The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-16
THE WATER DEBTS.
Board of Finance Wants Ae-
curate Figures Account
Tied Up.

The Finance Commissioners met last
night. There was nothing said or n
about a new supply of water. Therpres-
ent condition of the water account, now
ever, which has begun to give all the
officials concern, was given some atten-
ton. The following resolution dealing
with the subject was adopted by a unani-
nous vote
Resolved, That the Board of Street
and Water Commissioners furnish this
Board with a list of all claims, payroiis,
payments on account, contracts ana SO
vet passed by said Board and charged
to water account; said statement to IN
dude also the estimated cost for labor
in said department n Tor water 10 De
furnished up to May l next;
Resolved, That the Street and Water
Board be requested to furnish this Board
with the desired information, IL possible,
by Wednesday, December u.
The resolution means that the Finance
Board has decided TO arrange to pay all
hung up claims against the water &C
count and then insist upon r"etrencnlneht
all along the line. 1t VIII pc remem-
bered tina when Mayor Hoos took office
he demanded a statement showing the
condition of the water account. Ine
statement furnished to him contained the
information that there was a deficiency
of $500. 600 or more and hat this years
revenue, in addition, had been mortgageo
to the extent of $50, 900.
y With more than $500, 900 interest TO pay
and with a temporary water contract eat
ing up 81, 900 a day, the new street ana
Water Commissioners announced tnat II
would be impossible to pay not only the
immense batch of hung up claims OF
the preceding Board but that 1t would
also be out of the question to pay any
claim against the water account save the
salaries of the employees.
To remedy the difficulty the Street and
Water Board endeavored TO force de-
%linuuent water taxpayers to make set
Element by allowing them sixty days in
which to act, upon refusal to pay by
cutting off the water supply some rev
thousands of dollars were collected, put
not enough to improve matters. The
department had to be kept up ana sup
plies had to be purchased, but since last
August not a dollar has been paid out OF
the water account.
City Treasurer Dickinson has refused to
pay a claim of any kind against the ac-
count. Merchants have begun to complain
and the East Jersey Company has
demanded aymen of it's claims. Fear
ing a shut down, the Street and Water
Commissioners became alarmed and APP
pealed to the Finance Board for relief.
A rough estimate of the expenses of the
water account has been made and it is
commended hat from now until May /
next, not enough money will be coli
lected to pay the claims which stan
against the account already. AS a con-
sequence some provision has to be made
for the maintenance of the department
until May l next. This the Board of
Finance proposes doing, it is said, but
only with the understanding that there
shall be retrenchment all along the line.
The Street and Water Commissioners
say they are willing to do all in their
power to reduce the expenses of the
department. President Boltwood declares,
however, that the present administration
should not be. compelled to cripple its
departnMSt because the former admins
tration drained the water account. 1t is
reported that the Finance Board in
tends raising sufficient money to meet
the deficiency in the water account on
bonds. The whole amount raised is to
be placed in next years tax levy.
The Street and Water Commissioners
do not like the idea of having to raise
money by direct taxation to pay for the
temporary water supply, but they say it
annot be avoided in this instance. An
effort is to be made by the Finance Board
to raise the required money at once, so
thai the hung up claims against the
water account may be paid early in Janu-
airy.
The Finance Board ordered a warrant
drawn in favor of e. w. Woolley for
$780, SO. 1t is the amount of a judgment
recovered by Mr.. Woolley for extra ser
vices rendered on election day and night
when he was City Clerk.
Conley & Co. were awarded a contract
to construct a sewer in Bergen avenue.
lfmouhy burke was dWdiueu d contract
to construct a sewer in Old Bergen Road
The Board authorized the Finance Com
mittee to borrow $35, 600 on temporary loan
bonds in anticipation of the collection of
the taxes of 1875 to 1887, inclusive. The
money is to be paid to the Sinking Fund
Commissioners and is to be used by them
in redeeming part of the issue of $155, 600
of bonds maturing January l, 1898. The
remaining SIC, 600 of bonds will be taken
by the Sinking Fund.
The Board is to meet again next We'd
nesday at one o'clock to receive bids for
$500, 900 tax arrearage bonds.