The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-01-23
HEATH NOSINC
AROUND
The New /" Auditor Gives
offence by His Discour-
teous Methods.
NOTHING FOR Him TO FIND
Democratic Commissioners
Court Investigation But
Do Not Like to Be
Insulted.
NOTHING FOR Him TO FIND

Forrest A. Heath, the Assistant Clerk
to the Board of Finance who was re-
Gently assigned to act as auditor by Com
missioner Abernethy, has been going
about his business in a systematic man
ner and with entire satisfaction to Colonel
Abernethy. He has been visiting points
at which supplies are needed and see
ing that all the articles called for are de-
liyered.
This manner of checking up is good
enough in its way, but the Street and
Water Commissioners are not pleased
with it, They have no objection to Eav-
ing all that they do thoroughly locked
into, but they think common courtesy de-
mands that the new auditor should go to
the chairmen of the committees whose
work is being checked These gentlemen
will give any information desired Two
Of the Street and Water Commissioners
said this morning that if they were clerks
employed by the Board they would not
recognize the new auditor but would re-
fer him to the committee chairmen.
There was a general impression in the
City Hall yesterday that Commissioner
Abernethy would introduce a resolution
at the meeting of the Board of Finance
asking that Heath be appointed the
Auditor of the Board. The fact that he
did not do so led to the impression that
the Board of Finance as a whole was
opposed to Commissioner Abernethyss ac-
ton.
Many are asking to whatthe appointment
OF Mr. Heath is the prelude There is 4
belief that some new scheme is on foot
Some think that the Republican adminis-
tration is beginning to establish a sys-
TEN of hampering the Democratic Boards
One of the street. and Water Commits
sicners said this morning:
The idea cf an auditor to go over our
work is by no means disagreeable to the
Board. We are always glad to help the
Board of Finance to clear understand
ing Of anything they get from us to con-
clIr in All they need do is request an ex-
planatior from the chairman of the COM
nt:ttee having charge of the matter in
question and he viii set them rignt.
WHAT gals Us IS the fact that an ASSIST
ant Clerk should be told, or at least Civ
Ell authority to check up what we do.
and make Investigations without consult
ing us. EThis is to say the least lack OF
courtesy toward us that we think the
citizens generally will condemn. No ir-
regularity has ever been found in any
thing this Board has done ard we know
that none ever will. The whole thing is
scheme to make votes for the Republic
can party ty trying in an underhand
manner to shake the confidence of tho
citizens in the Democratic Street and Wa
t5r Board.
"Of course this will fail utterly with
reasoning citizens, but the play is not to
the reasoning ones but to those who ac-
cept anything a Board of Finance says,
without further thought on the matter:
Mr.. Heath can come at any time to any
of the members of this Board and he
may rest assured that we will give him
any information that he seeks. So far he
has not done this, but has gone about
without consultation with us and acted
as if he expected to find something that
he thinks we are attempting to conceal
Mr.. Heath is paid $1,000 year as the
Assistant Clerk of the Board of Finance.
1t is thought that part of the scheme to
have him act as auditor is to make an
excise for increasing his salary soon.