The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-02
ADVISES ECONOMY
MONEY REFORM URGED BY
WEST ORANGE MAYOR.
Tells New Council Expenses Can Bt
Kept Down-Gannon Kicks
Up Fuss.

Up Fuss.
Mayor William E. Condit of West Or
ange, in calling to order the new West
Orange Council for 1908 yesterday morning
In the Town Hall, made a plea for
economy, which has become necessary
owing. to the increasing expenses of the
municipal government of the town, and
has resulted in high taxation, which is not
relished by the people there. The town
has put through a number of improve
metts In the past few years, and with the
increases in money expended a good-sized
TAX rate has grown, and there was a gen.
eral protest on the part of the taxpayers
when their bills went out for the year.
After wishing his colleagues a successful
and Happy New Year, Mayor condit inn
mediately launched into his argument.
The town business is the same as a
private business, In a way" he said, land
Is to be run as economically. We have
done, this in the past. and have been giving
tue best service people could require for
the money"
Mayor Condit said the sewers were built
because the people asked for them, and
mands of the citizens for improvements
were responsible for the large expendi-
lures of money. New school buildings
we're constructed, the money being raised
by bond issues and the town was paying
interest on the money Adding all things
together there was a goodly sum of money
required.
I'VE had to raise $4,000 by taxes. This
is quite a sum of money to be raised in
a little town like this he stated.
With the amounts to be spent to March
| Appropriated Mayor Condit said the
treasury would show $500 unexpended out
of last years amounts.
our estimates were a little high. We
thought w would need the money, but we
extravagantly. / can give you my word
for that. There has been no graft. l can
honestly say that.
There will be in the town treasury
So, 900 more when the people shall have
paid their back taxes" continued the
Mayor, Some people are behind. Citi-
with this amount we rave been prompt
to pay off all bills so far as the amount
could go. The school board is to get
and July l. but they don't ask Ss to pay
the sums over to them until we get the
taxes-we simply give them money. as
they, need II md thereby avoid paying
Mayor Condit declared the borrowing
of money on which interest had to be paid
was o wrong that citizens who paid faxes
promptly had to suffer. If the delinquents
paid up there would be no trouble in that
respect.
Ten cents. twenty-five cents, thirty
five cents doesn't look large, but soon
make up 4 dollar. Five cents Is not much,
hut add all trivials together and 1t makes
much money. People who do not consider
these things are the ones who find fault
With the Town Council"
Mayor Condit said that while the county
parks were a good thing for Newark and
cities with congested populations the sys-
tenn was a burden to West Orange. The
commission has taken $4,000 of land out
of the assessables and the loss of taxes
with interest on the park bonds made an
expense to the town hat brought the loss
up to 5000 to $l0,0 00. He spoke of the
added expenses then appealed to the
Councilmen to practise economy and think
twice before ordering an expense.
Councilman Thomas Cannon. displeased
with his committee assignments. an
nounced his refusal to serve on any
resign. The Council took cognizance If
the bad condition of the new fire house
In Valley road, which has shown two bad
cracks In the QUITE: walls, and named a
ton and fix the responsibility for the
faulty work. 1t was also decided to in
vite ten citizens to join the municipal body
in going over the new tax ordinance and
expenses of the town. The Of
flee of street commissioner was declared
vacant, retiring Frank G. Eckert.
Mayor Condit was much surprised at the
letter he got from Councilman Cannon, de-
to serve or committees, and said.
to his oath of office. he was to do
his sworn duty. The Councilman retortel
he could not do his full duty by the town
Ol the tbblHiiAittS nGZN tc nuiltu IOl. dlh
then Councilman Fentzlaff said he should
resign If he felt that way. The Council
man finally said he hoped Mr.. Cannon
would reconsider. hut that official said he
wouldn't. The committees were. however.
confirmed, as follows:
Roads. Krauss. Fentzlaf. Meeker. Cannon
and Kenney; fire. Wiegel. Kenney, Meeker,
street lighting. Freye, lGillick,
Meeker; finance, Meeker. Freye, Krauss
public health, Freye, Stevens and Heichel;
1Aoa1 Ht.aGti.nc CfAxFAaa ET,rk.1-GQ Aa1
Krauss; sewers, Kenney, Heichel, anil
Cannon. ordinances. Stevens. Heicilel and
Fentzlaff; licenses, Fentziaft, Freye.
Meeker and Gillick; municipal improve
Gillick, Heichel and Wiegel.
The special committee named to investi-
gate the fire building condition included
Councilmen Gillick, Fentzlaff and Meeker.
The conditions to be examined are fconsid-
cred serious. and Councilman Rbllinson
suggested the committee be named outside
of any regular committees. There have
appeared two cracks on the north and west
sides of the flrehouse, and as the contrac-
tors have vet to receive payments, the
town is amply protected against any loss.
Councilman Robinson and heinvestigation
would be most thorough ana the builders
and architect must make good. The
adjoins present fire headquarters.
and William c. Schmidt is the architect.
Mr.. Robinson also suggested the special
committee of citizens TO confer ~ the
question Of the new tax bude-. The
tOiIhtiiASt VIII NiUnt fAObcil N. IJFCHs
J. Oliver Hooley, c. r.. Rand, A. B.. Jenk-
ms. Anthony Killing, CHRISTOPHER Muster.
A. kimball, John Wolff and Messrs. Hurd
Randolph.
The old Council left a balance of $500.
Mayor Condlt said that of $4,000 taxes
Sis. 900 had been paid and S65, 900 still re-
mains on Tax Collector O'Connor's books.
This failure to pay worked an Injustice.
his honor stated, as If the money owed by
citizens were paid there would not be the
necessity of borrowing n paying inter-
est that would follow as a result of the
owns failure to ger the money due, Tn
Mayor also criticized the Parl- Com7,issirn
as an expense to the town. The BODY re-
moved $l50O00 from taxable property by
taking land as parks. and the net result
was a loss of $500 to 10000 Annually in
taxes not received. This amount included
the towns share OF the Interest Of the
Park Commissions bonds.
Councilman Ioseph Stevens was compii-
mented by his Fifth Ward friends in a
speech delivered by James Read. who
wound M by presenting the Republican
minority member with an umbrella. Coun-
Gilman Stevens made a speech Of thanks,
and said he hoped 10 do In the future
what ne had 10 the past-his duty TO the
according to the oath Of ONCE he
had taken.