Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-12-04

FOOr states, acc0rQlnS 10 the STATE
ment of Councilman Stuart. that the
books or accounts of the city treas
urer are not right and do not cor
respond with his. When he says that
he questions the veracity of a gentle
mar who has given $4,000 bonds for
the faithful performance of the du-
ties of his Office, when he makes that
statement he questions The yeracity
and ability of the gentleman who is
your city clerk, who | believe can
present to you tonight the figures in
detail, if not in detail as a whole. as
to whether the accounts of the city
treasurer, the statement that Nigh be-
made by the clerk, or the accounts
of the Overseer of the Poor TO show
which is accurate and right. The
Overseer of the Poor has not made
any rtport as demanded by ordinance
of the city. Has the Overseer of the
Poor, Mr.. Clerk made a monthly
statement as required by the ordi-
anc for the year 1912? The clerk
replied he had not. l would like to
ask the city solicitor whether this is
a direct violation of the ordinances
of the city and whether the city have
any authority In this matter. Mr..
Pearse: l think we have. Mr.. O'Con-
o 1 would suggest, and If neces-
sary / make a motion that the matter
be taken up and that there be
charges preferred against the Over
seer of the Poor. | do not know
whether you call it malfeasance of
office or not complying with the re-
quirements of the city. l think this
is a serious matter. There is not a
head of department in this city that
does not come forward and state &C
cording to the treasurer's report my
appropriation has been overdrawn
and laid off his l understand
the Overseer of the Poor came and
took out of the vaults every bill paid
for the year 1912 in order to make
up a statement.
Mr.. Stanton: If the funds of the
poor account are exhausted and the
Overseer of the Poor has said his
hands are tied, If we cannot issue or
ders for the sustenance of life for
the poor what is going to sustain
them upto the first of the year.
There must be SOME arrangements
made to see that they are clothed
and fed.
Mr.. O'Connor: The report of the
City Treasurer has showed the ap-
preparation exhausted at meeting
held three weeks ago, with the excep-
ton of s32, and I want to state from
the information I have since seer
tanned that s32 has become entirely
exhausted and a few dollars more
l. L 4L~k ~yo W., Now 4h1 nror-
seer of the Poor Is directed by COM
munication from the City Clerk be-
fore he issues any more orders he
have the approval of the committee
on poor to do it; the committee do
not object to taking are of our poor,
but there is to be a system about it.
The committee on poor will devise
ways and means upon request or de-
mand of the Overseer of the Poor, or
upon proper statement to furnish
the wherewithal that these people be
taken care of. Has the Overseer OF
the Poor evr made any such requests
to you?
Mr.. Stuart: No sir, except tonight
a verbal request and l told him be
fore this body would take any actor
upon any report from him he would
have to put it in writing. I told hin
if he came to this body with his re
quest in writing we would see that il
was taken care of and the poor are
taken care of.
After some further discussion oil
the matter, the motion that charges
be preferred against the Overseer Of
the Poor was unanimously carried.
Mr.. Stuart4asked the city solicitor
what provisions could be made fol
caring for the poor until next year
Mr.. Pearse stated he would discuss
that matter with the committee or
poor after the meeting was over, al
which time they could devise ways
and means for raising necessary
funds.
Mr.. Stanton brought up the ques'
ton of the bill of Mrs. Mullen fol
SIT, which had been presented some
two months previous, it being claim
ed the bill was contracted on accoun-
of Collins and Gundrum improperly
laying lateral sewer connection, the
proper grade not being given, which
caused water to back up and freeze
and necessitated some additions
plumbing work. The communication
from Mrs. Mullen explaining the mat
ter was read; also her affidavit tina
the statement was true to the best O.
her knowledge and belief. The mat
ter was, upon motion of Mr.. Stanton
referred to the committee on sewer
with power to dispose OF the same
Quite a lengthy and wordy discussion
ensued in connection with this bill
It appeared to be the consensus o
opinion of council that the firm o
Collins and Gundrum were response
BILE and should pay the SIT. Mr.
Gundrum explained there had beer
an error in their work, which, whel
discovered was Immediately remediet
and that they we're in no way respon
sible for the bill, which was con
tracted after his part OF the work wa
done. He claimed had the work II
the interior of the house been prop
erly done, proper drainage would
have been secured after he corrected
the trouble On the outside of the
house, and he could not be held re
sponsible for work done on the inside
of the house. The question at issue
was whether tht work on the inside
of the house was done prior tt
changes made by Mr.. Gundrum OF
the outside of the house or afterwarC
and it is this point the committee will
investigate before making report a!
to who they think are responsible FOL
the bill. Meeting adjourned.