The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-12-21
mittes to look over the entire situation

mittee to look over the entire situation
} Then came the question Of payment
to the county by several property owners
in Riverside township for Improvements
to the road in front of their places which
it was said they agreed to pay for but
which they refused to do when the time
arrived. This had been discussed at q
former meeting and special committee
had been appointed to consider the sub
ject. MIR. Bright reported that the town
ship committee Of Riverside had agreed
to take entire charge of the matter and
the outlook now is that the money will
be collected by that body and be turned
over to the county.
An interesting part of the meeting
was the appearance of Sheriff Stecher.
Steward Bovine and prosecutor KELSEY
who suggested that a workhouse be
established at the county farm at the
almshouse. The idea is to keep the Jail
from being overcrowded with tramps
and Others who obtain comfortable
quarters without giving anything in re-
turn. Steward Bovine said there were
certain portions of the year when he can
use men to good advantage, and that if
the tramps could be committed to his
care he could save the county money in
handling the work around the place.
i Sheriff Stecher was heartily in favor
OF the plan and said that at least two
thirds of the prisoners in his charge are
of the 'workhouse class" and were
never better contented than when living
an idle life in the jail
Nothing definite was done in the mat
ter but it will doubtless receive atten-
ton at the hands of the next Board as it
looks to be one of the best suggestions
that has been made in long time.
In order that the county may have
the benefit of taxes that should be paid
soon after December 20, solicitor Rigg
was instructed to proceed to- the collec-
ton of all moneys due the county as
soon after that date as possible, and thus
save the county the necessity of borrow
ing money and paying interest on it.
The committee on the Broad street
bridge, Burlington, reported that the.
structure had 0uthved its usefulness,
and recommended that plans be pre-
pared for concrete bridge to be erected
next year. This bridge has caused al
most as much discussion as has the Null
lica river bridge.
Harold b. Wells sent communion
ton in which he said he had been re-
tanned by one of the election officers at
Bordentown from whose check there had
been deducted $25 The official claimed
that no explanation had been offered for
this act. The matter was placed in the
hands OF solicitor Rigg. When the cleo
nf nnrAn .f.xtr Il
there was some sort of mixup which
does not appear to have been untangled,
and there is no doubt the matter will be
satisfactorily adjusted.
The attention of the committee in
charge OF the payment of the bill for
the burial Of soldiers and sailors was
called to the fact that the county is not
required to pay the expenses where the
deceased leaves an estate sufficient to
cover that item.
| A motion offered by Mr.. Russ, was
adopted. 1t provides for the employ
ment of two additional drawtenders at
the Delanco bridge, to go on duty Feb
ruary l. The present tenders work about
twelve hours day, and there is traffic
day and night on the Rancocas, which
requires almost constant attention.
The extra expense will be about $50 per
month.
| Mr.. Esham introduced the subject OF
salaries for the members of the County
Board of Elections. He said the latter
appeared to have put in bills as they
pleased, and he thought there should be
an appropriation for this work as in
other cases. Director Davis was request
ed to appoint committee to confer with
the County Board of Elections with the
idea of getting an appropriation fixed.
/ ION this point it might be correct to say
that Mr.. Esham's proposition is in strict
compliance with the law on the subject.
Section $50 of the election laws provides
thus: land the Board of Freeholders in
each county shall include in their tax
levy sum sufficient to pay all the cleo
ton expenses, and a reasonable compen-
sation for the services of the county
boards of elections, the amount of which
shall be fixed by the Board of Free
holders, and the member of said county
board of elections who shall be the sec
rotary thereof, may receive an additional
compensation not exceeding one-third
of the compensation of the individual
members of said board" 1t will be seen
\ by this that it is the duty of the Board
Eof Freeholders to fix the salaries of the
election officers and make an appropri-
alton for that purpose.
Mr.. Hill, who has served most accep-
tably as a member from Palmyra, and
who has been a painstaking and valu-
able member of the finance committee,
read long paper, reviewing the trans
actions of the board during the last
| year, and made some suggestions for
the next year, which, although he would
not be member, might be fairly con-
sidered for the good of the county. He
did not want to be considered as criti-
cising, but meant everything in friend
ly spirit. He referred to the fact that
the road committee and~the supervisor
had $135, 900 at their command for road
work, and now at the end of the year it
Iappears to have all been spent without
lanything on hand for emergencies. He
did not wish to be considered as finding
fault or casting insinuatiops, bur he did
think there was large chance to change
conditions under this branch of the
work. He thought it would be advisa-
BILE to have the director require all mem
bers to give him an idea of what thew
intended to spend. and get his approval
before the work was done. AS it is now
the members from the several townships
and the special committees go ahead
with work without actually knowing
what amounts are at their command.
Mr.. Hill thought the director should re-
ceive salary that would pay him to be
on the job all the time, and he also
! thought systematic auditing of the
county's accounts would be very good
plan.
Director Davis then made the follow
ing remarks:
Gentlemen:
"To-day's meeting marks the last
mile stone in another year. With the
conclusion Of our business this after
noon, the board of freeholders will
! have met for the last time as a board
in the year 1915. In looking back
over the past year we can see mis-
takes innocently made, errors unin-
l tentionally committed; but on the
whole, we are concluding most sue
7 cessful year and want to congratu-
1 late the board on the efficiency of its