The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-01-16
BOARD OF
FREEHOLDERS
Wants Morristown to Assume
the care Of County Roads
Within It's Borders.
ECONOMY STILL NECESSARY.

The board Of freeholders met last
Wednesday, A communication from
Mayor Charlton A. Reed to Counsel
Runyon OF the board of freeholders in
answer to an inquiry as to why the
town added the ten per cent. to the
county and state school tax provoked
some discussion and finally on motion
OF Freeholder Schonebergers who char
acterized it as insulting was not re-
ceived. The letter answered the ques-
tion asked by stating that the action
Of the town officials was within the
law and the policy pursed by many
municipalities. 1t went on to pay the
respects Of the Mayor to AssembIyman
Mills. the introducer of the resOlu-
tion, stating that he moved for this
investigation at the last meeting of
the board of which he had been a
member for three terms, sitting as
+ menaOer and drawing pay since May
last BY virtue of an act of the legisla-
ture, which he as a member of the as
sembIy helped to pass. The Mayor
said he had not been asked for an
opinion as to the legality Of this, but
simply presented the moral side. He
also called attention to the quarterly
report of the County Collector show
ing payments to Mr.. Mills of SAG, S4S,
and S46, presumably fort he months of
August, September and Octo ber
which, at 50 per diem, represented
% or "a days work out Of a possible n
secular days in each month, while he
was away on vacation part of the time
and busy in a canvass for reelection,
and attending to his law business the
other weeks.
A letter from the Union county
board called attention to a letter from
Reed & Salmon, asking pay for injuries
to Charles Simpson. sustained at the
three-county bridge at Chatham on
November first. The attorneys stated
that the man was in the hospital for
some time and has since been unable
to work and offered to settle for 5000.
The letter was referred to the damage
committee.
Judge Mills presented a list of law
books which he desired purchased for
the county law library during the
soming year. Referred to the finance
committee.
Aletter from Mrs. Thomas Malley
thanked the board for expressions Of
sympathy at the death of the late
Thomas Malley.
The court house and jail committee
presented the following statistics in
jail at last report, II; admitted. 40;
discharged, 81 {: remaining, 20.
The aims house committee reported
as follows in aims house at last re-
port, rs; admitted, 81 discharged, r.;
remaining, g. In children's home at
last report, 65; discharged, remain
ing, "a.
The lunacy committee reported a
visit to the state hospital at Morris
Plains on January 5, when they found
Slfemales and 86 males county charges.
The quarterly bill amounted to $5,-
07O.l7.
The road committee presented bill
for the final payment on the Mont
vile road for 81 737.lO, which was or
dered paid
Director Becker asked for reports as
to bridge work outstanding and about
S1,l00 was found. Collector Mclean
cOunseled economy and expressed the
thought that the county will finish
the fiscal year all right and pay the
old deficits.
Freeholder Burchell spoke as to the
condition Of the county roads in Nor
riStOwn suggesting that some action
be taken to turn the roads over to the
municipality. Freeholder Schoneber-
sger also favored the idea, stating that
so many legal points are involved that
ne thought the counsel better inyesti
gate the matter. He so moved and
it was so ordered.
Freeholder Cook asked if there
would be any expense to the county by
the change. FreehOlder Burchell re-
piled that he did not see any such ex-
penSe. OF course M0rristOwn is to
pay $4,000 toward the cost of the
roads, but the town has had the use of
them, and been relieved of their care
for ten years. He thought a commit
tee should be appointed to confer with
E the town authorities.
; Freehol3er Schoneberger offered
resolution authorizing the committee
and engineer to visit other counties
and inspect methods of road repair
with the idea Of introducing an im-
proved system in Morris. The resolu-
tiOn was adopted.
Another resolution introduced by
Freeholder Schoneberger called upon
the representative Of the county in
the legislature to endeavor to get a
state aid appropriation sufficient to
close up present contracts and also
provide or new work during the com
ing year.