New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-11
NEWARK AT THE BOSSES MERCY.

county fair.
NEWARK At THE BOSSES MERCY.
| The citizens of Newark are making heroic
effort to free themselves from the rule of I'M
scrupulous Democratic bosses who have bound
| the city hand and foot and have prostituted to
their own selfish ends every department. Of
municipal activity. The thraldom in which the
! foremost city in New-Jersey is held is tho
logical, and, indeed, the intended act OF the
Democratic Legislature of that State. Once
governed by the ordinary municipal authorities,
| Mayor and a Common Council, the direct and
chosen representatives of the people, Newark is
now the easy prey OF five so-called Commission
ers, who make up the Board of Works, and who
are appointed by the Mayor. The law creating
these officials, to whom, with extra clerks and
extra officers, S24, 900 is henceforth to be paid
yearly by the people of Newark, not to mention
an extra account of $4,000 which falls upon
the taxpayers for expenditures due to other
operations of the new law was passed by
Democratic Legislature. The monstrous evil Of
the legislation forcing these grievous burdens
upon the peop'e of Newark is made clearer
when the fact is known that the bill pro-
vidng for these revolutionary changes and de-
signed to transfer the government OF the city
from the peoples representatives to board OF
five men, irresponsible and Enthusiastically, was
rushed through the Legislature in ten minutes
and without debate, although the provisions Of
| the bill covered sixty three pages This was
the facie work of complaisant House and
Senate, ready to do the bidding of INSCRIPTIONS
bosses, one of whom was Governor Albeit
A glance at the provisions of the Board of
Works bill will show the enormous power con-
| ferred on the five Commissioners of the Board
of Works of Newark. That law clothes them
with arbitrary power over public parks, light
| ing, streets, sewers, sidewalks, water works,
docks. wharves, bridges, city loans and the con-
demnation of land. These are only few of
the powers vested in this extraordinary body.
| The commissioners may run locomotives
through the streets if they wish to do so ; they
may regulate the use of the streets for railways
and steam gncs they may provide for cross
| ings at grade or otherwise: they may permit
elevated roads at their discretion, with as many
| encroachments as suit their fancy, and they have
entire power over the streets, regardless OF
abuttng property owners. All these powers
belong to them without appeal to the real source
of the Mayors veto to hinder their schemes
Enga gements involving the CORPORATE name and
credit of the city may be entered into freely
and this permission is so vaguely worded, and
pulposely so, as to cover almost any proposition.
The Common Council is by this law shorn of
all prerogatives deprived of all duties except
nominal and routine performances. That body
cannot even contract for street lamp-post; it
cannot maintain the public parks; it has no
power of revising the acts of the Board Of
Works it has no right to interfere in the
5000, 600 contract which the city has en-
tered into for new water supply; in short it
has none of the rights usually enjoyed by
municipal councils chosen by popular vote.
| Where once the Common Council of Newark
had the directing of the expenditure of over a
million dollars yearly for the municipal obliga-
tons of Newark it now has the beggarly sum OF
S3S 900 to dispense to the poor account and
for the mechanical collection of taxes. On the
other hand, the Board Of Works, five men, have
within their absolute grasp almost 81 ,2500 600,
which they can expend without the least check
whatever, as the treasurer Of the city is re-
duired to honor the warrant of the President
Of the Board.
These are some OF the facts which give alarm
to the people of Newark, irrespective of party.
Self government has disappeared utterly in the
rule of five, and with worthless, incompeter1
Mayor as the only guard over the city's interests
the outlook is not only gloomy, but appalling.
These are the facts, too, which have led to the
big revolt of the citizens, who have determined
to show at the charter election next Tuesday
their disgust at Democratic usurpation, and their
desire for emancipation from ring rule. The
Board of Works is really on trial, and Newark
citizens will show by their votes next week
whether they will approve or repudiate the
vicious and iniquitous legislation which brought
it into existence.
Luckily, the Republicans have nominated q
candidate of unusual strength in Herman Leh-
bach, the ex-Congressman from the Newark
District, whose integrity and independence are
beyond temptation. He has entered into the
campaign most vigorously, despite personal
preferences which would have kept him aloof
from the struggle, and has aroused the people
to a sense of their danger by vigorous exposition
of the principles involved in the campaign. His
candidacy has won to his support thousands of
citizens who place every confidence in his hon
esty and ability His competitor, Joseph f..
Haynes, the present Mayor, is a weak tool of the
bosses, and derives his strength mainly from
the beer element, with which he is on terms Of
rare intimacy. The dignity of the city suffers
from any administration headed by Haynes, and
from his weakness and subserviency the honor
and the credit of the city are IN danger of con-
slant and successful assault.