The Penn's Grove record., 1903-03-27
PENN,s GRovEM OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Not So Bad As Painted.

get water. It is now discovered that til
bonds issued for the purpose are illegal
and that all the work done has to be sc
aside, and a new start made. There ha
been something like $17OO spent in tn
way of expenses in getting ready to pu
in the plant. Now that the bonds hav
been declared illegal there is no way Q
repaying this money, which was borrow
ed from the bank. The bank, of course
holds the endorsers and they, in connec
ton with the new Mayor and Council ar
endeavoring to determine where they are
The suggestion that the new Mayor ant
Borough Clerk endorse a new note TO
discount is politely declined by thos
officials. In the mean time it is foun,
that the borough is $500 in debt, tn
streets are worse than they were tire
years ago and no prospects for water o
anything else. This is the situation a
outlined for us by one of the city fathers
The people look to Mayor George II. Ell
kintQn to lead there out of the wilderness
into the land Of milk and honey promis
ed them when the borough was incor
porated."
A sensational news monger had a SINH
lar article in a Philadelphia paper O.
Monday which has been widely copied
In addition it said:
"The voters are disguised and ar
anxious to abandon the whole project
but are at a loss to know how to NEE
the engineers claims"
THE TRUE SITUATION.
Many citizens of the Borough no
knowing better of course believe the Dor
ough is in bankruptcy and, as Dickin'
says ssgoing to the demnition powwows.'
The first false statement is that the
bonds authorized to be issued for water are
illegal. They were voted to be issued il
accordance with the Borough act of 1897,
chapter 161, sections SO, 40. The reason
they were not sold was, not because Of
any illegality in their issue, but because
their was a stringency in the money
market last fall and money was worth
more than 4 per cent. wen though they
were to be gold bonds. There was a bid
for them, which was not accepted.
The only objections to them that can
be made is that they should not have
been s'gold" bonds but illegal tender dol
lar, bonds.
The defect in the water works proceed
ings seems to be that the law of 1898,
chapter 1852, requires a petition with sig
natures of owners of half the real estate
and a majority of voters at a second cleo
ton ito construct water works." The
second election has not been held.
The Borough has borrowed $1,000.
$l6o9 were spent in engineers fees and
boring for water. The balance was spent
for general Borough expenses. While
the $500 has not been procured by the
sale of bonds, yet it can be paid the same
way it is proposed to pay the bonds, by
taxation.
While water was not found it was not
the fault of the Borough officials, who
spent it in an honest endeavor to benefit
the citizens.
Against the 1891 borrowed and spent
for general Borough purposes was $72.7S
on hand at the settlement and $345.22
delinquent taxes, making $41S, which
covers the liability. The expenditures
were run so close to the assets, because
the Council did not keep in mind the as
SCISSORS and collectors fees amounting to
$3.50. Besides the assessors bill of $131.-
As for 1901 came in with the statement of
1902 expenditures.
The statement that the streets are
worse than three years ago is another
false statement. They were never in bet
ter condition than at present, after such
a heavy rain as fell on Monday. Last
year 81, 265 As were spent on the streets.
South Broad Street was widened, graded
and curbed. One mile of street was
graded, and a mile and a half of side
walk was improved either by being new
ly built, graded, curbed and repaired. In
fact, it was the first permanent improve
ment ever made to the streets since the
existence of the Borough. $2,265.45
were spent on the streets, $1,891.45 of
that amount went directly into the pock-
cts of the taxpayers of the Borough,
81 ,731.O 6 being for labor and 1914 for
material and some who received it are
doing the kicking.
The paragraph quoted from the daily
paper about the voters being disguised
and cannot meet the engineers claim is
another false statement. The voters and
property owner would be satisfied if wa
ter works can be built for $35, 900 but the
failure to find water and the prospect of
having to pay 10000 more to get it two
miles from the Borough is not approved.
The engineer has been paid extra well in
full for all work,
PENIS Grove is a public corporation of
citizens with a capital stock of 100000
of taxable property. The Mayor and
Council are the officials Of the incorpora-
ton. just debts incurred by the Coun-
Gil (the directors) for the corporation,
are binding on the corporation through
the succeeding Council (directors). The
signatures Of the Mayor and Clerk are
but certificates Of official business by the
Council who are the directors of the cor
poration. The failure of succeeding Of
icials to meet obligations incurred in
good faith for the corporation means a
Reputation Of just debts and a derelic-
ton Of official duty. When a man re-
signs a.. director Of a corporation he is
not held personally responsible for the
debtp Of that corporation, further than