The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-09-29
SLOW PERCENTAGES.
Newark Unable to Collect
Money From the CONSOLE
dated Traction Company.
special to he .Jeysey citv Neus.

oHSSf4t w thC wv oSB 8 fctOA
NEWARK. Sept. 80, 1s93.-While the
members of the Board of Works are
waiting with fervid eagerness for Coun-
sci Edward Livingston Price to tell them
whether or not the Consolidated Traction
Company is violating its agreement with
the city in the matter of transfers, there
appears to be another little subject in
which theBoard of Works. the taxpayers
of Newark and the Consolidated Traction
Company are mora or less interested.
Men who have not been honored by ap.
pointment TO membership in the Board
OF Works are quietly discussing what
they have no hesitation in saying is a
violation on the part OF the railroad COM
pany. It's a question of ~money-some-
thing like $50. 000-that they say should
have been paid by the Consolidated into
the city treasury about four months ago.
Perhaps" said a citizen to a re Dorter
today, ''some member of the board may
ask Colonel Price to go cunning about
to find out whether the railroad company
Is living up to requirements in this par
ticular. You see. it isn't necessary for d
N of the board to obtain informa-
ton on his W account. The board has
a counsel and he can be ordered to do
| everything. just read this, please"
THE LAW
He pointed out the following section in
a resolution passed by the Common
Council and which went into effect
March 81, $780,
In addition to the general tax to which the
said companies are or may be subject by law,
and in addition to the license fees prescribed by
the ordinances of the city of Newark each of
the said companies, not having heretofore
agreed thereto. shall pay into the city treasu ~
on the first day of May of each year, five 90
per cent Of its gross earnings for the previous
year received from passenger traffic within the
city limits derived from lines up IN which cleo
trIcity is used as a motive power. A statement
of the amount of such earnings shall be depos-
tied with the auditor OF accounts of the city.
sworn to by the treasurer or other principal
financial officer of the company.
The five members of the Board OF
Works constitute its Finance Committee.
All matters concerning streets, etc., that
formerly came under the supervision and
control of Common Council are now
vested In the Board of Works. 1t Is sup
posed to see that ali resolutions aud ordi-
nances are enforced; the Common Couu-
Gil unexpectedly having its hands
tied.
lit isn't a matter that requires great
f~orethought ordeep research" aid au eX-
member of Common Council when
spoken to 1.-The fact is plain, n simple.
Tine city is entitled to this money and it
should take steps to recover it. Comp
troller Connolly and the Board of Works
are the parties to look to. Ii The Comp
troller is unable to compel the company
to pay up, then it devolves upon the
Board of Works to take the necessary
steps to force the company to disgorge.
las | understand 1t an agreement was
entered into between the city authorities
and the railroad on the strength of the
resolution of March, 1890, and under this
the Board Of Works should be in a posi-
ton to see hat the city gets the dues"
GAVE TROUBLE BEFORE.
Last year the company was not disposed
to pay the money due them, i5 is said. In
fact, it was claimed that 1t was NOT com.
PEELED under the law to pay the tax. The
sum due the city then, according to the
company's figures OF gross earnings filed
with Auditor Runyon, was something
over $4,000. The tax was payable GU
May /, but was not paid until ABOUT Two
months later. AS stated at the slime,
Comptroller Connolly insisted on pay
ment being made.H
This year the city claims that $40, 900 is
due under the agreement, but the COM
pany holds that 1t does not owe thai
mount. At all events a settlement
should have been effected by May l OF
this year.
The company has not filed a statement
of its gross earnings for the year with
the Auditor.
NOW. here is the situation in a nut
she'll" aid a city official. The city needs
money, the Board OF Works particularly
could use money 10 advantage just now;
there is 2 10000 four months overdue, aud
1t is claimed that the Board of Works IS
the power to compel the payment Of the
5 per emf tax. Surely the Comptroller
would gladly receive the money il it was
rendered nlm. A.
Let's see what the Board of Works
will do now in the interests of the cisy.
l understand the. railroad company is
pleading poverty-cau't raise The money
and all that. Wolf, that may be- all very
nice for h company, but the Board Of
Works has nothing to do with that. The
plea of poverty is not provided for in any
resolution, ordinance or contract that 1
nave heard of.
Ut looks very much as if the railroad
people have honey to run their business.
Just now $4,000 judiciously expended
would permit the city to make needed
improvements and give many poor ana
deserving man a chance to earn the price
of food for his family"