The Jersey City News

HEALTH AND POLICE

A Scavenger Firm Complains That a Rival Receives Tips on Work.

At the meeting of the City Health Board which preceded that of the Police Board yesterday afternoon, President Feeney read a communication he had received from Moser, Puster & Son, complaining that some one connected with the Health Department was discriminating in favor of other firms. In the communication it was stated that on November 27 a representative of the firm of Dean, Luck & Co., called on a Mrs. Hackmeyer, of No. 207 Provost street, and tried to canvass the work by all sorts of threats and intimidations, at the same time insisting that she had received a notice from the Police Department to comply with certain sanitary requirements. The lady had, at the time received no notice, but did receive one two days later. The writer objected seriously to what he termed "tip" giving business, and claimed it had been going on for the past two years.

Commissioner Benson said he had received several complaints of a similar character. Health Inspector Benjamin did not deny that such was being done by some one in the Department, but said it was impossible to detect the guilty party. He suggested that he be furnished with stamps and that all notices hereafter be sent out through the mails sealed instead of by attaches of the Department.

It was decided to investigate fully the complaint lodged by Moser, Puster & Co., and representatives of that firm will be sub-poenaed to appear before the Board at its next meeting, a month hence.

The Health Inspector's report for the month showed that 99 nuisances had been complained of; 73 had been abated, and 95 notices had been sent out. The total number of nuisances complained of and abated were 172. The inspector further reported that during the month 8 cases of contagious diseases had come under his notice, 5 of which were scarlet fever and 3 of typhoid.

The Police Board increased the inspector's salary to $2,500, to take effect on January 1. Captain Christie Smith, who has been detailed as inspector, will take charge of the active detective force in addition to his duties as inspector. The change is to take effect at eight o'clock a. m. on January 1. All the detectives connected with the department will be obliged to report to the inspector at half-past eight every morning. They will then return to their various precincts unless the inspector shall have some special duties for them to perform. The inspector was given full power to call in any or all the detectives for special duty at any time.

Chief Murphy informed the Board that he had suspended Chanceman Burroughs while the charge of being intoxicated was pending.

The Board decided to ask the Finance Board for $7,184 to make up the deficiency in last year's appropriation for street lighting.

The payroll of the Department for the last half of December, amounting to $11,809.59, was passed. The sick and pension roll amounted to $175.74.

Commissioner Benson complained that the sick and pension roll figures were creeping up.