The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-02-21
HEATH'S REPORT.
WAS FALSE.
Mr.. Abernethy's Auditor
So Admits to Gommis-
sioner Heintze.
LAME EXPLANATION
He Was Not Told That a Bill
He Condemned Was for
Two Instead of One
Month.
MAKES WEAK APOLOGY
sNo Politics in My Work" Says
Heath-"My Eye" Says
missioner
Heintze.
MAKES WEAK APOLOGY

Great excitement prevailed in the City
Hall today when Forrest A. Heath, as
;istant clerk of the Board Of Finance and
auditor of water accounts claims, was ac-
cused by Commissioner Heintze of max
ing false reports on claims, and admitted
the accusation was true.
Mr.. Heath said in his report read at
Wednesdays meeting Of the Board Of Fl
nance Commissioners.
Claim No. 102, claim of NJ. Kearney
for carting ashes from High Service
in December, 1901, S25-50. already mas
been reported to your committee l
viii take advantage OF the fact that a
clerical error has prevented ITS return
with memorandum to the Board of
Street and Water Commissioners, re-
the fact that this claim is for work
that is necessary and regular; that it
makes total expense for carting
ashes III December of about 54s, Wlen
il should not be over IS. and to sug-
gest that inasmuch as the Water
Board has expressed itself desirous of
cooperating with your board IN cutting
down unnecessary expenditures, lne
Water Commissioners probably would
heed request TO have this work done
by contract.
When Commissioner Heintze read this
in yesterdays papers he was much as
tonished He knew that s4s was the
amount charged for carting for two
months November and December. For
November the hill was 80. For Decem-
her the bill was $3.50. Thus total of
s4s was arrived at.
Mr.. Heintze was in his office early this
morning, ard he asked MI. Heath to call
on him Mr.. Heath did 50 and an
apology was demanded. Mr.. Heath heard
the facts as regards the carting extending
over TWO months, and admitted in the
first place that he had made report
that was not true, and IN the second place
that he did not know that the bill of
szg included two months carting, but pre-
su1ned that it meant only one month.
when the Board of Street and Water
Commissioners receive bills they send
copies to the office Of the Board of FL
nance with list of all bills. Thus the
duplicates OF both of the bills were in
the office where Mr. Heath is employed,
but he did not know it.
When asked this morning how this came
about, Mr.. Heath said that he was not in
the office sufficiently long to get the run
Of it when he reported on this BILL but
he also admitted that he had since became
aware of the fact, and had not learned of
the injustice he had done the Board of
Street and Water Commissioners. He says
that had he learned the truth Of the mat
ter, he would have been the first to cor
rect the error Commissioner Heintze
first discovered the injustice done him,
and thus was this mornings exciting in
teryiew in which the charge was made
and the confession received brought
about
What do you mean by saying that SIS
was charged for carting ashes in the
month of DecemDer?'' demanded Commits
sioner Heintze.
~Well. wasn't it2" innocentiy asked Au-
citor Heath.
..No. II covers November and Decem-
Der
..oh! that was clerical error. am
sorry
.'You have sent forth yonr statement to
the public, ana what are we commission
ers to be viewed as2 It was an outrage
You should have been sure to properly
Inform yourself before you make state
ments. We are satisfied to have ali our
workings made public when facts and
truth are given, but we want no false i'm
pressions created by you or any one else. .
Commissioner Heiatze was by this time
very much excited and as he proceeded
with his arraignmcnt Of Heath the latter
Faled perceptibIy He felt his false po.
fition and began a stammering answer
I understood the bill vas only for De
cember,' ne said. Then gaining courage
from his idea. continued 1.-THE charge is
much too high anyhow ! Will make the
correction Of saying that instead of the
work that cost SIS should cost ss, viii
say that the work that cost s4S should
cost SIG. There are no politics IN my
work. "
My eye said Commissioner Heintze
II shall make the correction said Mr.
Heath as he left the office.
Mr.. Heath was in his office when seThe
News reporter saw Inn.
How did you come to make thai
srror?''
II was not my fault didn't have thu
bill for November The bills were both
dated December and dsd not know that
part os the s48 was f7r work N Novein.
ber.e
Were both these bills IN this Officer"
Il don't know"
DO you mean to say that you dlGn,i
know what papers we're IN this oliiceg
4 was here an;y a snort lime wher
the Bills came In.
"D.d you come across them later?'
no.
ssD.d you verify your figures?p
NC ] took the clerks agures
Mr. Heath then expressed desire to bt
1suuors feed On humors-sthe sooner you gel