The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-04-30


order No. /, for 5000, given as fees OF suSS-
tors and secretary for servises In auditing
| accounts OF Bloom Poor District for the wear
iSsi at the rate OF 50 per day is excessive and
| illegal. The Act OF Assembly provides that
said auditors shall be entitled TO receive sI.5O
Tor each and every day actually employed.
Ine salary or the secretary is fixed for the
year ana he was not entitled to extra compeps-
sation for attendance at the meeting OF the
Auditors. 1t Is clear that the directors had
no right TO pay the Auditors and Secretary
| the S22 80 In excess of the amount allowed by
| law. Having no light to the money the Poor
! from the directors OF that year. But the Az
| ditors and Secretary OF that year should pay
| the Directors the amount received in excess to
| what they were legally entitled.
| orders No. 10 and 73, amounting to 81 80 were
| given TO one OF the Directors of the poor: and
| part OF order No. rs, amounting to $500 to an
! other Director for furnishing manure for the
trict. This is clearly In violatior OF the laws
| OF Pennsylvania of 1874 page $50 which pro-
yides THAT it shall not be lawful for any Di-
rector OF the poor In any county in this Com
monwealth, where said office exists to be
| concerned or personally interested in any con-
tract for furnishing supplies for the main-
tenance OF the poor, or for the construction
| or Improvement OF property under their con-
drolN d NJ Ihe ~ same law VIII apply to part of or
| work by one OF the Directors on the buildings
| OF the Poor District, Although the POOR
District received the henefit OF the amt. OF
| these orders, yet the transactions were illegal
| and the Directors who received the money
| should pay it back to the treasurer OF the dis
| trict.
| Orders No. 33 and 5S, amounting to s6S were
| given to pay for the services OF two stewards
| during part OF the month OF March last The
| Act or Assembly Incorporating Bloom Poor
! District provides for the appointment OF only
| one steward. 1t would therefore be illegal to
| pay for the service OF two at the same time
| Ihe directors who appointed and paid for the
| services or these two stewards should pay in
| 10 the treasury OF the poor district SIS, being
me me amount IN excess OF the regular salary of
| the steward OF that year.
order No 1O6 for $40 to ]. A. Howard for
| board and care OF r. S. Miller up to Sept 18th,
| 1895, was given without authority of law and
| should be paid 70 the Poor District by the Di-
rectors who authorized the payment. The
| order shows that 1t was not drawn for the re-
lief or X. S, Miller but to paJ bills which had
| peen contracted previous to the time the or
| der was given. The Supreme Court has de-
clded That the overseers OF the poor are strictly
limited by the various Acts of Assembly re-
lating TO 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 Is IN special emergencies only, as where
medical aid or other assistance is Imperative
| ly required before relief can be obtained.
orders iO1 and lSl, for SlO7,H were given for
| OF the coal delivered at Bloomsbury was s275
| ton, amounting 10 1886 but the orders were
made up OF this amount, and of s136l for ex-
chase the coal The bills show that the coal
costs s2.75 a ton and the orders indicate that
| IL costs S. Is ton. This was a mistake and
the Director who purchased the coal should
pay s'361, being the excess of the actual cost.
But he is entitled to pay for his necessary
travelling expenses and by presenting an
ttemized bill the board OF Directors should
order IL paid.
orders iOs 1856 and 1856, for s6a5 were given
FOR steam heat at Poor House. II there had
been n legal contract these orders could NOT
be questioned by the Auditors. The paper
purporting to be contract is only an agree
ment signed by Two Directors without any
previous authority from the Board AS an
agreement OF this kind is not binding the
steam plant, does not legally belong to the
ulstrlct ana no legal price has been fixed for
the payment OF the same.
According TO line OF decisions OF our
courts contract OF this character should not
meeting OF the Board OF Directors, but being
matter which should require deliberation and
thought the full 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
profit 10 the contractors for g. 90 less than the
amount paid and that the Director or Directors
who authorized the payment OF this excessive
sum should pay the sum OF $3.50. 90 into the
treasury OF the district.
We further recommend that the books and
records OF the district should be kept In a diff
ferent form That the minutes should be more
1ull and complete, with statement OF each
bill passed. That no bill should be passed
until itemzed, 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-1ye dollars.
H. J. HESS,
WM. MATHER,
WIN. BOGART,
/. A DEWITT,
ANDREW L. FRITZ.
AuditOrE