Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1895-04-25
The OYSTER INQUIRY.
WITNESSES BEFORE THE
INVESTIGATING COM
MITTEE.
Pertinent Questions Asked by
the Committee and Some
Matters Not Satisfactorily
Explained.
(Staff Correspondence,)

Matters Not Satisfactorily
Explained.
CStaff Correspondence.)
TRENTON, April 23-The Safe
House to-day has been the scene of
very interest ng events, and the poll
t1cians about here are beginning to
ask. when will this ett'gation end :?
The Stats House was alive vita
prominent men of the State, and the
interest seemed to centre directly
about the Senate chamber, where the
mate Investig atipg Committee is
holding Its session.
Senator Stokes arrived here at ten
o'clock and was immedi ately surround
ed by the POLITICIANS. He was In a
lengthy convefs on with Senator Voor.
hees, and during t1e examination of
the Cumberland county witness g, he
sat with the Committee on the plat
form. He took a lively interest in the
proceedings, and seemed especially anx-
ious ito make things comfortable for
his constituents.
Among the prominent people about
were Speaker Cross, Leader Storrs,
Ass emblyman Vanise, Senator Hoff
man, Senator Rogers and Senator
Packer.
The Investigating Committee are
setting In the Senate chamber. All
were present yesterday, with Chair
man Voorhees, In t1e centre of the
group. The Committee is composed
of Senators Voorhees,, Skirm, Kstch-
am. DAILY and Herbert. Ali of them
had a bright red tulip upon their coats
as boutoniere.
Counsellor Corbin has table near
the committee, and there are piles
of books, papers, ETC., all about him.
H has several assistants to help him,
and the official sogro 49, sets near
by. Scattered about at the Henat or's
desksiare many reporters and news
paper men. Big Capt. Jack Graham,
the Sergant-at-arms, is always In evil
dence.
The morning was all taken up with
the examination into. the of printing of
railroad map,at great expense, a nd t
was after the noon recess before Cum.
berland become in evidence.
AS understood here, among the
many enactments of the Legislature
Is one taat provides, that when the
funds OF the oyster association be-
came in excess Of $4,000, this money
shall be paid into the hands of the
State Treasurer, to be applied to the
School Fund. There is no doubt but
that the intent of the law was that
the surplus should be paid over, but
the law don'G say so, and 1t Is now
claimed that there have been times
when the association should have
paid over money.
Collectors Campbell and Bepj. F.
Koray were the witnesses press to
be examined. There was no effort to
show that these gentlemen we're ac-
cused of anything, They were officers
and the Committee felt that they
could get informal on from them that
would throw some light upon the
matter. Particularly courteous and
kind were the members of the Com
mittse to the witnesses.
Mr.. Corbin made quite an exhaus-
tive opening In the casa and said that
1t was an inquiry concerning certain
revenues OF the school fund.
He then proceeded to review the
various enactments of the Legislature
from the session of 1871 until 1894,
which law, or portions of 1t, he read
with considerable emphasis. The fol-
lowing seemed to impress the Counsel
lor considerably: -''Nor shall they (the
committee) or the collector of ssid oys.
Ter fund be held account able for or
called npon for any moneys heretofore
expended by them or him for the in
terest OF said association or of ma
jority thereof. but all such expendi.
lures of money are hereby validated"
etc. He also called attention to
another provision of the 1894 law
which provided $5 per day for
the Executive Committee. Mr..
Corbin closed by saying that no money
had ever been paid In the School fund.
he then called Benjamin Campbell to
the stand.
Mr.. Cambbell satd he resided at BIZ
valve and was Collector of the Associ-
alton. a position which he had held
for eleven years. He gave the name
OF Benjamin Rorsy as Secretary Of
the last meeting.
In answer so further questions, he
said he had annually made out ac.
counts of the Association, which he
handed to the members of the Execu-
tive Committee, and they bring them