Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1915-04-10
Mackay's Arguments
And Excuses Worthless
So Says Anderson Price, Counsel of the Beygen
County Protective League, in Referring to Report
of Freeholders Counsel Concerning Charges
of Extravaganza, ETC.

Anderson Price, counsel for the
Bergen county citizens who recently
addressed a formal complaint and de.
mand upon the Board of Freehoders
calling for action in recovering
moneys unlawfully paid out and in
revising methods of county financing,
has written M. M. Mattison, of Engle-
wood, full reply to the answer of
the Boards counsel, William L.
Mackay, says The Record.
Mr.. Price undertakes to show that
neither the excuses nor the argu-
ments OF Mr.. Mackay are worthy of
much attention. He points out that
one freebooter charged for twenty
seven days in January, 1914, when
there were only twenty-six working
Gays IN the month, and put in a bill
against the county for the following
month for work on every week day
III the month; that it is not denied
that such bills have not been itemized
as required by law, and that mileage
and other expenses have been al
lowed IN PLAN defiance of the law.
Mr.. Price again says that the
Board had no right to direct Super
VISOR OF Roads Ihier to 90 to Chi
| cago, or to pay his expenses for the
"Trip anu ne fldlcules the argument
OIL Mr.. MacKay that Engineer Earle
mad TO go to Chicago to inspect
| pfldge material, matter, Mr.. Price
says, clearly up to the contractor,
ana not to the county.
he argument advanced by Mr..
Mackay on the subject OF the boards
pfomlssory notes is considered by
MI. Price to be worthless. The acts
Oh the Legislature, covering appro-
prlatlons ana the issue OF bonds for
road purposes and IN anticipation of
| taxes clearly, Mr.. Price says, exclude
any Issue OF any other notes.
MIR. Mackays argument that be-
cause all moneys are raised by taxa
ton and out OF such taxed money
all debts are to be paid; that there
lore all forms OF borrowing money
are IN anticipation OF taxes and legal
reflects unfavorably upon the ability
and understanding OF Mr.. Mackav.3
continues the letter. If his con-
| tentlon is right, then all statutes in
| tended to denne or regulate the ex-
pendlture OF money by Boards OF
| chosen Freeholders have no binding
Iorce or virtue"
Mr. Price says that the statement
OF Mr.. Mackay as to Chapter 223 of
the laws of 1910 is not correct, the
TACT being that the statue does not
provide that bonds may be sold at
private sale unless the act under
which they are issued expressly
authorizes private sale" The cues
ton OF the state of the bond market,
Mr.. Price says, has nothing to do
with the case.
Concerning the alleged difficulty of
getting access to vouchers Mr.. Price
plainly contradicts Clerk Shuart. in
the following language:
Il beg leave to state to you (Mr.
Mattison) | made at least five diff
1erent appointments with Mr.. Shuart
Tor examination of vouchers in his
possession. These appointments
were courteously and freely made.
but when the time came for perform
ance he was so overwhelmed with
other duties that he was unable to
give me the opportunity which he
had so freely and courteously offer
ed. | kept these appointments at
, great inconvenience to myself, and
was naturally disappointed at the
treatment accorded me. l gave up
all further efforts, and was forced
to the conclusion that Mr.. Shuart
did not intend ever to allow me to
| examine vouchers.
Mr.. Price finally concludes thusly:
Il have made this a long letter,
and l hope l have made myself clear.
1t is up to you and your associates,
taxpayers and members of the coun-
ty municipal corporation, to avail
yourselves of the undoubted right
to compel restitution from officers,
employees and contractors of all mon
eys extended by them for their per-
sonal use or benefit without full com
pliance with the law. You would so
act toward any employees or con-
tractor who had obtained money
wrongfully from you in your private
business, and the same rule can be
applied in public business. To fail
to do so will only lead to further
burdens upon you in the form of tax
alton from which you will not receive
a proper benefit"
AS many of the items alleged 20
have been wrongfully paid are small,
suits may be brought in a district
court, by any citizen or taxpayer.
after the granting of an application
to a Supreme Court Justice for per
mission to sue in the name and for
the benefit of the county," is another
of the comments of Mr.. Price.