The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-06-06
UNPAID WATER RATES.
Corporation Counsel Nc
Dermott Says the City
May Cut Off the
Water.
OFFICIALS WILL ACT At ONCE,
Townships 7 Will All Settle UP
Arrearages---S Sugar House
Will Fight.
Corporation Counsel McDermott sent
the following opinions to the Street and
Water Commissioners today


the following opinions to the Street and
Water Commissioners today
.eThe question Of your powers, with The
water, being referred to me, respee:t-
fully advise you that you have the power.
in each and every instance where money
is past due for water supplied by the
city to cut off the supply from the de-
linquent customer. In the application OF
this rule it is imma terial whether the de-
inquent is an individual, a corporation Or
a municipality. It is quite probable that
where the amount due from the customer
is in dispute. the Court of Chancery viii
interpose to prevent action until the IN
debtedneSs is ascertained but this is q
matter for the attention of the law de-
partment. Having determined that an
amount is due. it is not only within your
power, but 1t becomes your duty to re-
fuse further supply to the debtor who re-
fuses payment
The opinion settles just what course
the Street and Water Commissioners will
pursue in relation to the collection of
water rents in arrears.
East Newark has escaped trouble by
paying its debt.
Kearny has also placed itself on the
safe side for few days at least. Kearny
recently had a change of administration
The new officials have found affairs to be
in pretty bad shape. Kearny, however,
has promised to pay up in full not later
than June Is. In the meantime the town
officials propose forcing all it's consumers
who are in arrears to pay up or lose
their supply.
Harrison is in arrears to the tune OF
$4,000. Harrisons supply was to have
been cut off today, but ON Saturday an
agreement was made with the Harrison
defer action
day. The Harrison Council meets that
evening, and a warrant for the full
amount of the arrears Will be drawn 10
the order of this city.
Bayonne's bill is in dispute, SO that IT
cannot be disturbed until such time as
it is decided just how much is owed the
city.
Mr.. McDermott's opinion, however,
pleases the Street and Water Commits
sioners., They say that they Will not IN
future allow any of the municipalities
buying water from this city to get behind
in their payments. The Commissioners
were afraid to cut off the supply of the
municipalities until Mr.. McDermott ad-
vised them that it was their power and
duty to do so.
Any damage suits which might arise
would fall upon the towns for falllng 70
have discharged its obligations promptly.
The only large consumer that the opin-
ion affects is the Sugar House. Thatcon
cern owes the city about $1,000. the sum
representing 10 per cent of the full claim,
which has been withheld by ADVICE OF tne
companys counsel.
AS soon as President Hauck, of the
Street and Water Board, received Mr..
McDermott's opinion today he notlfed the
Sugar House people that unless they paid
the balance due of $1,600 before twelve
o clock on Wednesday next he would have
their supply of water cut off. The threat
caused no alarm.
Tomorrow, or the first thing Tuesday
morning, w D. Edwards, counsel for the
Sugar House will apDly to Chancellor
McGill for an injunction restraining the
city from cutting off the supply. That
will bring the dispute into court
Corporation Counsel McDermott says he
will be able to collect the $1,000 balance
from the Sugar House. AS soon as the
large consumers are disposed of the Street
and w. Commissioners propose putting
the screws on individual consumers who
are in arrears. Corporation Counsel Nc
Dermott and City Attorney Queen say
they are willing to take up all the cases
the Street and Water Commissioners
create in their efforts to enforce prompt
payment for water used.