New-York tribune., 1899-03-26
FREEHOLDER.S BLAMED.
HUDSON COUNTY GRAND JURY ACCUSES
THEM OF NEGLECT.
FRAUDS ALSO DECLARED TO EXIsT-wRETcHED
CONDITION OF THE ALMsHOUsE

FRAUDS ALSO DECLARED TO EXIST-WRETCHED
CONDITION OF THE ALMsHoUsE
The Hudson County Grand Jury made strong
presentment yesterday against the Board Of Free
holders and arragns them for fraud and neglect
The inquiry into the condition Of the Almshouse
and the methods of purchasing supplies the in
teresng features Of the report. OF the former the
Grand Jury says:
our investigation Of the Amshouse. limited as to
time though we were brought to light conditions
lists to-day is but a tester and while IN the solu-
ton Of this social problem many differences Of
opinion will be found. we believe that the majority
of those who have given thought TO the question
will agree with us that these children should be
segregated elsewhere than al Snake I'M. tnat a
suitable building for their accommodation and care
should be erected. and that when the children shall
have been 50 housed the government and control Of
the institution should be vested in appOintive
body. the members of which should have some
natural aptitude for the position. and at least one
of which members should he a woman.
The presentment explains the methods in vogue
to benefit favored or ring" contractors and Inti-
mates that gross fraud has been perpetrated In
charging for goods not delivered. The Grand Jury
says:
The Board has advertised that 1t reserves the
right to award by item II it chooses to exercise
that privilege. but except In occasional cases II
does not choose, and award is made on the basis
of aggregate bid; thus the contractor who has the
ability TO secure inside nforma ton. who thus has
FOR goods largely in excess of the requirements
and oftentmes for goods that Will not be called for
at all proceeds to compete" knowing that GER
tain articles will be called FOR. he quotes for
them nominal price, while for the goods actually
required he submits figures largely In excess or
market rates HIS aggregate Is naturaHy n . love-, lover
for each item. and the Board making award to him
On the aggregate basis he proceeds with his legal
tied robbery.
Some peculiarties of the contract system are
worth noting. Red and blue awning stripes were
advertised for TO be bid on separately. They both
cost the same in open market but the contractor
bid 10 cents for red and "a cents for blue per yard
and the records indicate that he actually FUR
nished 5655 yards OF blue. while 6i5 yards OF red
Coal seems to be in great demand at Snake H
for the fiscal year ending December !, 1898. the
VIZ the Penltentiary. the Almshouse and the
Asylum, there was delivered or paid for total Of
Is may be formed by comparison with the records
Of Jersey CITY where during the same period less
its TWENTY-FIVE large school buildings
II the contract system Is bad one the requisi-
tion system as practsed Is even worse for little
goods ordered. and the price charged. Canned
soups AT s6 20 per dozen and beached muslin at II
cents yard are sample items of some OF the re
qurements."
The explanation offered why indictments were not
found H.. to quote from the presentment:
Stories have come to the Of this Grand
Jury clearly indicating guilty participation; some
Ne have no reasonable doubt that guilt exists We
have found ourselves unable TO secure evidence
stood AZ comprehendlng the entire governing body
I'm our denunciation. There are many members
whom We believe to be honest and conscientious
I'm the performance Of their duties but the neglect
the heedlessness and the cupdity. augmented by the
dcvilish ingenuity and cunning With which they are
them from enecting a substantial betterment
The Grand Jury also offered a presenynent
against building any additional extensions To the
County Boulevard as nearly 100000 has been ex-
pended. and the county debt is now too large.