Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-10-13
ONE MANS VIEW.

Your correspondent a few days ago
gave to the NEWS an article refer
ring to the sewering of our town.
This was not done with the intention
oil inviting any controversy, but the
main object was to call the attention
to the fact that the taxpayers OF the
town were complaining Of the burden
of the taxes upon them under exist
ing circumstances, but We noticed in
Yesterdays Citizen an article which
properly construed, would say what
business had your reporter to say
anything about this matter. 1t might
have been added, as your reporter
did not directly pay any taxes in the
borough, he ought to keep still. In
the first place we would ask, are the
sewers that we have in operation at
the present time more sanitary and
less offense than the worst open gut
ters in town? We don't believe there
was a more offensive place in town
to be found than at the corners where
the water found its way into the sew
ers that are in operation at the pres
ent time.
Is it well for the citizens of the
town to petition the council and call
an election for the voters to vote to
sewer the town when the voters, II
they vote for sewering, vote blindly?
WHY not have the petition to give
some definite idea of where and how
the town is to be severed. That is to
saw, in what streets the sewers are to
be constructed and whether they are
to be strictly sanitary sewers or
whether they are to be surface and
sanitary sewers combined; this in an
important consideration. If we must
and are are ready to sewer h town,
let us do as at first was uggested in
the NEWS, If we petition the
ell to call an election for a speclnc
that, and that alone, must be
voted on. If we petitioned the coun-
Gil to call a special election to sewer
Stevens avenue the council could not
call an election to sewer the town.
Now sewering the town means, II 1t
means anything, every street in the
town, and after the vote is cast the
citizens are entirely at the mercy OF
the powers that be, as to the streets
that will be severed and the kind OF
sewers that will be put in. There are
matters for consideration. For in
stance, If every street is not to be
severed it would act unfairly to some
of our citizens who would have their
proportion of taxes to pay and be in
the same condition they are at pres
emit, and again | repeat the question,
Are we in condition financially to
sewer every street in the borough
with our taxes at present nearly z per
cent? We ask these questions in all
fairness, not with the view to con-
troyersy This matter of sewers Is
almost inexhaustive if we attempt
to argue all the points connected with
1t.
In conclusion we will only call the
attention of the voters to a few more
facts in the case. Who will directly
and indirectly pay for the sewering?
The small property holders and the
non property holders, the mar that
owns a house and lot will pay for
what he is worth, but / hear someone
say, do you mean to say that the man
that is wealthy won't pay his tax?
No. assuredly not, but the man h a
has a dozen houses, more or less,
means and will make his tenants pay
rents to secure him the interest OF the
money he spends in improvements on
the property he rents, And he holds
the reins in hands to make his ten
ants do so. Now there are few ten
ants but feel that rents in u bor-
ough are burdensome, then why
should we vote to make our burdens
heavier when many men and very
many at that, in our borough do not
average over $40 per month. Broth
err Eorkingman, if we are compelled
tessvote in this matter, let us vote
fight and not add to our burdens.