The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-12-19

COWS. IL is neld III us place by piles, and
must constantly be looked after. Mr.. Corbin
asking him general questions of the trucking
for the city. Some time ago the city
had no team, but now the city does its own
trucking. Where meter men need the truck
it is employed every day. As to the feed for
horses. The feed is stored in four different
places. Each foreman orders his own guam
tity of bags or bales of hay at a time.
Skipping over particular items Mr.. Cook
was led to the sidewalk fund and asked TO
explain where the ~rehagging was lone in
December. He said in East Hamilton Park
and Van Worst Park.
A Goo WORD FoR PHIL.
"What,work has Mr.. Phil Muldoon doner
asked counsel.
Mr.. Cook said that "Phir' served notices
and compelled people to lay sidewalks, and
only yesterday Mr.. Cook had heard of Mr..
Muldoon's making one person do 500 worth
of tagging.
This statement was objected to as hear
say, but the Mayor allowed the statement,
on assurance by Mr.. Cook that he had actual
knowledge of this extraordinary piece Of
work accomplished by Mr.. Muldoon, (which
should" as one of the Commissioners added
soto voce, ''prove that he is useful
Mr.. Cook then went into the individual
item of monies spent in assessments and ex-
tensions mentioned in charge No. 4. These
are for men laying pipes. Most of this is
new work, and the city has the benefit of the
Improvement. In particular the item of
Fox q Drummond. and an item for 81, 900
for Sinking Fund. Witness said the latter
was taken out every year at 2 per cent. to
reduce the debt. This year the amount is
$4,000. Every year the improvements made
in the water department are extensive, and
the city allows us.
Here a man named O'Brien caused an in
terruption, and the Mayor threatened to re-
move him.
Il had hopes you would sober up, sir, but
If you continue you shall leave the room,"
said His Honor.
Mr.. Cook, continuing in explanation of
supplies to Bob" Davis Jersey City Supply
Company, said there was no way in which a
contract could be made for those items. The
supplies needed by the Water Department,
such as those ordered from Theodore Smith
and Brother, are urgent and often supplied
in the middle Of the night. Explaining the
charge of Carrot Healey, who, it is alleged,
is kept on the payroll without doing the
work, Mr.. Cook said that he is EMPLOYED
under the Assessors and does out of door
work.
DC you know anything of water rates
collectedp' asked Mr.. Corbin.
"Oh, much better than in previous years.
We know of no better method than to cut off
when debts are contracted, and the methods
now adapted for collection are fairly eff
Gent" beoqff
Turning to charge about station house No.
2, changes were made at the suggestion of
the Police Commissioners, involving addi-
tional expense, such as drill rooms, stable
and everything was lone to suit the Police
Board.
A GENERAL DENIAL.
Mr.. Cook gave a general denial to all the
charges. No jobbery had been %perpetrated
No malfeasance had been committed and
everything was done to please the city, done
to give improvements and at the same time
with regard to economy.
DOUGLASS FAKES HIM IN HAND.
Mr.. Corbin then sat down and Judge
Douglass sailed in to c-ross-examine. Point
ing to the municipal act of 1889 and to that
section giving authority to expend license
money for public schools and other work,
the Judge asked if witness knew of its
purport.
Mr.. Cook was aware of the act. Witness
thought that the expense of e~xcavating
around that school, even before it was con-
structed, was legal under the act.
Counsel took up another charge.
Don't you think that if the collections in
the water rents are better, that the Adjust
ment Commissioners are ~responslble!'
mo, sill" witness replied.
"Were the plans of the Fifth Precinct
awarded before the contract was submitted
W Ull6 OnC6 commissioners
IL don't know
Witness said that usually the boards were
consulted before the plans and Specifications
were given out.
MR.. ERWIN TAKES HOLE.
Mr.. Erwins turn came next, and he, after
asking a few questions as to Mr.. Cooks ap-
pointment n committees on which he
served, asked witness if he had informed
himself on the law governing the board.
Witness had not.
Ibid you know that you could not award
any contract without advertising"
eyes, SIR"
care you familiar with the act under
which your board is constituted and requires
contracts to be filed with the Comptroller"
Eyes, sir; unless in some cases where the
board d~esignates otherwise"
Referring" said Mr.. Erwin, ssto the
charges of items in Mr.. Condon's bills to the
amount of $3,S23, why were they not con-
tracted forW
Because they are small items" was the
reply.
''Following this is another series 1896
amounts for repairing pipes. Didn't you con-
tract for theseF' asked Mr.. Erwin.
IF" replied Mr.. Cook, s'you found a hole
in the pipe as big as your head, do you think
We would have time to ADVERTISED"
By Mr.. Erwin, he admitted that no resolu-
ton had ever been passed by the board
auDnOI1ZIng UneSe payments.
"Why was this resolution not passedm
asked counsel.
II don't know" he replied.
A MAR SWE
"Now, tell us something about the pipe re-
pairing. What is inside the piper asked Nj.
Erwin.
Chow should I know. I've never been in
side, Mr.. Cook answered, with a grin.
"Why was the e~xcavating lone in School
No. IS without authority"
Because We didn't know exactly the Law
of the street and the location of the school
house" was Mr.. Cooks reply.
$50 that you gave out plans without know
ing where the school would be-
swell, the school was on too high a ground,
and we hadn't quite determined" was the
reply.
Condor the ~excavating without any con-
tractg'
Eyes, but we didn't know how much would
be done"
"Would you do that sort of a thing in your
private businessF'
II guess 500 witness replied.
"Did you know at what time the school
contract expiredT
"No, sir"
Isn't it your duty to find out about thes
mattersl'
eyes, sir.
HIS DUT
"Then you neglected your dutyg'
II don't think So" replied Mr.. Cook.
"Why wasn't there a penalty clause for
delay!" asked Mr.. Erwin, handing Mr.. Con-
dOn'S contract to the witness.