Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1908-07-17
CITY QUESTION STFRS
SOUTH AMB0Y, WITH
INDICATION FAVORABLE
There Will Probably Be Some Op-
position, However, at Special EIeC-
ton Across River Next Tuesday.
BOROUGH OR THIRD CLASS CITY

There is an impression prevalent
among some OF the citizens of the
borough of South Amboy that If 1t is
changed to third class city, they
will have to pay exorbitant taxes and
In many other ways be subject to
heavy expense. The fumor has
spread rapidly and while most of the
principal citizens declare that the
borough would be greatly benefited
by becoming a city, in the minds of
a few, there are likely to be many
votes against it at the special cleo
ton next Tuesday.
A staff correspondent of the NEWS
visited the borough yesterday after
noon and interviewed a number of
the prominent people all of whom
heartily favored the change.
One man said that while he did
not think large vote would be cast,
he felt sure that the majority Of the
number polled, would be for the
City At least ten of the citizens and
borough officials made the same state
ments, although one remarked that
the men who live on the Pennsyl-
vania railroad property would vote
against 1t because they fear that If
the borough becomes city, the rail-
road will raise their rents. The same
official, who did not care to have his
name mentioned, said that he was
sure the majority of the vote would
be for the City, as nearly every Pol
ish voter would favor 1t. One reason
is that licenses held by one or two
of their countrymen were turned
down.
Everyone in the borough is talk
ing "City" and at the present time
1t is the Vital Question" The spec
ial election next Tuesday will start
at o'clock in the morning and last
until Z o'clock in the evening.
\ Views of Prominent Citizens.
Postm aster DeGraw when inter-
viewed said Il am heartily in favor
of it and think the majority of the
people are likewise. Many have
wrong impression and think that we
are going to have additional expense,
but they are wrong. Now we have
three election districts but the en-
tire council could be elected from
one of these, while If we have three
wards, as we probably will have, If
we become city, every section would
be represented by two men. Then
the Board of Education would only
have six members, instead of nine as
at present"
Mr.. DeGraw said that he is always
ready to back anything that is an
improvement and that in his opinion
the change would be for the best.
Mayor William Birmingham re-
fused to be interviewed but admitted
he thought the change would be a
good one. Mr.. Birmingham has
views on the subject, but said he
feared that he would be misunder-
stood, so was very reticent about
speaking.
Councilman Dewan, who was one
of the signers for the bill, said he
was in favor Of the change and
thought 1t would be a benefit to the
people. Mr.. Dewan said that with
many, he knew the idea was, that
there would be more expense.
Former Mayor Ambrose Tregan-
owan said I'VE cannot improve or
grow unless we are under some other
government than the borough law
In other words we have advanced as
far as we can as a borough, and are
practically up against a stone wall.
/ am In favor of the change and will
do all l can to support 1t and so will
every other intelligent citizen. But
that is only one class; the other class
will not vote for 1t because they
don't understand it-you know some
people are born fools and will die
fools. You see, some are not ac-
customed to improvements and can't
see the need of them. We would
have better control over trolley
franchises and contracts and would
also grant all of the local saloon Ii
censes which would be a benefit. II
say again that l am in favor of it
and / can't say enough on the SUBJ
ject
John A. Coan is Of the opinion
that, "since there would be an asses
sor for each ward instead of one for
the whole town, this would result in
a more complete assessment on prop
erty escaping taxation, and the re-
suit would be that the burden of tax
alton being more evenly distributed
the cost per person would be to that
extent reduced Naturally the work
being divided the perquisities of the
Office should be divided also, and
there is no reason why there should
be any increase In the salary now
paid that officer The same applies
TO the office of collector which in a
lhird-class city is divided into two Of
flces, one person being collector and
another treasurer. At this moment
/ am unable to recall one salaried
office in the roster of a third-class
city that does not exist in our pres
ent borough Like the borough act,
the act under which South AmboyI
rs a city would be governed makes