The Jersey City news., 1902-03-06
NEW BATCH or PETTINESS

AT Yesterday afternoons meeting of the
Board of Finance a bitter conflict be-
tween Commissioners Abernethy ana
Brock was narrowly averted. Forrest A.
Heath. the assistant clerk to the BOARD
and the auditor of the Committee Oh
Concurrent Resolutions, was the bone OF
contention. Commissioner Brock took i
stand against Mr.. Heath's NEEDING
and Commissioner Abernethy. whose ap-
pointee Mr. Heath is, stood for his pro-
tege. Only the tact of President Ringle
averted a heated argument, but even ne
did not act until Mr.. Brock had accused
Mr.. Heath of playing petty politics and
manufacturing political capital.
Mr.. Heath was appointed to the pos
tson Of assistant clerk on Commissioner
Abernetny's recommendation Shortly at
ter Mr.. Heath began to investigate water
department claims, and these investigs-
tions he reported in writing, always sign
ing himself as auditor" 1t was never
announced that he was auditor" of any
thing, and the impression went abroad
that he was auditor of the Board OF FL
nance He has always failed to direct his
reports to anyone or anybody until yes
terday, when he addressed his lengthy re-
port to the Honorable H. H. Abernethy
Chairman. Committee on Concurrent Hes
olutions, Board of Finance"
Yesterday Clerk Kalaher, in the regular
order of business, read the report of this
committee. In it there was recommended
ton that certain claims Of the water de-
partment be returned for correction and
Investigation. President Ringle stopped
the reading to inform Commissioner
Abernethy that everything the committee
on Concurrent Resolutions did was its
own business and the Board had nothing
to do with it as a whole SO far as voting
on it was concerned. Mr.. Abernethy said;
.This Board should vote on the report.
sBut it is not necessary" replied Presi-
dent Ringle.
ST want the Board to go on record by
voting that it sustains this committee in
Its action said Commissioner Abernethy.
Here Commissioner Brock spoke
Before vote on this report 1 want to
know if the chairman of the committee
knows of the faults in these claims of his
own knowledge, if he made Investigations
himself
The remark distinctly shocked the chair
man of the Committee on Concurrent
Resolutions.
q saw that the bills were many at first
glance and had them investigated he
replied.
81 will vote on anything the Chairman
will report over his own signature" said
Mr.. Brock But I will not have anything
to do with any report made by the assis-
tant clerk of this Board. The impression
<- 45,n nIn RI <,ff I'll
Board is the auditor of the Board. /
never heard of his appointment to such q
position"
HE is the auditor of the Committee on
Concurrent Resolutions"
81 don't think So" said Commissioner
Lembeck.
He is. He was appointed at commit
tee meeting"
Well, I will not so on record as sus-
tanning anyone who is here for the pur-
pose of playing petty politics and manu-
featuring political capital" said Mr.
Brock. This Board is becoming a laugh
ing stock for the public by his actions
He has no right to meddle with things
that don't concern him. If the chairman
win say he has made these Investigations
himself will vote
81 have made investigations myself -
Mr.. Abernethy replied with some reluct-
ance.
The vote was then taken and was unan-
fmous to sustain the committee.
Mr.. Heath during this tilt was a study
He paled very much and nervously strok-
ed his mustache. He retired to a corner
and looked startled. Later, he refused to
make any comments.
He handed to the reporters copies of the
report which he sent yesterday to the
Committee on Concurrent Resolutions. It
follows
Jersey City, N j., March A. 1902.
Honorable II. III. Abernethy, Chairman,
Committee on Concurrent Resolutions,
Board of Finance. Jersey City, N. j.
Sir-Of the Concurrent Claims turned
over to me for audit since the last meet
ing of the Board of Finance, find nine
which call for serious attention. sney
are numbered in the claims account OF
the Board of Street and Water Commits
sioners as follows, viz: 123, 24S, 25S, 255. 25e
$50. 654, Sos, 656 The result of the inves
tsgation of each claim is set forth in the
memorandum attached thereto. 1t may
be summarized here as follows:
Three of them point to Justification of
the water account in the fact that they
eontain charges belonging to the street
account. These are for feed and coal for
the Wayne street stables. and various
supplies for the pipe yard.
In three the charges are excessive In
various degrees. These are for feed for
the Wayne street stables. and stationery
supplies for the Water Assessor and tins
meier department
yThree claims for supplies for the Pipe
Yard show violation of the law requir-
ting contract letting.
One bill for repairs to two old meters
points to a useless expenditure
The difficulty experienced in getting da-
ia and other information, partly for il
basis for un estimate OF requirement and
partly to gain an intelligent understand
ing Of such methods as exist emphasizes
n much enhanced degree the present
nls1t 10 you on this subject on February