The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-05-05
spects to ano her of the Democratic
Boards tomorrow.
ACTIVE FINANCIBRS.
The Gas Contract Raked
Up-Be11eVille Pay
roll Troubles.

For the first time in several several
months Finance Commissioner George
w. Peterson put in an appearance at
meeting of the Board of Finance this
morning. He made his presence felt.
1t was eleven O'Clock when President
Edeistein raped for order. Commits
sioner Hitler was the only member alb
sent. being in Europe.
The first business to attract the ssoon-
tion OF the Commissioners was COM
munication from Patrick Hagap, John
Klein, Thomas Golden Edward McDer-
mott and Phillip Keay, who represented
bout one hundred EMPLOYEES of the
Street and Water Board. The communi-
cation set forth that the men had not
been paid any wages since last October,
and requested the Finance Commission
ers to aid them in securing their due,
AS soon as the communication had been
been read President Edelstein extended
the privilege of the floor to Mr.. Hagan.
A HARD CASE.
In straightforward manner Hagan
maintained that 1t was an outrage for
himself and the other employees to be
Kept out Of their money. II can't sell
my time" said he, Il have been put out
have been unable to pay my rent. My
butcher and baker refuse to give me credit
and l think something, should be done
for u.s."
"Gentlemen." interrupted President
Edelstein, 1T Is not the fault Of the
Board of Finance that you have not been
paid. Under the laws governing our
city we are compelled to first provide for
the payment of the interest on the water
debt. We have set aside portion of the
money for shat purpose. We cannot help
it that you have not been paid and we
are powerless to help you until the inter
est money is provided. | feel that you
have earned the money due you, but we
cannot pay You until there Is some fund
to draw upon"
The unfortunate laborers departed both
sad and angry.
VERY WISE ACTION.
The next surprise in store for the FL
nance Commissioners was a request from
the Board of Street and Water Commits
sioners that the pay rolls passed by their
Board April 25 be returned to them
tor revision. The pay rolls are for
Belleville and High service and agGre-
gate $4,000. The request was granted
but under a resolution from Commits
sioner Peterson merely copy Of the ORR
ginal payroll as adopted by the Board OF
Street and Water Commissioners will be
returned. The originel papers will be
retained for future reference and COM
parison with the revised payroll.
THAT GAS JOB.
The gas contract question was again
resurrected this morning. A resolution
by Commissioner Peterson, which will
cause the Street and Water Commission
ers, ex-Mayor Cleveland and the United
Gas improvement and its dependent COM
panies much uncasiness, directed the Cor
poratlon Counsel to submit an opinion as
to the validity of the contract entered
into by the Street and Water Commits
sioners and Robert Elliott's COM
panies, requesting particularly to know
whether, or not the concurrence OF the
Board of Finance is dispensed with in
such matters; whether it is not necessary
for the Board of Finance to approve of
the bonds furnished by the contracting
companies for the faithful performance
of their contract. and concluding by re-
questing the Board of Finance to decline
to honor any bills ordered paid by the
Street and Water Commissioners for
street lighting until the matter had been
fully decided as to the legality of the
course pursued by the Street and Water
Commissioners.
In speaking on the resolution Mr.. Pet
erson said:-"In the charter of 1887, the
Board of Finance has concurrent power
in everything, and this law held good un-
til 1889, but now the Street and Water
Commissioners claim that the concurrent
power of this Board Is dispensed with. II
this is the case want to know 1t. also
want to know where in the law the duty
of approving bonds furnished by a
company under such circumstances
is dispensed with. The Street and Water
Commissioners must bear one thing In
mind and that Is that the law creating the
Board in this city, does not give to IT the
same powers there are vested in the New
ark Board.
AN OUTRAGE.
"My reason for objecting to this con-
tract is that believe 1t be on outrage
upon the taxpayers. No one In this Board
has any interest in that gas contract and
we would support it If we thought 1t was
good thing for the city. We don't be-
lieve that way, and consequently wish to
break 1t. We are working In the inter-
ests of the taxpayers, ana II any Board IN
this city has the power to enter into such
want the responsibility placed upon the
proper PERSONS"
The resolution offered by Mr.. Peterson
was unanimously adopted.
President Edelstein was pleased, and
when resolution directing the payment
of the Commissioners salaries was read
and passed, a smile lit up the face of the
Weart, and of James Warner, Reuben
Simpson. John d. Fraser. Commission
ers of Appeals, were received and filed.
| The bonds of Constables John Masker,
Harry Powell, E. O'Grady, p. H. DAILY,
James Graham. F. Meyer and J. Jelly in
| 81, 900, W ere also received and filed.
An appropriation of $1,000 for the main
| tenance OF the Engineering Bureau was
made. The money will be borrowed on
| temporary loan bonds and paid out of the
next tax levy. The Board adjourned to
meet again in two weeks.
Gamblers Have a spssm of Reform.