The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-30
DUGAN'S FINE RECORD
The County Collector Refused
to Enrich Himself at the
County's Expense.

County Collector Hugh Dugan gave a
dinner yesterday evening to the Freehold
ers and some friends to show his appre-
citation of the compliment paid him re-
Gently, when the Board reelected him by
a unanimous vote. The dinner was given
in Freebooter Groth's hotel in Union
Hill. The Freebooter has become famous
for the excellence of his menu, but he
surpassed himself on this occasion.
Besides the Freeholders there were pres
emit Sheriff Heller, ex-Sheriff Robert
Davis, Assistan Prosecutor Joseph M.
Noonan, ~ex-Judge Thomas F. Noonan,
Charles Birdsall, James E.. Connolly,
Comptroller George 7. Hough, Michael r.
Coyle. Assistant Postmaster Miggins,l
Warden Grimes, DR.. King and Warden
Ryan, from Snake Hill Storekeeper
Theuer, M. J.. Kelleher, Mayor John Zeller
of Gutenberg, John P. Noonan, C~ontrac-
tor M. j.. Curley and Arthur j. O'Brien.
Assistant Prosecutor Noonan presided
at the oratorical symposium which fol-
lowed the inner The health and con-
tinued prosperity of Collector Dugan was
drunk in bumpers of champagne and Mr..
Dugan made a Enthusiastically modest
reply.
Sheriff Heller was introduced and said:
Our present worthy County Collector
was originally appointed in May, 1885.
His predecessor refused to surrender the
office and a legal fight ensued, which re-
suited on the following November Ii Il
decision in favor of Mr.. Dugan. who ever
since then has occupied the office and
discharged its duties in such a manner
as tn ga m for him fbo oopidopoo apd on
prevail of all classes of our citizens. Dur
ing that period he has collected and dis
bursed the enormous sum of $21,5 1923. e1
without the variation of SO much as one
cent between his receipts and expendi-
lures. His salary for all these years has
never exceeded 81, 500 and has not averaged
81, 000. Under an act of the Legislature.
approved March 5, 1898, page 113, of the
pamphlet laws, he was entitled to retain
for his own compensation two per cent.
Of all the collections. This would have
amounted to s4SO, 426. 5S. or 1882, 42e.5s more
than his total salary. He has always de-
commended that the bill was a steal against
the people to which he would not be a
party. These facts are not generally
known, but they show what kind of a
man Hugh Dugan is, and entities him to
the respect of the public, who appreciate
the Observation-Disclosures in their officials.
Another fact that rebounds to our
County Collectors credit is found in con-
~nection with our sinking fund. when
Mr.. Dugan vas appointed the law pro-
vided for a sinking fund. but there was
actually none in existence. Since then,
fund the sum of 81, us, O95. II, and after de-
Quoting all payments made therefrom to
meet maturing bonds there was to he
credit of the fund on December 1. 1896.
the mn 0f 81 C7G 77Q en- S4FThaSo 4~,,w.-
show our county to be in a very prosper
GUS condition and reflect the greatest
praise upon our friend the Collector. We
are glad to have him with us today so
that we may testify our sincere regard
for him personally and our admiration
of the excellent service which he has
rendered the community"
Speeches were made by Assistant Prose-
cutor Noonan, ex-Judge Noonan, in fact
nearly everybody said something before
the party broke up.