The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-02-18
County Fathers Meet.

| County Fathers Meet.
The Board of Freeholders held thei
regular meeting on Wednesday. Messrs
Soey, Smith and EVAN were kept away
by illness Before the members settled
down to business somebody raised thu
point that the day was "Lincoln's Birth
day." legal holiday, and that business
could not be properly transacted, but the
opinion prevailed that a little matter Of
legality did not interfere with the acts Of
the board and the director raped for or
der.
After Clerk Antrim had read the min.
utes of the last meeting the principal
point of interest-payment of bills-was
reached. Sheriff Fenton had one fol
s., 41484, for expenses in the exection OF
Charles Brown, one of the Hunter muir
derers. Of this sum the Sheriff got $500.
The balance included not only the expense
on account of Brown, but also included
the amount expended on Young up to the
time that he was granted reprieve. The
bill was paid.
A claim of Francis Gaskill for damage
done to his horse by reason of defective
bridge in Springfield township was re-
duced from $50 to $40 and ordered paid.
A resolution was adopted by which
Prosecutor Atkinson was given 5000 extra
compensation for his services in the muir
der trials.
A petition, signed by several residents
of Burlington, requested the building of a
bridge between that city and Burlington
island. A committee was appointed to
look into the matter. 1t is composed of
Messrs. Norcross, Mattson, Jones, Birk-
head and Darnell
Mr.. Mathis presented a petition for a
gravel road from Bass River, at Wading
river bridge, to the Mullica river road.
A resolution was offered that whenever
Road Commissioner Budd approves this
application the director be instructed to
advertise for bids.
Mr.. Birkhead wanted to know what the
road will cost Mr.. Mathis said he
thought it would take 81 500, to which Mr.
Birkhead replied that the money appro-
priated for road purposes was fast being
exhausted, and this years appropriations
would be exceeded by about 81, ZOO. Next
year there would be $57, 900 available, out
of which the shortage for this year will
have to come. The county has been ex-
pending in the neighborhood of SIC, 900
per year for roads, when it really is not
entitled to spend over $53, 900.
Director Darnell said he held the same
opinion expressed at a previous meeting
that this board cannot legislate for its sue
cessor and that even if this resolution be
adopted it will not be binding on the next
board. In reply to a question by Mr.. Ell
bert, the director said he had allowed SIM
liar motions to be acted upon. and as the
servant of the board he would allow this
resolution to go to vote, but that did not
alter his opinion in the least.
Benjamin Lippincott held the same
opinion as the director This action will
provide for the expenditure of money to
be appropriated by the next board, and if
the principle is correct there is nothing in
the way of the present board providing
for roads for the next ten years. Each
board should have charge Of the money
it has to raise. The resolution was adopt
ed.
A petition was presented from residents
of Second street, Moofestown, asking that
the street be macadamized, and be made a
public road. This street runs parallel
with Main street and connects with the
latter at the western end.
Mr.. Jennings objected to this action.
When the trolley people applied for per-
mission to lay tracks, it was suggested
that they use Second street, thereby pre-
serving the main street, which was nicely
paved, for the use of drivers. The troll
ley people and the residents of the town,
however, were vigorous in their claims
that the main highway was the only place
on which to locate the tracks, and now
they want the county to go to the expense
of paving another street because the main
street has been spoiled as was predicted.
The petition was received and fled
Mr. Norcross offered resolution, which
was adopted, that the term of the physi-
clan to the insane asylum be extended
from March to the annual meeting in
May, at the same compensation as now
provided.
Mr.. Lambert offered resolution to in
crease the reward for the capture of
Charles Miller, one of the Hunter muir
derers, to 1000, the present reward of
$3.50 to be rescinded.
Mr.. Jennings thought $3.50 sufficient
Three men had been captured on that re-
ward, and he did not think the amount
should be increased so much. However,
he was willing to make some concession,
and he offered an amendment that the re-
ward be $780,
Mr.. Ebert moved that the entire mat
ter be laid on the table This was lost
and Mr.. Jennings amendment was voted
on. The response to the directors call
indicated that the motion was lost as there
were several votes in the negative, but
the roll was called and when the result
was announced there was great surprise
at the fact that but four members had
voted against the amendment There
were 10 in the affirmative, so the reward
now stands at $500.
A bill of Josiah W. Evan was pre-
sented. 1t was for lumber furnished
Charles L. Warner, freeholder from Lum-
berton, for bridge work in that township,
which had never been paid. Mr.. Evan
was asked for statement and said it was
with great regret .he came before the
board for a settlement of this account.
The bill was handed to Mr.. Warner prior
to the last meeting of the board, examined
by the committee and ordered paid. He
had every reason to believe that Mr..
Warner had collected the money Audi
tor Worrell confirmed this belief
Mr.. Birkhead moved to refer the matter
to the solicitor. That gentleman was in
the room and he said there was but one
thing to do and that was to pay Mr.. Evan
his money. The county was responsible.
The bill was ordered paid. Mr.. Birk-
head then moved that the county collector
be directed to withhold from freeholder
Warner all money due him on account to
head offered the following:
Resolved, that the Prosecutor of this
county be requested to investigate the
matter of the alleged embezzlement of
county funds by Charles L. Warner, free
holder from Lumberton township, and if
he finds that said funds have been en-
bezzled by said Warner to take such ac-
| ton as will best serve the public good. y
| This was adopted.
A request of detective Parker for a
cabinet in which to place the photographs
of criminals, with the idea that it be kept
in the prison for the inspection Of officers,
was referred to the committee on court
house and grounds.
Joshua E. Borton, representing the Bur.
lington County Traction Company, was
given the privilege of the floor to present
an application for trolley road between
Mount Holly and Moorestown. Mr.. Dor
ton offered petition, map and other ne
cessary papers, which were received and
ordered filed.
| A resolution was offered that a special
meeting of the board be held on Wednes
day, March 10, for the purpose of giving 6
public hearing on the subject. The res.
olution was adopted, and Messrs. Durand
French, Jones, Birkhead, Ebert, Norcrost
and Darnell were appointed a committee
to frame an ordinance governing the mat
ter.
On motion of Mr.. Mathis it was ordered
that the quarterly reports of the insan,
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