The Penn's Grove record., 1909-08-20
62l-623 Market st.
County Freeholders Meeting
Tax Budget Changed

AN OtlAt
Board of Freeholders was held in The
Court House ON the 11th. Director
Ayers and Messrs. Burke and Brian
were absent. Mr.. Hannah presided.
Mr.. Griscom of the pnblic buildings
Committee, reported that the expenses
at the county Jail for the past month had
been 5000, or an average of Is cents
and a fraction per day for each prisoner
Mr.. Hannah reported that work had
been commenced on the repairs to the
Hook bridge, in Lower Penn's Neck, and
that it would be completed in a week.
Sheriff Batten reported the following
| prisoners confined in the county Jail on
| charges of drunkenness and disorderly
| conduct, with fines and costs in each
case: Frank Brady, Albert Smith, Henry
Smith, Alex. Bird and William Mason.
The costs amounted to $50. 81, which the
Committee on Discharge OF Prisoners
recommended be paid and the prisoners
| discharged from custody.
Mr.. Gray said that the Aldine road
was about completed, but the State Road
COMMISSIONS Gilkyson, on viewing the
road, had decided that some of the cuts
were not the required width, and ordered
the change made.
Mr.. Prickett said he had made repairs
on the bridge at Woodstown, but that
some permanent repairs would have to
be made before another potato season, or
it would not stand up under such heavy
traffic.
A representative of the Royal type
writer was present to place a typewriter
in the Office of the Sheriff, the machine
having been on trial there for some time.
No action was taken on the matter.
The Board held an afternoon session,
at which Director Ayers and Messrs.
Burke and Briant were present.
Sheriff Batten submitted a bill for sos.
81, for back salary due from April 21st to
July 10th. This is claimed under a law
passed at the last session Of the Legisla-
ture, giving county officers in counties of
25, 900 population a salary Of $500 a year.
The population of Salem county at the
last census was 26,2S7. Surrogate Plum
mer submitted a similar bill, both of
which were ordered paid.
County Collector Butcher said he had
received d check for $1,000, Salem coun-
ty's apportionment of the State automo-
bile licenses, which is to be applied for
the repair of State roads. The letter
contained a request that $1,000 of this be
turned over to the city of Salem. The
$1,000 was made up of $14O0 from licenses
collected 1907, $500 for 1908 and $l080
for 1909.
County Collector Butcher called atten-
ton to the condition of the county fnan-
ces and stated that the Sheriff's Office
would not begin to pay its expenses and
as the Legislature had passed a law rails
ing the salary of the sheriff since the
budget was made up, that there would
be a big deficiency in that Office this
year as he had already had to borrow
$500 for the running of that Office in the
anticipation of taxes. He stated that
some provision would have to be made
for the raising of the money. The Sur
rogate's office had heretofore just about
been paying expenses, but would not do
so now with the increase of $500 in the
salary. He stated that he also had to
borrow in anticipation OF taxes for the
State road and bridges and Public Build
ings accounts and these departments also
needed more money
After considerable discussion as to the
best way to overcome the difficulty 1t
was decided to change the items i'll the
budget, but not the total of the budget,
which could not now be altered. The
following resolution changing the items
in the budget for this year was therefore
drawn up and adopted by the Board.
Resolved, That the budget for the year
1909 as passed by this Board be changed
as follows because of an act of the Legis-
lature in the year 1909 increasing the
pay of the Sheriff and Surrogate each the
sum of $500 annually, which was not in
cluded in the budget, and whereas the
sum of $500 was appropriated for the
Sheriff's Office for this year which is in
sufficient, therefore be it