The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-04-12

MARTINS MEMORY.
1t Deserts the Ex-senator
When Before the V0or-
hees Investigating
Committee.
AFTER THE COUNTY CLERKS
Many of Them, Mr.. Corbin Says,
Are Liable to Impeachment
and Indictment.
special to the Jersey oity Neps.

TRENTON, April u, 1ss5.-Grand In
quisitor Cerbin plunged into the ex-
penses of the State Board of Arbitra-
ton again this morning before the Voor-
hees Investigation Committee and start
led the Senators by saying that the
board had kept no minutes for two
years. sThey were thinking" said Mr..
Voorhees,
The minute book used prior to March,
1898, was produced and from it Mr.. Cor
bin read resolutions that members
should receive IS a day for total ex-
penses; that a telephone should be
placed in the Presidents house. and that
during the legislative session they should
meet in Trenton
That costs the State s160 a day."
said Mr.. Corbin.
Mr.. Skirm asked if the board had a
Secretary.
yes" said Mr.. Corbin, a he was
paid $500 a year, but kept no minutes
for two years."
D.. Robertson, one of the old board,
said he was appointed by Governor Abb
bett by request of Senators Martin and
Cornish. His expenses were sent to
the Secretary, who made out bills for
the Governor to approve. Mr.. Corbin
read a letter from Governor Werts. com
planning that the boards bills were not
itemized and specific. Governor Werts
was not asked to approve them after
this" said Mr.. Corbin. They went
direct to the Comptroller"
Robertson was asked to retire and Sem
ator Martin was called. He denied that
he ever received part of Roberson's
compensation because he inhuenceds
Governor Albeit to appoint him. Four
checks to- Robertson for his services
were exhibited. All were endorsed and
cashe by Martin. Mr.. Martin was con-
fused and said his sickness had de-
stroyed his memory.
MORO MISSING BOOKS.
Other State checks to Robertson, en-
dorsed by G. J. Fisher, were shown.
Fisher, being called. could not remem-
Der why he endorsed them. His mem-
cry too was bad. NJ. Heintze of New
ark. who did a large amount of print
ing for the State, was s~ubroenaed to
bring his books covering four years.
He said he could not find all his books.
Some were missing. Mr.. Voorhees, sharp
ly ordered him to produce all his after
noon, even if an express wagon was
necessary.
Ih0bCiSOQ WdR 1GCdtAco dhG u
that ne ever gave money to Martin
out of his compensation. Corbin made
him show mis- bank books. but there
were 70 entries OF Stats checks deposit
ed, although witness said he had de-
posted them when they were given him.
"As a matter of fact these checks of
yours given to Martin were never de-
posted by you at all, were they?e asked
Mr.. Corbin.
Witness was silent until forced by
Mr.. Voorhees,, he said he could not say.
Iemory to blame again.
AFTER THE COUNTY CLERKS.
Mr. Corbin switched off here into read
ing a list of County Clerks who have
neglected to turn into the State Treas
ury Supreme Court fees received by
them. There is scarcely a County
Clerk he said, who is not in arrears.
Some are two and some even sixteen
terms of court" Mr.. Corbin said hat
Essex, Camden, Sussex and Monmouth
counties are seriously in arrear. Many
of the delinquent clerks are dead, and
the State has lost thousands of dollars.
Mr.. Corbin said that the present County
Clerks are well up, and have paid at
tention to the matter, but their prede-
SCcSOIS WCI6 ScIlOGoiy III dliGdts. &hC
~offense. he said, was Improbable and
indictable.
County Clerks bonds were produced
and Mr.. Corbin said many of them were
oltiawed. The Attorney General was
looking into the matter to begin prose-
cution. Comptrollers were to blame for
permitting delinouencies.
Charles B. Mathis. County Clerk of
Ocean, was asked why he was In ar
rears to the State. He replied that
he a not been able to collect fees
from the lawyers, an answer which evok- |
ed merriment at Mr.. Corbin's expense.
]. Y. Wrightson, Clerk of Essex, ex-
planned his ~delinquencies by saying that
the County Clerks were ~litigating among
themselves. Essex County Clerk could
not pay up because of disputes as to
fees, and lawyers were not prompt.
You always were" he added, indicat-
ing Messrs. Voorhees, and Corbin, who
laughed with the rest.
A GOOD SUGGESTION.
Robert L.. Barber. Clerk of Camden
county. said that he had paid this morn
ing to the Comptroller all arrears. He
suggested the passage of an act pro-
hibiting the Clerks from filing papers
unless the fees accompanied them.
"A very good suggestion" said MI.