Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-08
REFUSAL TO %. X"
BILL CAUSES ROW
Belleville Councilman and For
mer Official Almost Come
to Blows.
MERITS NAME ON LIST OF
DELINQUENT WATER-USERS
5aries of WrangIes Occur Fol-
lowing Report on Audit of
Ritter's Books.

Refusal on the part of Councilman
Emil C. Mertz, chairman of the
finance committee, of the Belleville
Town Council. to 20. K" bill pre-
scented by former Water Collector
Frederick Ritter for services, precipi-
tated a row at the meeting of the
council last night, or rather early this
morning. 1t looked for a time as il
the men might come TO blows. Rit-
ter was very angry but Mertz re-
NAMED comparatively cool and kept
his eyes on report which he held
in his hand.
Previous to this outburst another
wrangle occurred when report was
received from Town Auditor Lewis
c. Huxtable with an audit Of Ritter's
books The report attempted to
show carelessness on Ritter's part.
1t was after o'clock this morning
when Councilman Mertz presented
bills for payment. Ritter presented
bill amounting to Ships more than
a month ago. He waited for Mertz
to read it off with the rest. and when
the latter failed to do SO Ritter asked
what had become of It,
He was told by Mertz that as chair
man of the finance committee he re-
fused to 20. K" 1t. Ritter demanded
payment.
Councilman ] William Bechtoldt
thought that IL the bill was just
one it should be paid with the others
Councilmen Frank j. Carragher and
George w. Daniels thought likewise.
Mr.. Mertz said he had no objection
to paying Mr.. Ritter or any one else,
but that he would like Town Attor-
ney John De Graw to pass upon the
legality Of the bill.
Ritter jumped up and advancing to
the railing said to Mertz;
II want that bill paid tonight"
you are not talking to school
boy was Merits reply,
I'm no schoolboy, either, said
Ritter
Some of the councilmen thought it
unnecessary to refer the bill to coun-
sell This brought a retort from
Mertz that as chairman of the finance
committee he brought the case to its
present state. do you want me to
lay down now?'' he said It was
finally decided to refer the bill as he
had requested
When a list of about 500 delinquent
water users was presented by Coun-
Gilman Mertz, 1t developed that his
name was on the list. This brought
on clash between him and Ritter.
The total delinquency in the list
extends over a period of folr years
and amounts to approximately $1,000. 1
The list was not presented until
towards the close of one of the long
est meetings ever held by the Coun-
Gil.
The list was presented with the
monthly report of Harry Machette,
superintendent of the water depart
n1ent
1t will be remembered that Ritter,
who is a Republican, was ousted from
Office by the Republican majority Of
the Council Later the Office of su-
perintendent of the water department
was created and the collection of
water rents was given to Town Col
lector Staniar and former Town
Treasurer Eugene M. Gavey was
made assistant town collector.
Ritter and his friends claim that
ne was ousted to make room particu
larry for Mr.. Gavey, who is close
1TlenQ OIL COUNCILMAN 1htIt1s Cuiht-
ment was made on this by Mertz last
night in referring to Superintendent
Machette's report, and also the result
of the adult of Ritter's books. Mertz
said he wanted to show that the
new offices were not created, as Ssome
papers have stated. in order to bive
q Job to some of my friends.
In submitting the report 1t is under
stood Mertz did so in an endeavor to
show the efficiency of the present
encumbents of the water depart
ment, in new system adopted by the
Council, as compared with the work
done by the former water collector.
On account of the lateness of the
hour only a half dozen people were
present including Ritter.
On the presentation of the list Rit-
ter arose and said the list contained