctW
'Not unless you question the men in
dividually."
Chief Engineer Ruggles next testified
that he always checked off the time on
the payrolls and then certified to their
correctness. He also spoke Of the honesty
of Mr. Carroll. President Edelstein also
knows Carroll as an honest. upright man,
and suggested that the payroll be laid
aside for passage.
Commissioner Peterson popped up with
Mayor Wanser's fiimsy technicality Of ap-
pointment by resolution and inquired
how many Of the laborers on the payrol.!
about one third the others being az
pointed by committee.
The payroll of laborers employed in
| laying water pipe in November, 1891, ag-
gregating 81, 65625 was next taken up.
rs this payroll sworn to by Thomas
| Trotter aud Charles Maxwell in the
regular form?' asked Mr.. Edelstein.
:'It is" was the reply of Mr.. Bourop.
rs there any means of knowing
whether or rot these men worked the
| number of days opposite their namess"
| mot unless men were employed to fol-
| low the various. gangs around"
| "Have received duplicate of this
| uavroll?" interrupted Commissioner
| Peterson.
You have, SIR" replied Mr.. Bouton.
| II wish to say right here" said Mr..
| Peterson, "that this is not so. have not
| received duplicate of this document"
| PETERsoN's GREAT POINT.
| Mr.. Bouton maintained that he had.
| and lively squabble ensued. In which
| Mr.. Peterson scored the brilliant point
| that he had lot because the copies he re-
| cetved did not have Trotter's and Max
| Wells affidavits attached A broad smile
| lighted up President Edelstein's face
| when this ridiculous termination of the
| row developed, and in pleased way he
| directed the examination to proceed.
The payroll of laborers for repaving
over water pipes in December, 1891. aG-
| gregating 50, T96.75, was next brought up.
| Suddenly it was discovered that Foreman
| McDermott appeared on both OF the lists
of men employed doing this work, once
| for four days, again for twenty-four. He
| had also certified to the correctness of the
| nav rolls. MIR. Peterson endeayored to
| show that fraud appeared here, but his
| effort was without avail, it being readily
| explained that McDermott had worked
on two different jobs at two distinct times.
| This pay roll was set aside for passage
| The payroll for reassessors for January,
| 1892, amounting to $500. was brought up.
| 1t was not certified to as to its correctness
| neither was an affidavit attached Water
1 Assessor Heller's signature graced the
| document, however, and President Edel-
| stein explained that his signature was all
| that was considered necessary in the past.
| It wouldn't go this time, however, and
| the payroll will be returned to Mr. Heller
| to have him make an affidavit that it is
| correct.
| The next payroll was that for laborers
| repaving over water pipes for the month
| of January 1892, amounting to S2,206. rs.
| Without the slightest discussion this was
| laid aside to be concurred In.
| PETERsON'S OWN FAULT,
! Payroll for men at Believille and High
| Service for the month of February, 1892,
amounting to s4. $40. 0S." announced Clerk
| German,
Chief Ruggles explained that the clerk
| at Bellevllle always certified to the cor
rectness OF the payrolls.
4 "This payroll should be certified to-"
said Commissioner Peterson. Peter
! Cavanagh is the clerk, ana ] think he is
good one. In this very room he has
made the statement that he carried
money from pote shavers 10 the men ut
Belseville. He is q good man for the
| place, should imagine. wish it under
stoud that 1t ia not the poor men and
Iaborers who have suffered By this busl-