Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-06
MOVE TOCOLLECT
MONEY DUE COUNTY
palrynapIe Will Take Steps to
Enforce Payment of $780,
727 Owed Overlook.

County Attorney Alfred n. Dali
rymple viii take steps at once to
enforce the payment of s50,T27 due
the county for the maintenance of
private patients at the Essex County
Hospital at Overlook, That this
amount was due the county was re-
ported to the hospital committee of
the board of freehoIders at its meet
ing at the hospital yesterday after
noon.
Warden Benjamin r. Bailey made
the report, which shows that there
are eighty-seVen such unpaid ac-
counts, the amounts ranging from
So 7O7.5 So downward to 50. The ac-
counts represent an accumulation OF
thirty-one years and twenty or the
items are over $1,000 each
These accounts are due from the
guardians of insane persons who at
the time of the commission of the
insane person to the institution
signed an agreement with the county
TO pay IS a week for the support OF
the patients. For years before the
big shake-up in the affairs of the
asylum In 1909 and 1910 the book
keeping methods of the institution
were in a. very lax condition and no
effort was made TO collect the money
due for support of patients.
With the appointment of a warden
to handle the financial end of the in
stitution steps were taken to see that
The money for support was properly
collected and accounted for. Warden
BENJAMIN r. Bailey has been doing
all in his power to collect the money
IN arrears, but he has been handi-
capped through inability to take any
legal steps.
Yesterday he turned all the ac-
counts that are in arrears over to
County Attorney Dalrymple. and the
latter will at once get busy colleel
ing the same. Mr.. Dalrymple was
asked for a list of the delinquent
guardians today, but refused to make
II public. ut would do no good to
make the list public" he said. at
least not at this time. The guardians
of insane patients at Overlook will
be informed that the accounts In ar
rearage for support must be paid.
II the payments are not made at
once legal steps win be taken to col
lect the same"
Warden Bailey in his investigation
has discovered that guardians hav-
ing money in their possession belong
ing to patients have refused to pay
the institution for their support
Other patients who are in receipt of
pensions or income in other ways are
likewise in arrears in board to the
county solely because their guardians
have retained the funds in their pos
Session instead of paying 1t to the
county, where it should go.
Il would like to see these guardians
who are Withholding money that
should be spent for the comfort of
their wards shown up" said Warden
Bailey. You would open your eyes
TO scrutiniZe some of the names of
people who drive up here in expensive
\
paying for the maintenance of the
person for several months, suddenly
abandon their charge and permit the
unfortunate one to become an INDECENT
inmate. II was a remarkable fact,
he said. that the poor come forward
faithfully every week with the money
for patients in their care, while the
rich were often negligent
Freehoider Harrison suggested that
there might be difficulty in enforcing
payment of accounts that were be-
hind six years, as being barred by
the statute of limitations. but IL was
pointed out that the majority of the
delinquent patients were still in the
Institution and their accounts were,
therefore, still running. OF the eighty
seven Debtors fifteen have died and
several have been discharged The
guardians, however, VIII be proceeded
against.
The Canniff Garage, of Bloomfield
avenue, Verona, was granted 81 a day,
an Increase of 50, for transporting en-
ployees between the hospital and the
trolley line. Chairman Rymap stated
that he had been notified by the ga
rage owner that he was losing money
at the S. rate and would have to dis
continue the service if the price was
not raised. 1t was suggested that the
county might buy and operate its own
machine cheaper, but Mr.. Ryman said
he did not believe it could be done.
A part of the money spent for the
transportation of the employees is re-
covered, as a fee Of 21a cents a trip
Is charged. The revenue from the
sale of the bus tickets amounts to
about $50 a month, there being 1000
tickets sold.
Satisfaction with the service rem
iered by Cannif was expressed by
Director Evans, who said that since
1t was begun, last June, there had
been no more complaints from the
employees of not being able to get out
TO the Institution and back. No con-
tract is made with the concern but
simply an agreement, which may be
terminated upon thirty days notice
being given by either party.