The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-03-17
BOARD OF
/ FREEHOLDERS
A Movement Started to Unload
the County Roads Upon
the Municipalities.
DEMAND ITEMIZED ACCOUNTS

no communications and the commit.
tees had only routine matters to re-
port. Freeholder Ellis, Of Hanover,
treated the board, officers, etc., to-
cigars and peppermint candy.
The court house and jail committee
reported as follows : in jail at last re-
port, 43 admitted, 80; discharged, 81 !;
remaining, 3S. The Jail physician re-
ported fourteen visits, mostly for grip,
bronchitis and alcoholism. Two pris-
oners were sent from the Jail to the
State Hospital at Morris Plains.
The lunacy committee reported the
usual quarterly visit to the State
Hospital, where they found Sc females
and 81 males chargeable to the county.
The quarterly bill was 50, ,948 55.
The aims house committee reported
as follows: in house at last report, 80;
admitted, I; discharged, L; remain
ing, 95. In children's home at last re-
port, 76; admitted, 5 :; discharged, D;
remaining, 10.
Fox bounty bills nearly wiped out
that account, the aggregate presented
being $l45.
After the reports had been present.
ed, Freebooter Neighbor, of Dover,
handed in a resolution which he asked
be read for information and laid over
till the next meeting. His motion
was seconded by Freeholder Fancher
and the clerk read the resolution
which released to the several munich
paliJies the county roads within their
borders. The list as read included
roads in Morristown, Madison, Chat
ham, Dover, Rockaway and Boontol,
some of the roads named, although on
the filed maps, having never been
worked
A the conclusion of the reading,
Mr. Neighbor told the law relating to
the taking up of roads as county roads.
claiming that the county is liable for
any damages ard for repairs, whether
they have beel rebuilt or not. lie
saiG he was surprised to find the con-
ditln Of affairs that existed in Dover
anu tl.at Freeholder Powers had tod
hin, he was unaware of the condition
in Boonton. The roads can be relin-
quiahed, he said upon resolution filed
with the County Clerk. In all there
are from hundred to hundred and
fifty miles of roads under county juris-
diction, under their resolution of 1904.
He further said that there might be
inequality as regards the amount of
tax paid by the different municipali-
ties, but as he saw it the purpose of
the county bonding was to construct
connecting roads between towns and
maintain them, feeling that the town
ships could not build stone roads,
rather than build town streets. He
read an extract from the Boonton
Times" in support of his contention.
Freeholder Norris moved to amend
the motion so that committee of
three, with director, counsel and en-
gineer, would confer with the munich
palities affected, and as so amended
The motion was passed. Director
Becker named Freeholder Norris, Bur-
chell and Powers as such committee.
Mr.. Neighbor brought up another
matter, by stating that the bills of
the probation officer did not show the
results of his visits to persons from
whom he should collect partial pay
ment fines and costs and that that
should be done and all the bills item
ize d as to work done. He introduced
a resolution covering the matter.
Freeholder Ryerson moved that the
matter be laid on the table, but Mr.
Neighbor insisted that it is simple
matter and no object exists for delay.
Director Becker said the law re-
quired such itemizing of bills and it
should be done Mr.. Neighbor replied
that it was not done. He had signed
a bill the first month he was member
of the board where it was not done,
but was ignorant of the law.
Collector Mclean said 1T is the
sworn duty of the committees to ex-
anime and audit the bills and he
thought the member was rejecting on
every member of tue board and sug-
gested that there must be some one
bill in his mind.
Mr.. Neighbor said there was, but he
was not ready to talk about it quite
yet. He did not like bills itemized as
to days and lump sum at the end.
Mr.. Mclean said if such bill " s
brought TO his attention he would no
a it.
The motion was adopted, after Free
holoer Powers had asserted that all
road bills are itemizsd and audited.
Freeholder Ryerson thought it go d
thing to k ow The results Of the pro-
bation work.
Mr.. Fennimore objected to the flood
ing of his meadow, spring and cellar
by the backing up Of water due TO the
New Vernon road, and a committee
was directed TO look into the matter
and afford relief
l..