The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-04-17
CAR HOUCH
He Refuses to Garry Out the
Provisions of an Act Of
the Legislature.
PEANUT POLITICS
Comptroller is Running His
Office as Part of Fagan's
Machine

The efforts of the Beef Trust Party TO
SET aside the action of the former Board
of Fire Commissioners in providing an
engine company for Lafayette are being
consistently backed up by all members
of that party who have any means OF
assisting the grab along. The last move
was the refusal of City Comptroller
Hough to sign the registered bond for
s12.o0e appropriated by the Board of FL
nance last October. The money was to
be used to purchase ground in Manning
avenue ON which to erect a fire house
The members OF the company We're ap-
pointed, a new engine was bought and the
salaries of the men and other expenses
provided for in the tax levy,
The appropriation was made under the
act of 1895 Comptroller Hough refuses
to sign the bond, which was TO have been
taken up by the Sinking Fund, because
he says the act of 1895 is not good any
longer. His contention is that the act
exhausts itself after the appropriation IS
made under it. This stand is taken
despite the fact that three appropriations
have already been made under the act.
This taking of veto power over the Board
of Finance has caused Mr.. Hough to be
roundly condemned on all sides. He acted
without legal advice. He said this morn
ing, however, that he had asked Corpora
tion Counsel Record for an opinion and
that he was promised this opinion some
time ago. But the Corporation Counsel
has been too busy to give this opinion.
The law in question is as foilows:-
An act authorizing cities of the first
class to purchase land and erect
hr1fid daDaTtmenl
purposes.
l. Be it enacted by the Senate and
Jersey, that in cities OF the first class
in this State, when the municipal
board or other authority having the
control of the erection of buildings
for fire department purposes, shall GER
tify to the municipal board OF such
city. having the management and con-
troll OF the finances of such city lAat
the necessity exists for the purchase of
ground and the erection thereon of
new building or buildings for flre de-
partment purposes, that 1t shall be
lawful for such municipal financial
board or authority in such city, and
they are hereby authorized and em-
powered to issue bonds. either regis
tered or coupon, TO an amount not ex-
ceeding twelve thousand dollars, to
raise money to pay for the purchase of
such plot and the erection and con-
struction of said building or buildings;
thai said bonds shall be payable in
twelve years from the date thereof
and shall bear interest not exceeding
four and one-half per cent. per an
num- to be sold not less than par, and
that there shall be sufficient sum ap-
propriated and put in the tax levy
each year to pay the interest on such
bonds, and also there shall in each
year be appropriated and put in the
tax levy of such city the further sum
Of one thousand dellars toward the
payment of such bonds. to be prop
erly invested and deposited in the
sinking fund of such city to meet the
ant Of ,rh do NIB, fhoxr
shall become due and payable.
2 And be 1t enacted, That whenever
in any city of the first class in this
State the board having charge and
control of the finances of any such
city has heretofore set aside or APP
propriated to the board having charge
parement purposes an amount not to
exceed twelve thousand dollars for
The erection of an engine or truck
house. or engine or truck houses and
said amount so appropriated has not
been expended nor any part thereof by
said board at the time of the passage
of this act. said board having cnarge
and control of the finances of any
such city shall have the power and au-
thority to increase said amount so ap-
propriated to an amount not exceed
Ing twelve thousand dollars, as pro-
vided in this act.
8. Ana be it enacted, That all acts
and parts of acts inconsistent herewith
be and the same are hereby repealed,
and this act shall take effect immedi-
Approved March 2s 1895.
An official in the City Hall in speaking
bout Mr. Hough's action this morning
Said:-
Mr.. Hough is simply playing politics.
He knows he should sign the bond He is
running his office as par of a political
machine. He ought to put up a sign no.
At =,
who enter here leave ali hope behind ="