The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-10-30
Mount Holly to be Recommended.

mount holy 10 De incorporated.
Unless there is great change in senti
ment the Township of Northampton will
soon join the ranks of other similar insti
tutions which have become antiquated and
we will have the title of Borough" This
was decided upon at a meeting held in
the Court House on Wednesday evening.
| The original intention in calling this meet
ing was to discuss township affairs and to
discover, if possible, why Northampton,
with its greatly increased valuation of
property has not proportionate reduction
in the tax rate.
Joseph r. Gillian was made chairman
and Clarence I'll. Polhemus acted as secre-
tary. There was general discussion about
the methods of spending money and sever
al questions were asked respecting the APP
preparations, but nobody appeared to have
any definite data on the subject.
With view of getting something tangi-
BILE to work on George Rendell moved that
a committee of five citizens be appointed
TO get all possible information from the
township committee with regard to inan-
cial affairs, to report Wednesday evening
This was adopted, but before the COM
mittee was appointed Mr.. Polhemus
thought this would be good time to dis
cuss the subject of incorporation.
Judge Gaskill spoke on the question,
giving much information. Hesaid he was
heartily in favor of the project aud had
intended, after the election, when people
would have more time, to call meeting
to consider this subject. He did not think
city government was desirable, that sys-
tenn being too cumbersome and expensive
aud the laws governing borough incorpor- !
alton being much less complicated In |
townships the officials are too often men |
who have main eye to the salaries, which, |
while an object to some, are not sufficient |
ly high to induce others to struggle for
election. In a borough government there
will not be any salaries paid to the Mayor
and council. The other officials are the
same as we now have, their salaries being
under the control of the council.
There would be six members of council,
the Mayor being member with a vote in
case of tie All meetings of the body
would be open to the public and all APP
preparations would be made at the meet
ings, subject to the approval Of the Mayor
and subject to his veto. Judge Gaskill |
said he believed there would be plenty of
good men who would be willing to serve
the people without pay, and he thought
the new form of government would be
great benefit. In response to question
about granting licenses for the sale of
liquor, the Judge said that power would
remain with the courts so that subject
would not be factor in elections
Mr.. Polhemus then offered a resolution
that committee of five be appointed to
arrange for the incorporation of the
Borough of Mount Holly.
This was adopted with great applause,
and the chair appointed the following
committee: Judge Gaskill, Charles Evan
Merritt, Frederick H. Lee, Josiah W.
Evan, Micajah E. Matlack
The project is being thoroughly dis
cussed by the citizens and there is appar-
emily no dissatisfaction over the move
ment. The Camden Courier, in comment
ing on the subject, has this to say:
''The people of Mount Holly have at
last concluded that borough government
would be much better for them than the
present township committee rule SO long
in vogue. They are wise, for it gives
them what they long ago should have had
home rule. Under borough government
the people of Mount Holly will haye the
exclusive right to say what they deem
best for the promotion of the community
interest, and get it. The township govern
ment has not been satisfactory, judging
from the action of the town-meeting call
ing for an investigation of the records of
the township committee, in order to find
out whether its action in the past has been
according to law and for the best interests
of the people. Mount Holly is pleasant
town, and ought to make more
rapid progress under self government than
it has under the present system