The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-05-12
COUNTY ROAD COST.
The FreehOlderS Will Call
on the Courts For a
Strict Enquiry.
TO REPUTE "JOURNAL" LIES.
Public Session Next Week-Very
Small Beer at the Annual
Meeting.
10 REpUTE JOURNAL" LIES.

Journal that there Is extravagant and
useless expenditure of money in the con-
struction of the County Road. They de-
cided at conference before their annual
meeting yesterday to instruct the Counsel
and Assistant Counsel, the Chief Engi-
neer and all lawyers employed in the pre-
parations of searches of titles, condemna-
tion proceedings and other litigation, and
all other matters requiring the payment
of money, to meet with them at half-past
ten o'clock next Wednesday. These heads
of the several departments will be required
to furnish statement of all work that
has been done by them, and the amount
of money that has been expended for
such work.
EXPERT ENQUIRY.
The Freeholders will then make a
proposition to the public that a competent
committee, to be appointed by Judge
Vert, or by any equally desirable au-
thority, the committee to make a careful
inspection OF the work and its cost and to
publish the same with its conclusions as
to economy. The Freeholders are SO con-
uO0ub buub bu0 StIlCuc5b CSOAOulg hoS plO-
vailed in this great work that they are
desirous the public should know it and
put at an end forever the indirect accusa-
tions of extravaganza.
A HUGE UNDERTAKING.
But few people realize what gigantic
piece of work the construction of the
County Road Is. Chief Engineer Har
rison assured me several days ago that
the condemnation proceedings are greater
than any ever attempted before in this
country. In New York. when condemna-
tion of lands for streets was made. it was
done by special legislation, and so it has
been elsewhere. but on this work every
inch of ground taken for the fourteen
miles of road must be condemned. except
such land as may be donated. and that is
exceedingly trifling in quantity.
To condemn this land the same legal
process must be gone through. no matte
whether an inch of land or q block Der
taken. This has required the necessity
of making 5000 persons parties to the
condemna tion proceedings, they having
direct or indirect interest in the titles to
the land to be taken.
THE FREEHoLDERs' SESSION.
1t was just five O'Clock when all of the
Board of Freeholders filed into their meet
ing room last evening. A receipt from
County Collector Dugan was read by the
clerk. showing that Director Bruggemann
had paid over to the Collector $7.914 for
the support of insane persons, and on mo-
tion the receipt was ordered spread in full
on the minutes.
The official Bond of County Superin-
tendent james F. Cannon was read and
filed. The trustees were Andrew j &.
Post and Eugene Hartwell and the bond
was approved by Judge McGrath. the
counsel to the Board. DR.. Charles b.
Converse sent in requisition for drugs
to be used at the County Jail. 1t was
referred to the Committee on Court House
and Jail.
Director Bruggeman wanted to know IL
| the proper committee had taken any
| action in regard to erecting gates at the
Snake Hill railroad crossing. The COM
mittee consisted of Freeholder Nelson,
Coyle and Perry. Freeholders Coyle
stated that he passed the crossing on
| Monday and the machinery was in place
and all in readiness for the erection OF the
| poles.
Freeholder German. as Chairman of the
| Committee on Finance and Audit, offered
| a resolution providing that $1,000 of the
| third item of appropriation known as the
County Lunatic Asylum, 1000 of the
| fourth item of appropriation, and 1000 of
the twenty-fifth item of appropriation
| known as bridges all be transferred to
the seventh Item of appropriation known
as store room, and the resolution was
unanimously adopted.
MIR. DONoUGH'S PAY.
When batch of claims had been read
by the clerk, Freeholder Coyle asked that
the claim of Thomas McDonough, ex-
| Freeholder, be laid out.
Mr.. German said he was at loss to
understand Mr.. Covle's motion. Mr..
German had seen Register Fielder, in
| whose office McDonough was employed
as index clerk, and Mr.. Fielder had kind
word for McDonough.
Freeholder Coyle remarked that 1t was
passing strange that II Register Fielder
had spoken kindly of McDouough he had
| neglected to fix his signature to the war
| rant. Mr.. Coyle wanted to see McDon-
ough perform some work, and thought it
was about time the Board took stand in
the matter.
Freeholder Nelson remarked that he
was glad to see that the Board, as he ex-
pressed 1t, woke up.
Freebooter German thought McDon-
| ough was not being treated fairly. If the
| Board did not want McDonough it ought
| to discharge him. Freeholder Coyle car
| ried his motion by vote of 6 to 8.
When the claims from the Health
Office had been read. Freeholder Ping
stem SAID that, inasmuch as the sworn
statement of McDonough was not suffi-
cient to justify his claim without the
signature of Mr.. Fielder, he believed
! that the claims of the Health Officers
should be certified by some one.
Freebooter Ellis explained that there
was a vast difference in the appointments
of tho Health Officers and Mr.. McDon-
ouQh. Mr.. McDonough was appointed
and paid per diem, and the members OF
the Board of Health by the year.
Freeholder Phngsten contended that
the setting aside OF McDonough's sworn
claim suggested perjury, and Freeholder
Ellis replied that there was nothing in
the transaction which could legally be
construed as perjury. Freeholder
Pfngsten svmpathetically referred TO Nc
Donough's family, and Freebolder Coyle
wanted 1t understood that he was not try
ing to hound McDonough, but McDon-
ough had become too important person
age and could seldom be found.
NORMAN L. RowE'S TURN.
When another batch of claims had been
read Freeholder Nelson said he would be
compelled to vote against the whole batch
because of claim of $3.50 of Counsellor
Norman l.. Rowe for professional SER
vices. MIR. Nelson thought Rowe had
nothing to do.
Mr.. Nelson then offered a resolution
providing for the dismissal OF Norman l..