The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-04-23

WV ohu ANON''ss O~o w OOO W lSUW
Order No. ], for 5000, given as fees of AUDI.
tors and Secretary for servises in auditing
accounts OF Bloom Poor District for the year
lSgi at the rate Of s. per day is excessive and
| said auditor shall be entitled to receive Sl.5I
1or each and every day actually employee.
The salary OF the secretary is fixed for the
year and he was not entitled to extra compeR-
satlon for attendance at the meeting OF the
Auditors. 1t is clear that the directors had
no right TO pay the Auditors and Secretary
| the SO so in excess OF the amount allowed by
law. Having no right to the money the Poor
District is clearly entitled to recover It back
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 20, amounting to 81 80 were
part of order No. Is, amounting to s12 90 TO an
other Director for furnishing manure for the
Improvement OF the property OF the poor DIS
of Pennsylvania OF 1874, page lSO which pro-
| vides 'That It shall not be lawful for any d.
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-
troll The same law will apply to part Of o.
der No 40 amounting to sl5.50 for carpenter
OF ey Of 5se the tSSpn
District received the henefit OF the amt OF
tnese orders, yet the transactions were Illegal
should pay 1t back to the treasurer OF the dis
trict.
Orders No 80 and 5s, amounting to SOS were
given 10 pay for the services OF two stewards
during part or the month OF March last The
Act OF Assembly Incorporating Bloom Poor
District provides for the appointment OF only
one steward. 1t would therefore be illegal TO
pay Tor the service or two at the same time.
The Directors who appointed and paid for the
services or these two stewards should pay In
TO to the treasury OF the poor district SIS, being
col nf
the steward OF that year.
Order No. 106, for $40 to j. A. Howard for
board and care of X. $. Miller up to Sept 18th,
should be paid TO the Poor District by the d.
rectors who authorized the payment. The
order shows that 1t was not drawn for the re-
der was given. fhe Supreme V Court f has has de- de-
clded that the overseers OF the poor are strictly
limited by the various Acts or 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"
orders l07 and 1871, for $l07,l7 were given for
coal for Bloom Poor District The actual cost
OF the coal delivered at Bloomsbury was s2.75
ton, amounting to 1886 but the orders were
made up OF this amount, and OF $780, for ex-
chase the coa The bs s. show sSt the pSa
costs ss.75 ton and the orders Indicate that
the Director who purchased the coal should
pay S36l, being the excess OF the actual cost.
But he Is entitled TO pay for his necessary
travelling expenses and by presenting an
itemized bill the board OF Directors should
order 1t paid
orders iOS, 1856 and 1866, for s6s5 were given
for steam heat at Poor House. II there had
been legal contract these orders could not
De questioned by the Auditors. The paper
purporting obe 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
dlstrict and no legal price has been liked for
the payment of the same
According TO a line OF decisions OF our
only be authorized by q resolution passed at a
meeting OF the Board OF Directors but being
matter which should require deliberation and
thought the full Board should be present.
concluded that the price paid for steam heat
is exorbltant and excessive, that the same
make and quality can be put In with large
protlt TO the contractors for s'20 less than the
amount paid, and that the Director or Directors
who authorized the payment OF this excessive
sum should pay the sum OF $l20. 90 into the
treasury OF the district.
We further recommend that the books and
records OF the district should be kept In DIFF
ferent form That the minutes should be more
bill passed. That no bill should be passed
until ttemiZed 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-f1ve dollars.
ii j. HESS,
WIN. MATHER,
WIN. BOGART,
IL DEWITT,
ANDREW L. FRITZ.