The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-12-30

Republicans make trades and coalitions.
The Democrats were disposed to take the
Director, give the Progressives the
Solicitor and then be generous to the
minority in the smaller offices. But an
agitation was created in the attempt to
show that Burlington and Bordentown
cities were not entitled to as many men,
bers as they elected in November and
that caused matters to fly into the air,
and the outcome is now uncertain. The
Board is made up of IS Democrats, Is
Republicans, and Progressives. The
Democrats need but one vote to have
things go their way, while the Repub-
licans must have three join them. 1t is
reported that on the subject of Solicitor
there is at least one Democrat who will
leave the ranks and vote to retain Budd
NJ. Rigg, and it is also said there are
some Republicans who will strenuously
oppose any such selection. The attempt
to keep the members from Bordentown
and Burlington from taking their seats
has been abandoned and nothing will be
done along that line.
A move that may figure in the organi-
cation of the Board is the indictment of
Joseph A. Couples, member-elect from
Tabernacle township. Mr.. Couples is a
Democrat. He failed TO file his expense
account, as the law provides, until the
day after the time limit set by the
statute. There are several rumors in
connection with this action some OF
which SAVIOR very much of peanut poll
tics" A letter sent to the court and
Prosecutor Atkinson represented that
Couples made his brags that he would
do about as he pleased in the matter,
while another story is that an official OF
the township agreed to keep Couples
posted on the time he should put in his
account, but neglected, Intentionally OIL
lotherwise) to do so. But that does not
excuse the candidate as he should have
been acquainted with the law. What
gives the affair the appearance of de
sire to reduce the Democratic majority is
the fact that there was but one days
lapse in the proceedings as good as
a year as far as the principle is concern
led-but still it has a suspicious look
when it is known that the attention o
Couples was drawn to his oversight il
time to allow him to attend to the mat
ter Just day later than the law required
THE member-elect from Cinnaminsor
township filed his report in the township
and did the same thing in the borough
Iof Riverton, but in the latter case h'
failed to swear to the account. Th'
Iuuestion has arisen whether he is re
lsponsible and should be held accountable
for that neglect or whether it was thu
duty of the borough clerk to call his at
tention to the matter and to see that thu
affidavit was attached. 1t is not known
whether the account was taken to thu
clerk in person or whether it was mailed
and filed, but there is enough in thi
point to raise question.
The real fact is there has been toC
much agitation on this question of or
ganization. The offices to be given GU
and the patronage to be distributed arr
not of sufficient importance to warran
all that has been said and done. Wha
the county wants is to have its affair
transacted with more care and business
like methods than have heretofore pre-
vailed.