The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-05-16
Board of Freeholders Passes
Connolly & Tierney's
Claim for S40,00
no EXAMINE sHERIFF's BOOKS
COMMITTEE NAMED TO DIsCov-
i, Err JUST WHAT IT COSTS TO
i. FEED PRISONERS AT THE
1 COUNTY JAIL

& The Board of Freeholders yesterday
afternoon passed a claim of $4,000 in
favor of Connolly and Tierney, contrac-
nrs for the new almshouse. The cla..a
WAS presented at the last meeting of the
Board on May 3. and at that time Coun-
t. Supervisor Fl. Otto Wittpenn asked
the Board TO pass it. The vote was 10
in the affirmative and s in the negative.
The motion was declared lost. When
the matter was again brought up at yes
isrday's meeting the claim was passed
by a unanimous vote.
The Board also appointed committee
of five to examine the books of the Sher-
IFS Office and those Of his office as Gus
tcdian of the county jail. The selection
of the committee was left to the Direc-
tor, who appointed Freeholders William
E. Smith, John w. Roche, Thomas 2.
Mcdanus, Charles G. Schmitt and Rob-
ert Mcdonald. The fixing of the date
OF the meeting was left to Chairman
Snli who said he would call a meeting
as soon as possible. The appointment
cf this committee grew out of a resolu-
ton offered by Freeholder McManus. of
the Fifth Ward of this city, to the effect
that he be allowed to examine the books
Bf the Sheriff's office and the jail. Free
holder Smith. who halls from the Ninth
Ward offered an amendment TO Mr.. Nc
b1anus's resolution that committee of
i've he appointed TO search the books.
ALr. McAIanus, who is Fagan Republi-
ran, in his resolution had asked that the
Sheriff be requested to allow copies to
se made from all hooks containing ac-
.ouats. commitments, discharges and
,ther papers in the two offices showing
he number of prisoners ana witnesses
here detained, the cost of keeping the
Hme. the trials and manner of commit
tent. The object was to find out just
ow raueh the feeding of prisoners is
Torth to the Sheriff, who is Dickson
;e Eerublican. There had been charges
lade that the Jail is over-crowded.
,hese charges were denied yesterday by
Warden Connolly, who in a published in
srriew gave figures to show that the
Ill was far from being over crowded.
Counsel John Griffen. of the Board,
ad previously fled an opinion to the eff
sct that under a new law the fees for
ne maintenance of the prisoners in the
lii should be turned over to the County
collector after the expenses OF the Jail
fere deducted In accordance with this
pinion County Collector Egan yesterday
lade a demand on Sheriff Kaiser for a
sport Of the receipts and expenditures
E that institution. Sheriff Kaiser re.
used to hand them up. He said the
natter was in the hands of his lawyers
Ee claims that he is entitled to all the
ees for the feeding of prisoners. Coun.
, Collector Egan will institute a suit III
rder TO settle the question in the conrss
Under the new law the Sheriff re.
eives a salary of $4,000, which the
Iounty Counsel maintains is in lieu OF
ll fees. Some lawyers claim that this
NV is unconstitutional. and that it will
lot stand the test Of the courts. If it is
ct aside the fee system will be te-estab-
lshed. The office of Sheriff under the
ZEE system was easily worth $4,000 q
iear, without the fees he received as
custodian of the County Jail.
AaluEyATInMIoTo W0N