The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-08-20
Renort on County Affairs.

columns OF this paper TO give IL IN oetail'
1t practically afirms what has been sppsr-
ent to all. that the Board of Ere eholders
has been going on In loose, slipshod
manner. apparently careless of the result
to the county treasury or to the individual
members.
Mr.. French's report does not reflect
great credit upon those who have been en-
trusted with the very important duty of
looking after the finances. The commit
tee In charge of that work has reported at
every meeting that the accounts of the
collector were correct, and while that was
probably beyond doubt the fact remained
that the treasury was overdrawn and no
effort was made by the committee to have
1t stopped.
The report contains five charges, the
first of which was that In 1910 the amount
for the support, maintenance and repairs
at the asylum were overdrswn to the
amount of 81, 400. This was found to be
correct to sum within %4O0 of that claim
ed, and this was sufficient to warrant the
statement that there had been irregularity
and carelessness on that item.
The second count charged that within
the five years preceding 1911, and particu-
larly within the last three years, the free
holders had overdrawn their appropria-
lions for bridges, roads and various other
accounts, and had unlswfully and cor
ruptly expended moneys in excess Of such
appropriations; had contracted bills be-
You'd the amount of such appropriations
and paid such bills out Of the appropri-
ations for the succeeding years. In this
case, as in the first instance, the vouchers
and books of the board spoke for them
selves, and this sweeping charge has also
been sustained. Accompanying the re-
port upon this count there are schedules
of figures covering the business of the
FIVE years included In the investigation.
The remaining charges were devoted to
the affairs at the asylum, where it was
claimed there had been goods and mer.
chandise purchased by individuals and
paid for by the county, goods taken from
the asylum for private use, and 80 on.
This was really the milk In the cocoanut'
In this investigation, the whole affair be-
ing precipitated because of family
difference which caused jealousy and a
desire for revenge. Mr.. French found
that goods were charged to the county
which were for the use of the matron of
the asylum, but they were paid for by
private check. Goods had been taken
from the place but the expert says they
were vegetables and such things that
would have rotted had they been allowed
to remain on the place and 1t did not cost
the county penny to take them away.
MIR. French also called attention to the
fact that the recipients of these goods were
persons who had probably fully paid for
the value of the articles by services rem
dered without charge.
The great sin OF entertaining friends of
the superintendent was touched upon and
the expert said there was no doubt that
there had been such entertainment. He
felt that 1t was part of the compensation
of the superintendent to have home and
he could not see where the line could be
drawn on the entertainment Of friends In
that heme any more than 1t could be drawn
on having guests In private residence.
In addition to this Mr.. French called
attention to the fact that the extent of the
entertaining was we'll known to the COM
mittee of the board of freeholders and no
objection was ever entered against it. He
could not see that there had been any
harm done In this particular.
Mr.. French criticised the systems of
bookkeeping that have been and now are
inyogue In the Office of the county collector
and the county auditor. He said 1t was
very difficult to get definite information on
the receipts and expenditures.
Summed up the report shows that there
had been carelessness and unlawful and
corrupt expenditure of moneys" This
matter is now up to somebody to look in
to- 1t is probable Judge VOORHEES, will
make the subject one of special instruction
to the next grand jury. and as Sheriff Jor-
dan was q member of the Board of Free
holders during some of the time to which
reference has been made there is inquiry
whether he will be allowed to draw the
grand jury.
OF course some of the offences are out
lawed, but there seems to be sufficient
left to make pretty good case on which
to work. In the past three years the ex-
pert says there has been an unlawful and
corrupt expenditure of moneys" During
a portion of that time the man who stirred
this matter up-A. w. Lotland-was a
member, and another interesting question
arises and that is "How are the guilty and
the innocent to be separated 2" In other
words If there should be such thing as
a presentment by the grand jury would
there be certain few picked out or would
the entire board have to suffer
Perhaps 1t is the duty Of the Prosecutor
of the Pleas to get busy on this case and
to consult with the Supreme Court Justice
In order that the line of work 10 be
mapped out will not be left to the last
minute. OF course we have ideas on such
matters that do not coincide with those OF
the Prosecutor. We think he should take
the initiative in cases where there is q
plain duty to perform and not wait until
somebody makes complaint and practically
urges him forward,
As said before this is not new matter
The grand jury of December, 1909, made
an exhaustive return on many points In
the conduct of county affairs. The acts Of
the Board of Freeholders we're spoken Of
and the jury found that the amounts ex
pended for the year ending December 81
1909. had exceeded the appropriations. The
act had not been carried to such an exten
as to call for condemnation as crimina
action, but 1t did show carelessness tha
needed attention. The jury also spoke o.
the system of auditing bills and found
sufficient care had not been taken In tina
duty. A recommendation was made tina
D4lIs W paul uAOC1lJ W ING pOhsou uaNlut
the claim, he to make the affidavit and t.
receive the check In his name. Tit
practice of paying bills In lump sum tt
the members was deprecated and change
was heartily endorsed.
This should have been warning to thu
Board of Freeholders to change thei
tactics and to SO conduct their business
| from that time on that no breath of sus