The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-03
CIVICS CLUBS PLANS
OUTLINES IMPROVEMENTS
FOR THE ORANGES.
At First Fall Session Last Night the
Body Went on Record for Utilities
Bill Like Hughes Law.

With a large attendance of members the
Civics Club of the Oranges resumed ITS
sessions last night after the usual vaca-
tion interim. A number of important
matters we're before the body, and the
resume Of the accomplishments of the
body in the past with a prospectus of the
future work of the club were given by the
Rev. Adoiph Roeder and a report of the
committee on government of Orange by
commission presented by Thomas S. Crane
was read.
Resolutions were passed calling upon the
two houses of the Legislature to enact a
public utilities commission measure on the
lines OF the Hughes law In New York and
favoring a strong civil service law.
The resolutions and preamble passed
follow:
Whereas, The State conventions of
both political parties nave adopted plat
forms declaring in favor of various mat
tiers of legislation for which the Civic
Club of the Oranges has stood committed.
which include an efficient public utilities
measure, direct primary law and civil
service law, and
Whereas. The Legislature being in ses-
sion ana the Senate In the control of the
republican party and the Assembly in
the control of the Democratic party and
both political organizations being COM
mitted to practically the same measures
by their platforms; therefore be it
Resolved, That we urge upon both
Houses OF the Legislature the desirability
OF enaeting a public utilities commission
measure, which shall conform TO the
Hughes law OF New York and not be an
evasion, as Is the Hillery bill favored by
lne senate. and we urge further the adj
Visibility of the Legislature removing all
impediments to the successful operation of
the law such as raised by the learned at
torney-general in his opinion recently filed
on the railroad commission act passed last
winter; be 1t further
Resolved, That we urge upon the Degis-
lature the advisability of e~nacting a civil
service law which shall be adequate and
not loosely drawn 80 as to be a measure
of advantage to any particular party or
and the speedy passage of n
direct nomination law in accordance with
the measures which have been enacted
ana successfully employed In many States.
And we urge further upon the Legislature
that the time for attempting party advan-
by either house is now passed
Ihonas s.. Crane spoke on the adj
Visibility of the government of Or
ange by a commission, giving ex-
amples of the plan as used In other
places. Mr.. Crane explained the method MS
ollowed in the city of Des Moines by
winch a commission made up of the Mayor
md four Couneilmen had entire charge of
city government, with the exception of
'chool matters. which were in the hands Of
he Board of Education. h commission,
ne said, had the power of recall and of mi
.iative and referendum. and the plan
worked TO the entire satisfaction of thtl
Andrew J.. Van Ness reported on the
llan for the symmetrical numbering of tho
lreets OF the Oranges, and explained the
workings Of the system. He also stated
the municipal bodies of the three Or
ihges seemed to favor the idea, and that n
ont meeting of these bodies would be held
u me near future for the purpose of talk
ny some action In tho pNo44Ap
Inc prospectus of the work of the club
Ior the coming season was given by the
Rev. Mr.. Roeder. After r~eclting the ac-
comp!ishments the club has assisted in
bringing about. Mr.. Roeder said:
We beg to place before you the work
planned for the ensuing year, in its local
1etalls; and to ask your continued CO.
operation. 1t was thought that the club
would do its best work, II It gave its larg1
sSt and most sustained attention to two or
snree or the items set forth below, while
slVlng the others such attention as win be
wa rranted and c~onsonant with the hest !
work along all lines.
IN local work the club proposes to give
to:
]. The numbering of houses in the Or
according to some system that is
and practical.
/ 4 me aging or Improvement of side
Walks. especially on Lincoln avenue. from |
Main to Highland; Central avenue from
essex to Scotland; William street. High
street. from White to Park avenue; Main
.. The adjustment of matters on Park
venue, so that the Essex County Park
commission may begin the contemplated
improvements at an early date.
a. Further consideration of a municinal
light plant.
.. The application of Tarvia or other
compound to our streets and roads, as
demonstrated by the South Orange vii
street. -" ""u '"S
o. Inc creation of a new charter look
ng to the contro, of municipal affairs
~ = commission and the CONSEQUENT with
travail of most of its work from partisan
-. The question of garbage disnosal and
the share to be borne by Orange in the
trunk sewer.
BESIDE such cooperation with other
ilVlc Organizations and with the New
Jersey State Civic Federation in the at
OF useful ends as will naturally