The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-12-15
SHOULD COUNTY
PAY IS CENTS
Freeholder Burchell Holds Up
Sheriff's Bill for Prison
ers' Board in Jail
SHERIFF CAN HAVE COAL

SHERIFF CAN HAVE COAL
Freeholder Reuben Fl. Burchell, at
Wednesdays meeting of the board OF
freeholders, asked Counsel Runyon to
give an opinion whether the county
should continue to pay the sheriff thir-
ty-ffve cents per diem for the mainten-
ance of prisoners in the county jail or,
with the sheriff drawing regular sal
ary, the county should pay only the
actual cost of the prisoners board.
Sheriff Orr presented a bill of $239. Is
for the prisoners board since his ten
ure Of office began which he reckoned
at the thirty five cent rate as provided
by the law. Freeholder Burchell will
not approve the bill until the counsel
renders an opinion. 1t is said that
the actual cost OF feeding the prisoners
is somewhere near nine cents per day
and it is question whether under the
law providing for the change of the
Office from fee to salary system,
the difference between the actual cost
and the legal price should go to the
sheriff or the county.
Counsel Runyon, in response to the
request made by Freeholder John w.
Fancher at the November meeting,
gave it as his opinion that it was legal
for the board of freeholders to furnish
the sheriff's house with coal and light
and the offices of the sheriff, county
clerk and surrogate with telephone
service. providing the charges were
moderate and the service rendered
necessary.
Mr. Burchell, for the court house
and jail committee, reported twelve
admitted to the county jail since the
last report and up to November 11th,
discharged eleven, leaving a total in
jail November 11th of twenty-five.
Under Sheriff Orr's regime there were
thirty-six admitted, thirty-eight dis
charged, leaving twenty-nine in Jail at
present. He reported bills aggregat-
ing 100.
Freeholder Abram Ryerson present.
ed bills of the finance committees ap-
proving of S5,434.50. On his motion
the county collector was authorized to
make necessary transfers of money
from accounts to close up the business
of the year.
Since the last report of Freeholder
Pruden, of the aims house committee,
eight have been admitted to that in
stitution and one inmate has died,
leaving total of lis inmates. In the
children's home one has been admitted
and two discharged, leaving seventy
four youngsters as wards of the coun-
ty. The bills approved by the aims
house committee amounted to 81, 7l8-
1T.
Freeholder Oscar B. Smith, of the
lunacy committee, presented bill
from the state hospital for the care OF
the county's insane amounting to 81,
592lS. There are eighty-four males
and eighty-seyen females in the hos
pital from Morris county.
The bills of the insurance and mis-
cellaneous committee, presented by
Mr.. Smith, were for S2,3374l.
Freeholder Powers, of the road com
mittee, had bills for payment amount
ing to S9,755.8l for road repairs.
The printing and election bills, pre-
sented by Freeholder Davenport, were
tor $8797l.
Freeholder Burchell reported the re-
ceipt cf two bids for cleaning cesspools
of the county b .ildings for the coming
year, one from e. l.. Foster for 5000
and one from John Denman for 1915.
The board ordered contract executed
with Mr.. Denman for the work.
The Morris County Traction com.
pany notified the board of its accept
ance OF the trolley franchise passed last
month.
The next meeting of the freeholders
will be held next week Wednesday,
when final reports of the committees
are to be made and estimates of ex-
penditures for next year are to be
in.