The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-04

adopted by the people there was no im-
piled suggestion that It should be car
ried out forthwith, and, therefore,, 1t may,
IL necessary, be deferred until the bonds
can be marketed to advantage.
Home Rule and Excise.
my position on the home rule and ex-
else question is almost too well known
to need restatement. ! have contended
from the first that justice demands a law
which will permit each municipality to
settle the excise and other purely local
questions in accordance with the wishes of
its citizens. This attitude has been re-
peatedly misrepresented, and 1 am inclined
to believe at times wilfully so, but I sub
init that 1t is by all means the fairest
and most equitable, and that it goes close
to the fundamentals Of democracy. Laws
affecting customs and habits forced upon
one section by others totally dissimilar
in opinion and pursuits must always he
provocative Of far more mischief than the
evils, real or imaginary, at which they are
aimed.
Constructing New Charter.
During the year, acting under a resolu-
tion of the Common Council, I appointed
five commissioners, to whom were added
three from the Council. with the object of
having a revision of the city charter pre-
pared and submitted to the Legislature.
i III IplllillsSlOieIs udNt htNpAtu miuAh IN
and labor to the investigation of the best
features of the organic laws Of other mu-
inequalities, both in the United States and
abroad. They have now, l understand, be-
gun actual constructive work upon a
charter for this city, which. whatever
else it may do, will tend greatly to sim
plify the methods and lower the costs Of
the administration of our municipal govern
ment. They have taken under consldera-
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time to time for the improvement of the
scheme of local government, and I am
confident great benefit to the city will
result from their deliberations.
Duplication in Charities.
II venture to suggest to your honorable
body a study of the methods now employed
in the administration of the municipal
charities, with q view to as close a CO.
operation as possible with the body known
as the Bureau of Associated Charities. As
the matter now stands l am convinced
that much of the work of investigation,
and this is costly work, is duplicated, the
applicants for relief visiting both the city's
Poor and Aims Department and the
bureau. Furthermore, it is a fact that
official action must in nearly all cases be
limited to the simple giving of relief and
not extend to the uplifting Of the subject
and the placing of him on a self-support-
ing basis. Some steps toward cooperation
have already been taken, but 1 believe
that a closer harmony and unity of work
could be secured.
Value of Fairgrounds.
Under a law passed by the last Legis-
lature l appointed three Playground Com
missioners, who after securing the neces-
sary funds from Common Council insti-
tuted a free playground for children in
AA.- e H. N-rIA - H
The use which has been made of this by
the children of the neighborhood and the
manifest benefits which they have received
therefrom have demonstrated to my mind
the value of the experiment. 1 therefore
recommend that as liberal provision as
prudence shall dictate be made for the
requirement of the necessary land and the
fitting up Of other Fairgrounds in other
sections Of the city. In this connection 1t
has occurred to me that a large central
playground so arranged as to provide for
several of the more ambitious outdoor
games would be highly desirable. l was a
witness of the games of the public school
children on the Orange Oval last spring,
and the spectacle was one of the most
impressive and pleasurable that 1 had ever
seen. l think. largely because of what
they saw on this occasion, the authorities
of East Orange purchased this land and
propose to hold it for a playgroundNfo for
the children of that city. With a large
tract such as l suggest, properly fitted up
in this city, Newark school children would
not nave to go away from their own home
to hold their games. Moreover, such a
field would afford proper amusement for
the children of the age to which the Or
binary associations of the city are particu-
larly dangerous.
Salary Based on Merit,
During the year l have been called upon
to approve Or disapprove a number of
measures involving the pay of subordinate
officials. I think it improper that the
Mayor should be asked to decide uch
questions. In my opinion the pay of sub
ordinates of this class should be based
upon merit and length of service with rea-
sonable maximums and minimums, such
as might be laid Town In a general salary
ordinance. 1t would be advisable in my
opinion to make the formal approval of
the chief of department a prerequisite to
the increase of the salary of any subordi-
nate.
Departments Evade Law.
II have discovered that a number of the
departments of the city government have
been evading the law which provides that
any supplies or work in excess Of $500
shall not be contracted for without adver-
Using. unless there shall exist a pressing
emergency demanding the same. In some
departments the evasions Of this law have
been so continuous and so persistent as to
amount to an abuse. This statute was en-
acted In order that cities might obtain
free competition with resultant low prices
and other benefits. Such an evasion as /
have indicated is vicious in principle and
Is the least of the evils to be APP
pretended therefrom. In order that there
may be no possible ground for misunder-
standing on this subject | give notice now
that whenever / shall detect such viola
lions in the future l shall refuse to APP
prove The warrants for the work or the
supplies involved.
THE need of public comfort stations must
apparent to anybody familiar with the
city. | recommend that stations be estab-
lished in various parts of the city and
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