The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-12-16

II the amount which was now being consid-
cred by the Adjustment Commissioners was
/ deducted this sum would be greatly de-
creased
To the Mayor he said he was not sure of
that but he believedsso. 3f
3 To Mr.. Thompson he said there was over
SSS, GOO, which are not due until next May,
that is, they do not become arrearages until
then. Bills on metered water are sent out
monthly in some instance and in others quar-
terly. The Railroads Company owe
$500 of that, and the township of
Harrison and Kearny about $1,000,
and the Board of Freeholders own about
$4,000 of the $4,000 The Erie Railroad
Company owes three months for water used
previous to the time the road went into the
hands of receiver. Recently half dozen
instances had occurred where the water had
been shut off for non payment of rents. To
Judge Douglass witness said that when he
water for 1898 he was simply.
estimating. He had made no cafcu-
lation. He did not consider
bills sent out in May, 1898, in arrears until
May l, 1894, Notwithstanding the fact that
penalties are imposed for nom payment after
July l.
To Mr.. Thompson he said water was not
year.
NO ACTION BY THE BOARD.
Mr.. Douglass asked Mr. Bouton if any
action had been taken by the board to col
lect the back water rents by suit, and Mr..
Bouton said there was nothing in the min
utes to show it,
Mr. Douglass then offered in evidence the
section of the act of 1891, in reference to the
conducting of the Water Department and
the section of the act of 1891, reorganizing
the Street and Water Board, which forbids
the payment of any sums over $500 for work
or supplies without advertising for bids and
award contract.
Then the prosecution rested.
Mr. Thompson said that his side was ready
to go on after recess and he suggested that
instead of considering all the separate items
in the charges they be punched where they
related to the same person. The Mayor said
said he would group them and then adj
Journed the hearing until two o'clock.
AFTER RECESS.
1t was half-past two o'clock this afternoon
when Counsellors Corbin and Thompson an
nounced that they were ready to proceed
with the defence of the accused Off
clals The course to be pursued
was calling witnesses with view to
explaining each item embraced in the
charges. Counsellor Corbin announced that
he was somewhat handicapped in his defense
owing to the absence of important witnesses,
who, on account of Saturday being half
holiday, had gone az. 9y. However, Mr. Cor
bin maintained that the absence of witnesses
would in no wise effect his case of proving
the entire innocence of the accused officials
in any wrong doing. ~
Chief Engineer Ruggles was the first wit
ness called for the defense.
A WRONG IMPRESSION.
Counsellor Thompson labored under the
impression that the first set of
charges were to be taken up
and defended. But Counselor Erwin
who had dropped in to hear the line of de-
fense in the second batch, declined to pro-
ceed
Counsellors Corbin and Thompson were
ready and willing to proceed on the original
charges, but they were not prepared to pro-
ceed on the second
Councillor Douglass said he was prepared
to proceed in his case, viz, the charges of
Leslie, Hill and Allen.
difficulty here. Mr. Erwin is acting
for one set of complainants and I for an
other. 1t is a sort of ble-barrelled
game, which is intended to bring down the
game with one barrel or the other Now
many OF the charges are similar and / see
no reason why we should not proceed now !"
Mr.. Corbin was adverse to this move He
insisted that the charges should be
taken up just in the order they had been
presented. He maintained that it was the
right of counsel for the defence to pursue the
course most advantageous to them.
ADJOURNED TILL TUESDAY
After considerable grumbling on the part
OF Counsellor Erwin, who would not proceed
on the original charges, Mayor Wanser de-
clared the hearing adjourned until next
Tuesday morning, when it will be continued
as suggested by Mrs. Corbin, viz: to defend
each charge.