The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-06-08
TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 1909

BURLINGTON county has solicitor who
gives advice to the members of the Board
Of Freeholders, but sometimes they think
they know more than the lawyer does or
else do not care for his opinion, as they
do about as they please after hearing from
him. This was shown on Wednesday
after Captain Merritt had told the Board
that the county engineer had no right to
charge extra for blue prints or typewriting
In connection with work In his office, for
despite the advice given, twenty-one OF
the members voted to pay the bill, while
only nine stood up to sustain the solicitor.
That the solicitor gave the proper opinion
is the generally accepted idea of all who
have discussed the question. When 1t
was suggested that county engineer be
appointed, the idea was that the county
would be saved much money because there
had been great expense attending building.
of roads and bridges, with separate en-
gineer for each Job. That argument Is
still advanced and when anything Is said
about the extras the reply is, "See what
has been saved" Well, suppose there has
been considerable saving, Is that any
reason why there should be extravaganza
But to return to the original proposition
to elect an engineer. There were two
candidates John w. Harris. of Mount
Holly, and Earl Thompson, of Moores-
town. It was distinctly understood by
at least one Of these gentlemen. that all
work that had heretofore been done by
separate engineers, whether bridge or
road work, was to be hereafter superin-
tended by the new officer, and that the
salary was to pay for everything. Mr..
Thompson was successful and now he
comes out with statement that he never
4 70 md 10
cannot make the position pay at s., 800
Der year, because he Is 80 constantly In
attendance upon the different committees
that 1t takes too much of his salary for
expenses He knew sill this when he was
so anxious for the job. and If he did not
then know it he is certainly aware of the
condition of affairs now and there is no
rope around his neck. He Is at liberty to
resign and If he should happen to resign
we assert there will be no difficulty in
furnishing q competent man for engineer
who will do all the work that Mr.. Thomp-
son Is doing, and not put In a bill for
extras at every meeting of the Board.
The payment of the bill was not justified
under the terms by which the engineer
was elected. and it certainly was an I'M
warranted act In the face of the decision
of the solicitor. The county auditor will
be open to criticism If he pays 1t. In
discussing this question several points
haye been urged. among them the fact
that some of the county officials are fur
nished materials and supplies for their
offices, and that some of them have
stcnographers. There is no case of this
kind except where the law expressly pro-
kides for such act, and we know of at
least one Office where the law might be
construed to allow extras to creep in,
where the official pays his own steno-
grapher and frequently Is required to en-
gage two to get his work done on time,
but he has never yet put In bill for the
claim. II 1t is right In one case 1t ought
to be right In all. The passing Of the
bill of the engineer may not be weighty
matter, but 1t is an opening wedge, and
the evidence is very plain that the dispo-
sition is to encourage, rather than to dis
courage, the attacks upon the treasury.