The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-07-18

BOARD OF TRADE ACTS.
Asks the Financiers to In
yestigate the Water
Department.
HUGH DUGAN'S FEED BILLS
The Commissioners Want TO See
Duplicate Vouchers-Payonia
Avenue Pavement.
HUGH DUGAN'S FEED BILLS

The Board of Trade last night forward.
ed to the Board of Finance the much
talked of petition asking for an investi-
cation Of the accounts of tbs Water De-
partment. The members of the Board of
Trade are In earnest, but il Is now a
question whether the Board OF Finance
will assist them ia their investigating
scheme.
The petition submitted was as fol-
lows:
We, the undersigned, a committee appointed
by the Board of Trade OF Jersey City to secure
an investigation OF the expenditures of the
Water Department of Jersey City, respectfully
show
That though tho law cons tituting The Board
OF Street and Water Commissioners requires
that said board shall at I he close OF each fiscal
year make a detailed report TO the Board of
Aldermen showing ali receipts and expenditures
OF such board, the reports heretofore made by
the present board, as we'll as the recent report
OF Water Register Heaiy, have bsen unsatis-
factory \ that they have not given the detailed
Information as to the disbursements OF the
board, especially in the Water Department, to
which the people are entitled.
That the methods provided by law to compel
the Board OF Street and Water Commissioners
to give such Information as to disbursements
are ample.
The charter of 1871, section 16, provides that
you have power to obtain evidence in any iu-
vestigstiou undertaken by you by sub posna,
~ 800 Ph0
ductIon OF papers.
The Law ON THE SUBJECT.
Law OF 1881, page 261, section u, provides that
the books and records Of said board shall be
open 10 the exam ination of any persons APP
pointed for that purpose by The Mayor and
Board of Aldermen; also that said board shall
make annual reports TO the Board of Aldermen
showing all receipts and disbursements, and it
further specifically provides that the Board of
Street ant Water Commissioners shall give such
other Information to the Board OF Finance, the
Board of Aldermen or the May or in relation TO
the municipal affairs under its management as
either of said boards may require.
Your board is invested with the most import
ant function granted to any municipal body in
this city, viz. determination of the
amount Of municipal expenditures. At this
time you are considering. the amount OF appro-
priation which you are TO make to the Board of
Street and Water Commissioners for the ensu-
ing fiscal year. In order to have complete
knowledge of the necessities of this department
of municipal government you should be familiar
with its transactions.
In view, therefore, of the facts that the Board
of Street aud Water Commissioners has control
OF the expenditures for the streets, sewers and
pubic buildings OF the city, and the water in-
come, amounting TO three-quarters OF a million
of dollars, that detailed Information of expendi-
lures in the Street and Water Departments, as
required by law, has not been given; that such
Information is the rIynt Of tho psople, aud Is
necessary at the present time, when il is be-
beved that our Wafer Department ID unusually
running into debt: and that you have the power
TO obtain such information, we respectfully
petition your honoraole body to require the
Board of Street and Water Commissioner to
make q detailed statement of its revenues and
expenditures In all the departments under. its
charge; and to make such further Investigation
of the transactions of the Street and Water De-
partment as may seem exDedient.
JOSEPH A. DEAR, President,
JACOB RISe LIE,
A. j. CoRCoaAN,
II. W. CARR.
The petition was referred to the Com
nittee of the Whole.
DISCLOSING OF CLAIMS,
The board in the payrolls of
che employees of Belleville aud High Ser
vice for June, amounting to "a. zoe. AZ, and
the General Superintendent for Juue.
amounting to Sl,637; also the salary of
u fireman at Belieyliie at $85 per month,
aud one oiler at $50. The board non.
concurred in q batch Of claims of Hugh
Dugan for feed, aud advised that in view
OF the fact that the prices charged were
a trife high; that the board purchase Hi
feed iu future by contract. Inc frat bill
objected to was for SCI. The feed WAS
ordered by Mr.. Cook; the second by Mr..
Yoe. amounting TO ST. n, and the third
by Mr.. Yoe. amounting TO $3.50.
Acting Mayor Simpson was excused
from voting on all these matters. The
resolution OF the Board of Street and
Water COMMISSIONER asking for So, 800
with which to pay claims amounting to
That sum. expended over an appropriation
lOr repairs to engine houses was nom
colcurfoj Id.
WANT TO SEE DUPLICATE BILLS.
The Flnanciers want TO see duplicate
bills of the claims before acting on the
resolution. The Board concurred In the
opening of Pavonia avenue from Garrison
To West Side avenue and awarded damages
to property owners affected along the
line. line old Question of the collection
of personal taxes was revived, and Act
ing Mayor Simpson was appointed q
cotnmittee of one to wait upon the City
Collector and secure q detailed st atemenJ
of all perFoual taxes in arrears. Persons
refusing TO pay the claims will be ar
rested and compelled to make prompt
payment. Theodore Smith presented a
bill for S90S. So for work and various sup
plies at Beileville. running from May to
May to the present time. The Finance
Commissioners want The Street and
Water Commissioners to explain why
the work WAS not given out by con.
tract.