The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-19
WANT GROVE PROBED
TAXPAYERS FAVOR VISIT
FROM SENATE COMMITTEE.
Think That Camp Meeting Association
Needs a Good Shaking UP and That
They Have Rights.

OCEAN GROVE, Sept. 19.-An inves-
tigation of the financial affairs of the
Ocean Grove Campmeeting Association
is expected as a result of the feeling
manifested among residents here
against the government of the resort.
10 better carry out their protests
against being taxed in the form of rent
without right to participate in the man
agement of civic affairs. Ocean Growers
have organized the Ocean Grove
Taxpayers League, elected officers and
authorized the executive committee to
frame articles Of incorporation and ap-
ply at Trenton for a charter.
The taxpayers hope by the ircorpora-
ton of the league quickly to get recog-
milton from the association. They r
more anxious than ever, now that they
have beer formally refused the use of
Association Hall for their meetings, to
demand from the association a repre-
sentatioB in the government, end the
Introduction of gas, sewers and other
modern c-onveniences into the town. BY
incorporating they expect also to have
greater weight with the Senate investl-
eating committee, which will probably
be asked to investigate the Ocean Grove
association.
At the meeting on Tuesday night the
Rev. DIR. J. A. Boswell said:
There win likely be an Investigation
made by the Senate committee. We
are unanimously in favor of its coming
here and investigating the Ocean Grove
association. I will be delighted to see
it here; so will you be delighted; so Will
the association. The association should
have nothing to fear. Let the ommlt-
tee come"
The league also heard read several
communications which the secretary
w. c.. Gallagher, had received from Dr.
A. F.. Ballard in answer to questions
the revolters have been asking. In the
letters DR.. Ballard avs hat the asso-
citation will give a respectful reply TO
all questions asked of it. The revolt
ers feel, however, that they are not re-
ceiying respectful replies to their re-
quests. and say, in support of this feel
that the executive committee
eyaded the request FOL, the use OF Asso-
citation Hall. and, by refusing h cltl-
zens a copy of the charter n bylaws,
were not showing good faith. The hrst
letter from DR.. Ballard treated OF the
original purchase of Ocean Grove and
the rentals now paid-for the land. and
Of the association not being to blame
for the non-introduction of gas. The
letter addressed to Mr.. Gallagher, dated
Ocean. Grove, September 16, is as fol-
lows in part:
7 promised you that as soon as l could
find the time / would answer the questons
nf fact concerning Ocean Grove lhvolVeu
in your questions. Regarding ocean %foeu,
the original property was purchased from
The private funds of members OF the asso-
citation and was divided into lots, 1oI
which leases in perpetuity We're purchase4
nv tenants with annual rent charge not
exceeding 5000, constituting legally the
relation Of landlord and tenant. The PROP
erty received a legislative charter empoW.s
ering the association permanently 10 nolu
campmeetings here and giving sufficient
municipal power to enforce the proVlslons
OF the leases and the necessities OF a. camp,
These powers can not by n possibilities
confer the right of taxation, which be
longs exclusively to the TOWNSHIP. county
and State. The rentals received from the
leases have been applied as Iar as IneS
would go to the maintenance or ponce,
lights. streets, and, in Consideration OF
which. the township does not tax the lots
in our enclosure.
The non-introduction OF gas is not
chargeable against the association. In our
early DAYS a contract was made for its
introduction, and n number or our houses
were pjped' when the company failed and
the people almost unanimously asked for
electricity. which was installed. Since that
time the association has twice signed
agreements for Il, which were rendered
void by the companies inserting. after
ward, impossible conditions, one of when
was that at the expiration of the fran
chise of ten years, the association should
not be at liberty to contract with any
other company. Another was an excessive
ly high price for gas. which could not be
lowered except as they chose, for all the
period Of franchise. and the responsibility
Of keeping books. collecting funds, etc.
Since then nothing feasible has been pre-
scented. II seems to mi that all Incidental
questions are answered by our relation
of landlord and tenant. They were an
ewered to Mr.. Boswell by me in the pres
ence Of the Rev. DR., Scott, to whom l
refer YOU.
In citizenship the township alone had
political power. All of citizenship OF
Ocean Grove is lodged there, both for land
lord and tenant, lessor and lessee.