The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-02-06
COUNTY
COUNTERS.
Hugh Dugan Gets a Court
Order to Make Jersey
City Pay S350,000.
CHECKMATE TO Mr.. HOOS
Result of the Mayors Latest
Veto-Trouble Over an
$4,000 Water Bill.
CHECKMATE TO mr.. HOOS

County Collector Hugh Dugan has put
the screws on the city in great shape
On the twenty-first day of February the
city's law officers will have the pleasure
of appearing before Supreme Court JUS
tice Lippincott to show cause why the
city should not at once pay the county
the snug sum of $780, 000 The sum repre-
sents what is due the county for taxes for
the fiscal year 1S9S-99.
The rule to show cause was granted
County Collector Dugan's counsel, Mr..
John Griffin, Saturday morning. Mayor
Hoos, by the merest chance remained in
his office ten minutes later than usual on
Saturday 1t was his overstay that re-
suited in the papers in the case being
served him that day.
The fact that Collector Dugan had pro-
ceeded against the city was kept secret
until today. 1t was thought probable that
the misunderstanding could be patched UP,
but Mr.. Dugan declined to listen to argu-
ment. He said he had stood all the fool
ing he proposed to.
The action of the Collector does not
appear to disturb Mayor Hoos to any
great extent.
The action brought by the County Col
1ector is the result of the Mayors veto
OF a resolution ordering $4,000 paid to the
county for taxes. The Mayors refusal to
approve the payment was based on the
fact that the Freeholders owe the city
$S,27255 for water They have persistent
1y refused to pay it. The Mayor main
tains that it is unfair for the city to be
compelled to meet its county obligations
promptly when the county will not show
.+-. L. f+-f ,Ir.1,r TOD,
Collector Dugan was at the Citoy Hall
today and he was not in particularly
amiahle frame of mind. He was 'hot"
because of the Mayors action. He does
not hesitate to say that he has always
treated the city CONSIDERABLY, has al
lowed it to pay on the installment plan
and pay when it was most convenient.
The Mayor sent his veto of the payment
resolution to the Finance Board at its
meeting Thursday night A copy was
served on Collector Dugan on Friday. The
Collector whistled when he read it and
then remarked
s'Ill show these fellows trick worth
two of that
Some months ago a payment was ex-
tracted from the Freeholders by the en-
ployment of the same scheme as was
tried this time. On that occasion Collec-
tor Dugan informed several of the city
officials that the move was foolish one.
eff / make up my mind to exercise my
prerogative," " lhe declared, Il will make
Jersey City pay her county taxes in full,
and that, too, out of the first money that
is collected
That time the Collector was persuaded
not to pursue such course. But this
time pleading was in vain. He said he
was going to teach some one lesson and
establish once and for all just what the
duties of the city are and what the rights
of the county are in this particular mat
ter.
the situation, thinks the Mayor unwise in
locking horns with the County Collector.
The Mayor in holding up the County
Collectors money did it as a part of a
plan he has adopted to put the water de-
partment in better shape.
1t is a notorious fact that thousands
of dollars worth of claims and payrolls
of that department are hung up because
there is no money with which to pay
them If collections could be made that
condition of affairs would not prevail.
The Freeholders on the first of the month
owed the city for water furnished the
public institutions at Snake Hill $8 272. So.
If that money could be collected it would
relieve the strain in the water department
greatly
1t was with the hope of forcing the
payment of that claim that the Mayor
put on the gloves with the County Col
lector. Mr.. Dugan says he is no way
responsible for the delinquency of the
Freeholders and he does not propose all
lowing their failure to pay their debts
to interfere with the proper conduct of
the affairs of his office
The Mayor is not going to confine him
self to the Freeholders in his crusade for
money He is going after Harrison and
Kearny with a sharp stick. Harrison
now owes more than $4,000 and Kearny
$S.27255 Both municipalities ignore de-
mands for payment and the Mayor, it is
said. approves accepting the advice of
CORPORATION Counsel McDermott and
shutting off the supply of the towns
That is just what the towns want, it is
reported 1t is said they both want to
sever their connection with this city and
procure water from Newark or from the
East Jersey Water Company direct. The
officials of the towns say they can get
water cheaper from either of those
sources. In support of their argument
they assert that this city buys from the
East Jersey Company and charges them
more than twice what is paid the COM
pany per million gallons.
The towns, it is reported, want this city
to cut off their supply for the reason that
it will give them an opening to negotiate
with Newark or the East Jersey Com
pany.
The towns also want this city to make
some move against them SO that the
courts will be called upon to decide who
owns the water mains. This city claims
them and the towns maintain they own
them. No matter what complications may
arise Mayor Hoos is making a fight for
the money that is due. IF it were possi-
BILE to collect the $4,000 that is due from
the towns III question and the Freeholders
the water department pay rolls and
claims could be paid without delay. De-
finite. action may be taken BY the Street
and Water Commissioners at their meet
ing tomorrow afternoon in relation to the
md 3 sdness Of Harrison and Kearny.