The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-30
CITY OFFICIALS CLASH.
Board Of Education Resents
the Interference of
Health Officers.


The Board Of Health has begun to
usurp the power of the Boapd of Educa-
ton. AS a consequence there is a rup-
ture between the two Boards and it is
very likely the Board of Health viii be
made the defendant in a suit to recover
for work its agents ordered don in a
public school,.
A few days ago the Board of Health
inspectors went through Public School
No. II, on Bergen Square. and finding
the plumbing in pretty la shape as
sumed the responsibility of directing
Phillip e. Martin to make repairs. The
members OF the Board Of Education
We're not aware repairs were made until
Martin presented a bill for $3.50. A con-
sultation was held at once and Martin
was informed that inasmuch as he had
been deputized by the Board of Health
to do the work he should look to that
body for payment. The Board of Health
officials say hat the work was neces-
sary and assumed that the members of
the Board of Education would be glad to
have them supervise the making of re-
pairs. The members of the Board of Ed
~ucaticn, however. are indignant and de-
clare that under no circumstances will
they pay Martin. The members say that
they are well qualified to attend to the
repair of schools without assistance from
the Board of Health. Plumber Martin
wants his money and he has retained
counsel to sue those who authorized him
to do the work.
In official circles the action of the Board
of Health's agents has occasion surprise
and adverse criticism. The course fur
nished by the agents is a new departure
in the management of affairs. The Board
of Health is being severity criticised by
the Board of Education for still another
reason. When the plans OF the plumbing
work for Schools Nos. 20 and 26 were filed
with the Board of Health, no objection
was made to them. Under the present ar
rangement of affairs either Inspector
Blackshaw or Cutlery are expected to look
over all plans for plumbing in buildings
n pass upon them before work Is COM
menced. In the cases of Schools Nos. 20
and 26 the plans were submitted to the
Inspectors, and so far as anyone could
learn were satisfactory from a sanitary
point of view. Du Bots went ahead with
the school buildings, and put in the
plumbing. Now that it is all in, the Health
Inspectors condemn it. and pronounce it
useless. They demand that the plumbing
be removed. The work don by Du Bots
has cost about $500. and he refuses to re-
move the plumbing unless the Board of
Education agrees to give him extra COM
pensation. The Board of Education will
pay no extras"
The members insist that the fault is
x-ifb the IInaifh 1acnpatOr uvHnca 71fV
it was to condemn the plumbing plans be-
fore, not after, the work in the buildings
had all been done. Corporation Counsel
McDermott has been asked to advise the
Board of Education what course to pur-
sue in the adjustment of the difficulty.
Apropos of school affairs, Mayor Hoos
has practically consented to allow the
Board of Ffnance to issue temporary loan
bonds to a reasonable extent, TO be used
in the repair of the schools before the
opening of the session in September.
The Board of Education two months
ago asked for an appropriation of $50. coo
with which to make repairs to the sew
eral school buildings. Mayor Hoos and
the Finance Board objected to the appro-
priation of any such u The Directors
refused to accept a lower appropriation,
n consequently no repairs have been
made.
This morning, President Firm, of the
Board of Education. called on Mayor Hoos
and promised to hold a consultation with
the other members of the Board TO see
just little money was required to put the
schools in a fairly good condition. IT is
believed tina there will be no objection
made to an allowance OF $4,000. With that
sum the heating apDaratus can be put in