The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-04-10
Town.hsp Affairs Discussed.

Il6r6 was milo sensation IN M0unt
Holly on Tuesday evening owing to the
publication in Philadelphia evening pa
per of an account of what purported to
be the financial condition of Northamp-
ton township. Like many other items
that appear in Philadelphia papers, as
well as home journals, there were several
parts to which exception might be taken,
but in the main there was enough foun-
dation to justify the hope that affairs
may be carefully inquired into, and that
much apparent carelessness and indiffer-
ence may be remedied.
The first statement was to the effect
that s'no one can explain the appearance
of 1000 note in bank, and the fur
ther remark that this note was increased
from s., 900 to its present size at the close
of the fiscal year. The impression sought
to be conveyed was that the township had
gone backward at least to the amount of
the increase.
Of course the officials in charge of af-
fairs were at once on the alert to show
that matters were all right. and state
ments were put into print from more than
one. A sample is from the pen of Artil-
las A. Anderson, who has just retired
from the committee
MOUNT HOLLY, N. j., April 8, 1900.
Editor of the Herald:
| notice communication from Mount Hol-
ly in the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin OF
| April 8, in regard to the affairs of NOrthamp-
ton township. Such statements as these
should be verified before rushing into print.
times for the inspection of the taxpayers. as
are also the meetings OF the township OIL
cials. would respectfully submit the report
| of the township treasurer tor 1898 and 1899 to
explain matters more fully; also, to show
that there was no $4,000 note unearthed. lost,
strayed or stolen. A. A. ANDERSON,
Ex-Chairman
This statement is all right as far as it
goes, but it would have been more to the
point if Mr.. Anderson, instead of invit-
ing the people to do their own investigat-
ing, had prepared statement of the con-
in a position to give that information.
Now, the report of 1898 shows that
there was borrowed, temporarily, the sum
of $4,000, and that $1,000 was paid. In
the expenditures of 1898 there is an item
of interest paid on the renewal of a note
for S., 800 AS this was the first in the
items of expenditures the sum was un-
doubtedly legacy from former commit
tees. Be that as it may there is no doubt
that it still stood on the books at the end
of the year, as the only item of notes
paid was that of $1,000, just 500 more
than was borrowed in anticipation of
taxes, and this item of $50 was evidently
taken off the note of $500, as among the
first items in the report of 1899 is one of
discount on note of $3.50 renewed. In
the last report there was shown to have
been So, 100 borrowed from bank and 81
$50 paid leaving 81, $50 unpaid. Add
this to the note of $3.50 renewed and
you have the $40, 900 note referred to.
And at the same time you have the fact
of running backward of at least 81 200.
Perhaps this deficiency might be explained
by the statement that there has to be
raised each year the sum of $1,000 for in
terest on bonds, provision for which is
never made by the town meeting but this
explanation is offset by the. statement of
the Assessor that he always adds $4,000 to
$1,000 to his assessment for ''conting-
encies."
The article which created so much com
ment says: 'It is fact that the accounts
of the collectors for the past several years
have not been audited or compared with
the duplicate" And this is a fact beyond
contradiction and it is equally certain that
while the books and meetings are pub
lie property" the auditing of accounts and
the keeping of such matters straight are
especially the province of the township
committee, one of the things they are
elected for
The part of the newspaper item, how
ever, which made the greatest sensation,
was that which charged the collector with
making money in other ways-by de-
posting with the bank that bids the high
est. The new collector, Reeve Stewart,
told the Farmers National Bank that the
account, according to the statement of his
predecessor, Samuel Holt, was worth
$780," To this item the new Collector
took umbrage and he rushed into print.
This is his statement:
"The statement in last evenings Philadel-
phia Bulletin to the effect that told Cashier
Davis that the account of the Collector, under
Hollis administration. was worth two hundred
dollars to the bank, Is absolutely false and
"''lo"' REEVE STEWART
Mr.. Holt and the Cashier of the Mount
Holly National Bank, of course, denied
the statement that the institution had ever
paid Holt bonus for his account, but
their denials were not necessary as any
one with half an idea of banking business
can readily figure how absurd it would
be to bid for such an account where the
money hardly has a chance to get cold,
the collector being compelled by law to
turn it over Immediately to the treasurer.
Cashier Davis, of the Farmers bank, says
Stewart asked how much the account
was worth to the bank and that Stewart
also said Holt had stated it was worth
5000.
Another matter is brought to notice
with emphasis. The Office of collector is
not what it is meant to be, it is merely
receiver of taxes. Whatever is offered is
received, but very little strenuous effort is
made to compel people to pay their as
sessments Under the system that has
prevailed for long time the collector
makes some institution his agent and
those owing taxes walk up to the counter
and settle the BILL the amount is placed
to the account of the collector, who gets
the salary just the same as if he had been
after the debtor personally. Every year
the same names are seen in the list of de-
linuuents and men who are able to have
many little pleasures, who always grace
the opera house or the circus tent with
their presence whenever opportunity Of
fers, cannot get enough together to pay
their tax and they are allowed to go free
year after year, despite the fact that the
law makes strong provision for action to
be taken by the collector in such cases.
Hedding.
Mrs. Mahlon Shreve is in Philadelphia
caring for sick relatives
Shreve Malsbury. wife and daughter
Bessie spent Sunday in Trenton.
Mrs. Hannie Lloyd and daughters, of
Burlington, were the guests of Albert