The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-06

Mayor Hoos Instructs the
Corporation Counsel to
Begin Proceedings.
TWO PAYMENTS ON ACCOUNT.
Receipts Say They Are Re
ceived Without Prejudice
to the Rights Of
Either Side.
TWO PAYMENTS ON ACCOUNT.

struct Corporation Counsel McDermott to
institute suit against the American Sug-
or Company for tho recovery of Sl,4s9.A6.
That sum represents the balance the city
claims the company owed for water con-
sumed en- May /. The full amount due
the city on May / was S14. Has. Yester-
day Counselor William D. Edwards, who
represents the company, paid to Water
Registrar Peckham 81. IS. h COM
pany was given a receipt on account. This
morning Mr.. Edwards appeared at the
Water Registrars office again. This time
he left a check for $4.es1.S1, making
sl2,6 Sill. 90 paid in two days. Mr.. Ed
wards asked for a receipt In fun,
but 1t was denied him. Registrar Peck
ham han6ed him a receipt which sets
forth plainly that the amount Is received
on account without prejudice to the
rights ofeither party to the balance of the
bill.
In four months the employees of the
| water Department have only been paid
once. The men have been bowling for
money because money lenders have either
shut down on them altogether, or are ex-
acting fearful rates of interest. Regis
| trar Peckham at the request of the en-
| ployes Of the department, has from time
to time urged Mr.. Edwards to pay the
| Sugar Company's bill. Mr.. Edwards
| said he would when the city made up its
mind to accept his proposition, which he
| hold is a fair one. Mayor Hoos was
/ finally appealed to. Yesterday he rang
up the Sugar House and announced that
if some of the claim was not paid the
| company's supply of water would be
turned off. Such a curse would serious
ly embarrass the big concern. Mr.. Ed
wards was notified of the Mayors ulti-
| matum, and checks were sent to the city
| without delay. Mr.. Edwards contention
is that the company. on account OF be-
ing such a heavy consumer OF water,
should not be asked to pay more than $50
a million gallons. The city demand 800
per million gallons. 4.
Mayor Hoos says the company will
either have to pay that price or procure
a supply from ome other source. Cor
poration Counsel McDermott had advised
the city not to accept any payment on
account. Mayor Hoos would have fol-
lowed that advice had it not been for the
fact that the city officials and clerks OF
the water department have not had any
pay for the last three months. The money
obtained from the company on account
will be utilized for the payment of salaries
exclusively. The city in suing for the
balance of the old claim, 81, 1891 does not
relincuish its right to put the screws on
the compan at the end of this month.
BY accepting a payment on account the
city has foregone its right to shut the
water off for the present. On June l,
however. the company will owe for an
other full months supply. Mayor Hoos
has decided on June 1 to notify the corl-
pany that unless 1t pays the full amount
of its bill he win have the water turned
of.
1.-THE Sugar Company cannot be made
a privileged consumer while l am at the
head of the city government" said Mayor
Hoos this morning. The company does
not use as much water as some of our
railroads and they do not object to pay
ing what they l~egitimately owe. The
company. in my opinion, has no more
rights than an individual consumer. Be
cause 1t uses a large quantity OF water
Is no reason why It should be favored.
Our water rents are high, too high. I
admit, but a scale Of rates has been fixed
and we must abide by it. We cannot
allow consumers to pay what they wish.
I want it understood that ] have not
taken a backward step In his matter.
Neither have / backed, nor do I pro-
pose to. I am first and all time for the
city obtaining what is Justly due it. There
is not the slightest doubt in my mind
but what we will be able to recover every
dollar the Sugar House owes US. When
the first suit is settled there will be no
more trouble. Mr.. Edwards is making a
fight for his clients. ! do not blame him
for that. We have an efficient law de-
partment and / feel perfectly satisfied
that the city's interests will be we'll cared
for"
Il an glad we nave received this
money" said Registrar Peckham this
morning. eff there is a point of law to be
settled let the lawyers attend to it. It is
not right to expect men to work and re-
ceive no pay"
There Is rejoicing among the employees
of the Water Department. They expect
now to receive all the back money that
was due them. Water rents are not
coming in as RAPIDLY as desired. Yester-
day Deputy Registrar Daniel Smith. took
in $40, coo, in addition to the Sugar Com
pany's checks. The employees have no
chance of getting any part of the regu-
lar rents until after $500 has been set
aside for to meet the interest burden
which is payable on July l. After the
interest is disposed about 100000 will be
set aside for the liquidation of the East
Jersey Water Cofnpary's claims. What
remains will be devoted to paying salaries
and claims
CITIZENS ASSOCIATION A FlZZlE