Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-04-06
TAX COLLECTOR
IS EXONERATED BY
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Letters Regarding Alleged Irreg-
ularities Denounced by
BelIeyiIIe Officials.

The auditing committee Of the Belle
Vile Township Committee at a meet.
ing Of that body last night submitted
the report Of. the work of examining
the books Of the township officials for
the year 1869. and it was pointed ont
that Township Collector A. Howard
Osborne had failed to collect the sum
Of s72.45 for penalties on overdue taxes
for that year. With this exception his
books We're correct. The report stated
that the accounts OF former Township
Treasurer E. William Beehtoldt and
former Water Collector William II.
Hudson were correct for last year.
Several of the committeeman and
spectators produced anonymous com
munications which were signed "Citi-
zens' Committee" and which boldly
declare that there were Irregularities
in the books OF the township authori-
ties. The letters said thai a commit
tee of Beileyille citizens had received
information TO the effect thai the mem
bers of the Township Committee we're
exerting influence to suppress an in
vestigation into the accounts of the
offlce-holders. 1t further declared that
Il this were true that the "Citizens'
Committee would inform the State
authorities of the alleged irregulari-
ties, anG effect a rigid investigation.
Copies of the unsigned nlisslves were
produced at the meeting by Chairman
Charles Lyman Denison, Committeeman
Harry NJ. Fallows and George w.
Staniar. Or. George G. Yarrow and
Thomas Berry. A copy of the letter
has been sent to every member of
Bellevillc's official family. and to pro-
fessional and business men in the town.
ship.
Mr.. Denison said that as there was
no name signed to the communication
he would not heed it. The matter was
advanced by Mr.. Staniar. who told OF
the circulation of the papers in type
written form. DR.. Yarrow took the
floor and made an address denouncing
the parties behind the letters as
towards and bling afraid TO come out
open and above board.
"I received ono Of these comtnuni-
cations" he said, land it rile1 me to
think that a thing of this kind should
be made public, with the sponsors re-
fusing to divulge their identity. There
has been talk 10 the effect that know
something about the origin OF these
anonymous papers. but. gentlemen, you
know If these things came from me my
anne would be attached to them. Why
don't these people ON out and fight
like men. If they had the interests Of
the township at heart they would he
here tonight to s~ubstantiate their un-
just allegations
James Rowbotham said that the let
tiers were of a criminal nature, and a
grand jury investigation should be
started.
John w. Cowan. an accountant Of
this city. recently made an audit of the
township books. and he submitted his
finding to the committee.
The committee room was crowded
with citizens. who having heard of the
Citizens Committee affair. expected
that when Mr.. Cadiz. as chairman OF
the auditing committed. made his re-
port. that a scandal would be uncov-
cred. They were surprised when the
following report was read;
THE auditing committee reports that
with the aid Of Mr.. Cowan. an account
ant. that the books of the township Of
yfcials have been examined for 1909 and
found to be correct We further re-
port. however, that in going over the
records Of the tax collector we find =
number of cases where the amount COL
lected from various taxpayers was less
than the --oun due at the time pay
ment was made. the discrepancy be-
ing occasioned by the failure of he
tax collectors office to charge and exact
the prescribed interest. charges and
penaIties on overdue taxes.
1.-THE total difference. the amount COL
Iected and the amount due as shown by
the books. Is SPAS, and covers ms
eighty esses.'