The Republican journal., 1908-05-14
SOME CITY MATTERS.

patronage and the taxpayers money
have been used to promote the ends of
a single individual who has no property
or business interests in Belfast. One
thing it does not contain, and that is an
itemized statement of the monies ex-
pended for roads and bridges. Such
statement was furnished by Street
Commissioner Wilson last year, but for
reasons known only to the mayor 1t
was not published with the reports OF
the other city officials. The journal
published the report in full, not only IN
Justice to Mr.. Wilson, but because the
taxpayers have right to know how
their money has been expended.
In his address last spring the mayor
said: "Citizens in suburban districts
have informed me that if rock crusher
is placed in their district they will sup
ply rock to the crusher Free" etc. The
crusher was bought, taken mile OUT
of town, and it was currently reported
that 500 was paid for rock with which
to begin operations. When this, was
brought to the attention Of the taxpay-
ers the mayor denied it, characterlzlng
the statement as a campaign lie and
and saying that the 500 was paid for
rental for two years of the ground on
which the crusher stood. Yet the
auditors report contains this Item:
jackson, John G., stone, $780, In a
short time the crusher was moved to a
lot on Congress street, for which the
city paid $1,000. What would be
thought of an individual or a business
concern that resorted to such methods?
But it was the tax payers money, and
that made difference.
While ostensibly this lot on Congress
street was bought as location for the
rock crusher-for which it is wholly
unsuited, as it is on high ground Win
no available stone near at hand-it was
generally understood by those interest
ed to be intended for ball ground, and
the city paid one thousand dollars that
the mayor might gain the support OF
base ball enthusiasts, and the "boys,
for his continuance in office. At the
April meeting of the city government
the following order was passed.
Ordered, That the High school and Y.
NJ. A. be granted the privilege of using
such portion Of the city land on the
westerly side of Congress street as shall
not be required for city purposes, and
that they be authorized to make such
improvements as they may require with
out expense to the city.
On the strength of this the ball play
ers circulated a subscription paper and
obtained funds from citizens with which
to build fence enclosing the greater
part of the grounds, and later they pro-
posed to build a grand stand. 1t will
be noticed that the use of the land had
been granted them Internationally ex-
cept that the improvements were to be
without expense to the city, But at
the May meeting of the city govern
ment, the following order, suggested by
the mayor, was passed in the board of
aldermen:
Ordered, That the committee on city
property be instructed to lease to the
trustees of the Y. M. A. such portion
of the city's land on the southwest OF
Congress street as may not be required
for city purposes for term OF 5 years,
at an annual rental of $25 per year, re
serving the right for the High and
Grammar schools to use the ground for
athletic purposes when not IN use by
the Y. NJ. A.
Another order was passed by the
aldermen instructing the mayor to
draw his order for $25 for the Y. M. A,
said sum to be expended in the I'M
provement of the grounds on the west
erly side of Congress street. The coun-
Gil non-concurred as to both orders
Thus does the mayor play fast and loose
with the ball players, giving them a
privilege one month and demanding
pay for it the next month.
The report before our recent city
election that the mayor had promised
the fire department steam fire engine
was Indignantly denied, but if not made
in set terms there was no doubt an I'M
Outstanding to that effect, with view
to obtaining the support of the tiremen
at the polls. In his address this year
the mayor said: Il fully concur with
the chief engineer in recommending
the purchase of a medium weight steam
fire engine and he recommended the
purchase of second hand one. (And,
by the way there has been no explana-
ton as yet as to how the city obtained
anew steam road roller when it only
bought and paid for second hand one.)
Having gone thus far toward redeem
ing his before election promises as to
buying a steam fire engine the mayor
sought to throw the responsibility upon
the citizens by circulating two petit
tions, one for and one against this
proposition. Ii the response was favor
able he could go ahead, and silence
criticism, if any, by saying he was only
carrying out the expressed wish OF the
Il h0