Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-11-05
Town COLLECTOR
DEFENDS RECORD
Democratic Official Submits to
HeckIing at Progressive
Meeting.

Tax Collector Frank A. O'Connor,
of west Orange. a Democrat, ac-
cepting the invitation of the Pro-
gressive party in that town, ap-
peared at a meeting of that organi-
cation in the CASTOR Street School
last night and answered questions
fired at him right and left.
Before submitting to this heckling
Mr.. o,Connor dared any member of
the organization to accuse him OF
pocketing any money which he was
not legally entitled to.
"From newspaper accounts of this
matter" he began, II take it that
you have charged me with taking
money which did not belong to me-.
1 challenge any responsible mem
Der of the organization, or any man
in the town, to make the charge, and
1 will u him for libel"
Assured by William Smith, presi-
dent of the organization, that he did
not infer that O'Connor was not
entitled to the extra money he re-
ceives, Mr.. o'Connor then declared
that such money was received for
work done outside his regular duties
and he was entitled to compensa-
ton. The question referred 10
whether Mr.. O'Connor was enti-
tied to the disposition of tax search
fees and $500 a year for clerical as
sistance, which, the collector de-
clared, became imperative with the
increase of the work. Mr.. Smith
read opinions of lawyers stating that
If sued Mr.. O'Connor would be COM
PEELED to return the extra money for
clerk hire and tax search fees.
Explains Extra Fees.
Explaining the $500 for extra clerk
assistance, Mr.. O'Connor declared
| the work in his office increased SO
much since 1902 that he thought it
just that he receive extra pay. 81
so told the members of the Town
Council" he went on, but they re-
fused to increase my pay on the
grounds that my salary could not be
advanced during my term, but they
passed a resolution giving me au-
thority to hire extra help"
August Scheller, a Progressive
party aldermanic candidate, then
started in to ask questions.
Mr.. O'Connor started to dwell on
questions other than those of the de-
bate, and Mr.. Scheller's objections to
these were sustained. MI. O'Con-
nor reminded MI. Smith that the res
olution authorizing him to get extra
help was recommended by a Repub-
lican town attorney and Republican
mayor and majority of the Town
Council.
Mr.. O'Connor next was asked even
If he did have authority to take the
extra money did he not feel morally
bound to turn it over to the town in
view of the fact that he was using
the tools Of his Office to do the work.
He replied he did not. "Any person
can examine the books in my Office"
he said. land if lawyers find it more
convenient to have me look up mat
tiers than to examine the books, why
shouldn't I receive extra compensa-
ton for it?"
Money Merely Gifts.
Mr.. Scheller asked if he had a
fixed price and O'Connor answered
that the money was in the nature of
a gift. He asked Mr.. Smith If he did
work for someone other than his EN-
ployer outside the time he was en-
gagged in his regular duties. would
he feel that he was compelled to turn
over the money to his boss. Mr..
Smith answered that il he was using
the tools of his office TO do the work
he would think he was morally bound
to give the money to his employer.
Mr.. Smith after the debate closed
said it was not arranged for any po-
litical purposes and after election will
get legal data II possible. showing
that the tax collector had not au-
thority to accept money other than
his salary.
All the candidates on the Progress
sive ticket in the town made adj
dresses, as did Everett Colby, who
lives in West Orange, and William
Levine, OF this city.