The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-19
DEAL, SAYS MAYOR
SHoENTHAL HITS COUNCIL
IN POLITICAL SPEECH.
Orange Executive Claims City Was Bun
coed by Republican Officials in Pur-
chase of New Fire Truck.

Mayor Isaac Shoenthal of Orange made
several sensational charges against the
Orange Common Council which has n Re-
publican majority, in an address he de-
iivsred last night at a Democratic mass
meeting held at Washington and Bradford
streets. Orange. Speaking on the recent
purchase of a new $4,000 fire truck, the
executive alleged that the deal for its
purchase was mace in a Turkish bath
house in Newark.
the last meeting of the Common
Council it was conclusiVely shown that
Council will not hesitate to falsify facts
in order to deceive the people, he stated.
Il refer TO the proposed purchase of q
new fire truck, which l vetoed because 1t
was proposed to pay out $500 more than
was necessary. | consider this matter a
public scandal. l have in my possession
data to prove that in this scheme the Re-
publican Council was deliberately attempt
ing to niulct the city of $500. 1t was
falsely stated in the Republican platform,
as well as on the floor of the Council
.tltude in the matter. The statement is
utterly false. For some reason unknown
to me the chairman of the fire committee
was very anxious 10 have me withdraw
my message. l refused to do so, and told
him and the fire committee that | would
sign a resolution to readVertise for bids,
as | had been assured that lower figures
would be given. The committee did NOT
readvertise and my attitude remains un-
changed.
II relterate what | said in my message
that l will not stand for the city being
mulcted and this attitude | intend to MAIN
tain.
THE Fire Department of the city is be-
ing outrageously managed. The city is
paying $500 a year for the rental of a fire
engine. This engine has been in n corner
of the Garfield street engine house for a
full year. 1t is not kept in commission for
instant use, but is there in the position of
-, ,ttnl fIot Bns haott pInoaa in atnrut m
1t has been used but once since it was
hired. 1t is ridiculous for the city TO be
compelled to pay rental under such condi-
tons when we could buy Il new engine
and nave it in actual use for 5000.
by purchasing an engine for s.. 900 the
city would save money. The interest on
that sum is only $3.50 Il year; but We are
now paying 5000 Il year FOR an ngine that
is not ours, and that is not used.
I'm the fire and police departments the
Common Council is attempting to continue
these departments in politics to the detrl-
ment OF the service and the city. L
have endeavored to establish fire and po-
lice boards for the purpose of removing
both departments from political influence,
but all my nominations, except two, have
been rejected by the Council.
The Republican party IN its platform
indorses this attitude OF the Council and
condemns me, as 1T says, for refusing TO
send in for confirmation the names of men
of standing and repute in this community
suggested to him by those having the best
interests of the city at least. The in
ference from this Is an insult to the men
l have nominated. l have nominated none
but men of standing and repute. No one
can justly say that these men are not rep
r~esentative citizens, and the real reason
the Council will not confirm is that they
wish to continue the fire and police de-
partments under political control.
1T is through the action OF the epuDn
can Council that the city is today without
a municipal lighting plant. Their declara-
ton in their platform for such a plant Is
not sincere. At the time1 pressed the sub
iect before the Common Council, two ways
Of proceeding were considered. One was TO
proceed under the Jones act by submitting
the matter TO a vote OF the people, and
the other was TO go ahead at once and
advertise for bids4 At that time l sent a
message tc the Council urging that the
Jones act be followed. | pointed out in
my message at that time that there was a
serious doubt as to the legality of proceed
ing at once to advertise for bids without
adopting the Jones act. l insisted that the
safe way was to adopt the Jones act. In
spite of this the Council refused to pro-
coed under the Jones act, and l am salts
fed now that some of the councilmen
then understood well enough that the pro-
ceeding would be an act thrown IN court
and the action taken 10 advertise for Dds
was merely to placate public sentiment and
put off the requirement of a municipal
plant"
extravaganza in the water department;
that the city engineer is not an industrious
official, and that his office is carelessly
managed. He said that the city has al
ready spent $34s.0OO for improvements to
the water system, and that before the
work is finished it will have cost more
than 800, 600 over the original estimate of
S265, 600.
Leader Edward S. Perry of the Repub-
lican majority in the Common Council
said today that he knew of no deal" in
the purchase of the fire truck. He said he
had gone to IA Turkish bath, and that lit
would be a good thing for the Mayor to
do the same