Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1898-02-23
THE COMMITTEE :
ASKED TO EXPLAIN.
Tmo Citizens Express Them
selves Vigorously.
Hp0H IHE City GOVERNMENT MOVEMENT
UPON THE CITY GOVERNMENT MOVEMENT.
COUPLE OF cHURcH-GoING coUNCILMEN
ASKED TO GIVE A REASON FOR THEIR
SUDDEN CHANGE OF FoPINIoN--wERET THEY
INsINcERE OR MERELY BUNcoED?
ga Citizen's'' vigorous Inquiries.
PLEAsANryILLE, N. J., Feb. 18, 18s

PLEASANTVlLLE, N. D., reD. 10, 1000
Dear Mr.. Editor:-I read in your issue
of The Press, dated February 16, an
article, ga bit of local history" with
| astonishment. First before proceeding
with my inquiry ] beg to say that the
people would appreciate the information
of the advantages and disadvantages of
| a city form of government and while it
would be unfair to ask you to publish
the law yet | would be glad to have
some light on the subject.
If you will kindly allow me some space
in your valuable paper / would like to
ask some questions and if they seem a
little foolish pardon me as l am not up
on these matters. Council, some time
ago, after hearing satisfactory reasons
given for o change in form Of govern
ment, the great advantages, etc of the
same, appointed q committee to look
after the matter. This committee was
composed of three members of it's
own body, viz: Elphra Sooy, Samuel
Price and Robert Zane, and three citizens
G. Fl. Jenness. l.. FL. Barrett and j. c.
Farr. Meetings were called at once.
The committee organized with yourself
as chairman. A bill was drawn after
due consideration, taken up and pre-
sented to Mr.. Ashley by yourself and Mr..
Farr. 1t was introduced accordingly
and took its regular course and passed
second reading. All this time no organ
lied effort made against it's passage. No
opposition practically had shown it
self.
1t is well-known fact that we would
have two Freeholders under a city
form of government, something that
Mr.. Barrett has been struggling Tor, for
many years. The license question was
to be handed over to our own manage
ment, consequently the whole church
was q unit for the change. The only
reason SO far put forth is it would make
two wards. | fail to see the point.
Every body were getting what they did
not only desire but just what was
needed. What is it, q sbunco" game
Did the committee not know what they
wanted Is the creation of two wards
to prevent such great privileges coming
our way Is q little expense to be
allowed to continue our non-representa-
ton on the Board of Freeholders and to
prevent us from having the right to vote
on rum or no rum What does this
mean Mr.. ZINE? What does it mean
Mr.. Sooy Have you been deceived ?
What have you discovered that will be
iIjurious to the cause of temperance in q
city form of government ? Have you
walked into q trap? Did the people
who signed the petitions praying for this
change at the 70 icitation of the COM
mittee petition Mr.. Ashley to withdraw
the bill also, or did Mr.. Ashley take it for
granted that the signers were subjects of
the committee I? If SO desire to inform
him that there is one who signed for the
privilege of rights we never had but
were to get. Where are the Prohibition
lists ? Where are the people who care
for their town Dark streets, speak
we are to look for.
Mr.. Editor, we have had your expla-
nation and we are entitled to the same
from each member of the committee, and if
they do not take the paper please see
that copy of this communication
reaches them. 1t may be they can justify
their position but they surely treated
you discourteOusly as well as every other
person who signed their petitions, and
every minister OF the gospel. the
church they represent, and every member
thereof they have slapped in the face.
aye, WORSE, DeJTdyeu, bOlu Out,
sbuncoedv because Of their trust in Mr..
Zane and Mr.. Sooy. Truly these two
gentlemen did not know they were
doing what they did. The thought or
prospect OF the church having voice in
the local government was too much. 1t
would seem Judas has got in his work
somewhere. That the church and her off
spring has been betrayed into the hands
OF sinful men there can be no question.
For what good can come from q move
ment that will preventonefrom choosing
good for evil The people of Pleasant
Vile are long suffering but when shall
these conditions cease
Brother Luffbarry, Bro. Jewett, Bro.
Douglass, Bro. Steckel, Bro. Craig and
Bro. Oliver, your labors though crowned
with abundant success have received a
stunning blow. The W. C. T. q. have
labored hard. They have done good
work. They too will suffer the same
shock as the church.
Very truly yours,
A CITIZEN.