The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-05-07

Order No. !, for $4,000, given as fees of AUDI
Iors ana secretary for servises in auditing
accounts or Bloom Poor District for the year
1894 at the rate OF IS per day is excessive and
illegal. The Act OF Assembly provides that
said auditors shall be entitled to receive $3.50
I0r each and every day actually employed.
The salary OF the secretary is fixed for the
year and he was not entitled to extra compen-
satioh Tor attendance at the meeting OF the
AUDITORS. III Is clear that the directors had
no right TO pay the Auditors and Secretary
the ~ 90 In excess of the amount allowed by
law. law. laying no light to the money the poor
District is clearly entitled to recover II back
from the directors OF that year. But the Au
ultoTs and secretary OF that year should pay
tne directors the amount received In excess To
what they were legally entitled
orders No 16 and 70, amounting TO a. IN wpre
given 10 one or the Directors of the poor: and
part or order No. %, amounting to si2 on To an
other Director for furnishing manure for the
Improvement mp OF the property OF the poor dis
Jrlct. IhlS is clearly In violation OF the laws
of Pennsylvania OF 1874, page 1870 which nro-
vldes THAT 1t shall not be lawful for any d.
TecTUT OF Ihe poor IN any county in this Com
concerned or personally interested in any CON
tract Tor furnishing supplies for the main
or Improvement OF property under their cnn-
troll. The same law will apply to part OF or
der NO 40 amounting to $3.50 for carpenter
work by one of the Directors on the buildings
OF the Poor District. Although the POOR
District received the beneft OF the amt, OF
s dnese orders, yet the transactions were Illegal
should pay it back to the treasurer Of the DIS
trict.
Orders No 33 and IS, amounting to s6s were
given 10 pay Tor the services or two stewards
during part OF the month OF March last Tine
Act of Assembly incorporating Bloom Poor
District provides for the appointment of only
one steward. II would therefore be illegal to
pay Tor the service OF two at the same time
the Directors who appointed and paid for the
services OF these two stewards should pay IN
70 the treasury OF the poor district SIS, being
aIa ~
the steward OF that year.
Order No. 106, for $40 to j. A. Howard for
board and care OF K. S. Miller up to Sept 18th,
should be paid TO the Poor District by the Di-
rectors who authorized the payment The
order shows that II was not drawn for the re-
been contracted previous TO the time the Or
der was given. The Supreme Court has de-
cded that tne oyerseers OF the poor are strictly
limited by the various Acts OF Assembly re-
latlng 10 the maintenance of the poor and ex-
cept In rare and special cases they cannot
step beyond the letter of these acts. "This is
allowed In special emergencies only, as where
medical aid or other assistance is Imperative
ly required before relief can be obtained
Oi oI9ers i iU1 and lSl for SlOT17 were given for
OF the coal delivered at Bloomsbury was 80 III
ton, amounting to 1886 but the orders were
made up OF this amount, and of Si86I for ex
penses during two trips to Kingston TO pur.
chase the coal. The bills show that the Coal
costs s2.15 a ton and the orders indicate that
the Director who purchased the coal should
pay 3,6l, being the excess OF the actual cost
But he is entitled to pay for his necessary
travelling expenses and by presenting an
ltemized bill the board OF Directors Should
order 1t paid.
orders los, 1875 and 1885, for s625 were given
for steam heat at Poor House. II there had
been legal contract these orders cOuld mn
be questioned by the Auditors. The paper
purporting 10 be contract is only an aVrep-
previous authority from the Board AS an
agreement OF this kind is not binding the
steam plant does not legally belong In the
district, ana no legal price has been liked for
the payment OF the same.
According to line of decisions of our
courts contract or this character should not
only be authorized by a resolution passed at a
meeting OF the Board OF Directors, but being
u matter which should require deliberatton and
tnought the rull Board should be present,
upon careful examination the Auditors have
concluded that the price paid for steam heat
is exorbitant and excessive, that the same
make and quality can be put In with a large
pront 10 the contractors for $'20 less than the
amount paid, and that the Director or Directors
who authorized the payment OF this excessive
treasury OF the district
We further recommend that the books and
records or the district should be kept In diff
ferent form. That the minutes should be more
Iuil Iuil ana complete, with statement OF each
bill passed, That no bill should be passed
until itemlzed and that the minutes should be
signed by the Secretary.
The, salary OF each OF the Directors for the
ensuing year is fixed by the Auditors at sew
enty-iiye dollars.
II. j. HESS,
MM. MATHER,
WIN. BOGART,
LA DEWITT,
ANDREW L. FRITZ.