The Morris County chronicle., 1904-03-11

DISCUSSION
Freeholders Post, Shoneberger
and Counsel Runyon Dis
agree Over Bills.
MEETING OTHERWISE PLEASANT

There was a sharp exchange OF
words between Freeholder Post of Pc
quannoc, and County Counsel Runyon
and Freeholder Shoneberger at the
meeting of the Board of Free
holders on Wednesday. 1t was just at
the close of the meeting and came
about by request from Mr.. Post to
have reported for payment bills
amounting to nearly $7O0t on road
work in Pequannoc Township that
was performed last November when
that section of the county was visited
by flood.
+ "The bills are on Freeh0lder Shone-
berger's desk, said Mr.. Post, "but
have not been reported. would like
to ask if we can't pay these people
who have honestly earned that
money? l. ask the Counsel If they
are legal bills 2"
Counsel Runyon replied that they
bad been Submitted toCounty Engin-
eer King who was to see State Com
missioner Budd about them. AS Mr.
Budd was ill nothing could be done
suntil he acted in the matter.
You give no legal reason why they
should notbe paid Mr.. Runyon, 7 said
Mr.. Post. ! ID ask Mr. Shoneberger.'
sThere are peculiar conditions in
this affair, I" answered Mr.. Shoneberger
" the road has never been accepted
on which the work was done and we
have looked the matter over and
haven't found our way clear to pay
the bills"
That's no reason" interjected Mr.
Post.
County Counsel Runyon ther
said that it would be unwise tc
pay the bills until a conferences
was held with Road Commission
er Budd.
"No legal objection, only matter oi
policy" retorted Mr.. Post.
"I can't settle it Mr.. Post, " said
Mr. Runyon, =" it's dispute of fact
a question of varacity between the
road committee and yourself. It's a
situation which should be handled
with care. If what the road com
mittee say is true it would not be
justified in paying the bills, but il
what Mr.. Post says is true it is
different. It's a question of veracity
and / respectfully decline.
1t was then that Mr.. Post felt that
he should make an explanation of the
matter and relate the circumstances
surrounding the road work. He said
that at meeting which Freeholders
Ringlieb, Miliedge, and Engineer
King attended, he and Mr.. Ringlieb
were appointed committee to
authorize the work. Mr.. Ringlieb
denied having consented to the work.
Mr.. Shoneberger said that when he
saw the road seven-eights of the work
was done.
You know better Mr.. Shoneber-
GER" yelled Mr.. Post. I" Not one,
third of it was DONE"
" Morally these bills should be paid,'
said Shoneberger' " legally we cannot
pay them"
g. We never had mile of road in
Pequannoc Township that Mr.. Shone.
berger did not oppose, - said Freehold
er Post, :" ask for roll call to pay
the BILL"
The motion to pay was lost by IL
to 7.
Clerk Bennett read communica.
tion from the Supreme Court announc-
ing the result Of the suit brought by
the Middle Valley Trap Rock Com
pany against Freeholders on the con-
tract granted by the Board to F. Fl.
Schmidt.
The finance committee reported re-
ceived from all sources S151, 797. rs
expenses S118, 1922; balance $685.
694.54.
Freeholder Post stated that the
Committee had examined books in
the Surrogate's Office and found them
correct.
Freeholder Spencer, chairman OF
the Court House and Jail Committee,
reported bills for the month amount
CONTINUED ON FIFTH PAGE