New-York tribune., 1900-01-20
NEW-JERSEY NEWS.

There is considerable to be said on both sides
Of the proposition to abolish spring elections.
II is undoubtedly true. to begin with. that
manufacturers and business men generally don't
like more than one election day a year. Not
only the election itself but the campaign pre-
ceding it, interferes with business, and the per-
sons most affected say that year is often
enough to have this disturbance. From the
point of view OF the average taxpayer. strong
argument on the same side is the heavy cost OF
holding elections.
The politicians. however, are not greatly in
1uenced by either Of the arguments outlined
Their eagerness TO have the spring elections
abolished is frankly because of the difficulty OF
getting out the vote a day that is not a
general holiday.
Against the proposed law are all strenuous be-
levers in the principle Of keeping municipal af-
fairs entirely separate from State and National
politics. This class includes q considerab bic eIe-
ment of the independent voters but its exact
strength cannot be gauged.
There are men who vote their respective party
tickets at the November election as a general
thing, and yet who object TO being tied TO party
nominees when it comes to the selection of
Mayor. Board of Works Commissioner or School
Commissioner. How far these men may care TO
go in resenting action that has the effect OF
making independent voting more difficult is
wholly a matter Of conjecture. Much Will de-
pend, Of course, the composition Of the tick
cts. Some politicians of the ostrich variety
think when the tide is running their way that
then is the time to infIct on the public candi-
dates who would be laughed out of the contest
if they stood alone.
General SeweT is not taking any part what
ever in the movement to abolish spring cleo
tions. He does not believe in it; in fact. his
personal opinions 70 the contrary are pretty
strong. His judgment is in favor of having
purely local municipal questions or fights set
tied on their merits and by themselves at a
time when they won't affect anything else and
when anything else won't affect them Indeed.
if the change could be made without much cost
or trouble the General would probably favor
the election of Assemblymen. Senators and Con
gressmen separate entirely from county officials.
But he will not interfere for or against the pro-
posed Anti-Spring Election bill. He will leave
the statesmen in Trenton to fight II out among
themselves. The present outlook is that the bill
will pass.
Under the present law the next census will
make Paterson a first-class city-that is. off,
cially and constitutionany. Paterson is now and
has been for some time a first rate city with
tenth rate government Officially second class.
Regardless Of politics. the men elected TO the
Mayoralty have almost without exception been
able, fearless and honest men, but by the
token the Board Of Aldermen has been a crying
disgrace to the town. IF Paterson becomes a
first class city by reason Of having reached the
one hundred thousand population mark. most
of the power welded by the Aldermen
would devolve upon various commissions-Ex-
else Police and Fire Boards and Boards Of
Works No wonder that the Aldermen. present
and prospective. and the one or two artistic
gentlemen who look after their legal" business
don't want any change made!