The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-10-20
DIVIDED OPINION
RULES |Rv|NGTON
ON ANNEXATION
Enthusiastic Meeting of Cit.
liens Held to Discuss Project
of Joining with Newark.
COMMITTEE REPORTS ON
SOME POSSIBLE BENEFITS
Extent of the Favorable Senti-
ment a Surprise-Antis to
Conduct Another Meeting.

one or the most enthusiastic public
meetings In the history of the town Of
Irvington was held in Masonic Hall
last night under the auspices of the
Board of Trade of that town. It was
called for the purpose of hearing the
report or a committee appointed by
that body at It's last meeting to pro-
cure Information from the officials Of
the city of Newark as to the benefits
which the town OF Irv!ngton would aez
rive In the event of a favorable vote OH
the question of annexation, which will
come up at the coming election. and
also to give the general public an OPP
portunfty to express It's views on the
project. The sentiment of the meeting
seemed to be about equally divided on
tho question. Former Assembiyman
George +. Scribe, chairman OF the COM
mittee. stated in his report that the
committee had been informed by James
H. Nugent, counsel for the city OF
ewark, that in the event of annexa-
ton the civil service law in regard to
the police and fire department would
apply to I~rvington. In regard to the
sewers, Mr.. Nugent a stated that. in
his opinion, the city would assume the
debt of the main trunk, but that the
cost Of the laterals would be assessed
on the property-owners at so much per
running foot. The matter of a High
School and the free public library were
also mentioned in Connection with the
benefits to be derived, the latter being
the only benefit which the majority
thought they. were getting under the
conditions OF the report. The cost of
the storm water sewer. which Is to run
through Vailsburg and Irvington. would
nave to have it's pro rata cost charged
TO the tow In the event of annexation,
whereas II the sewer is run through
the town under it's present form Of
government 1t will be necessary for the
city to pay Irvington for the privileges.
The members of the
seemed to differ In regard to the opinion
given by City Counsel Nugent, which
the latter said was only his personal
opinion given as he understood the
case.
several Speakers Favored 1t.
Those citizens favoring annexation
Were the first to be heard. Nicholas
weber started the discussion by say
ing mat he had been a prime mover
IN the matter. that he had conversed
with Mayor Glorieux on the subject.
and that the mayor had said he would
sign a, petition IL the sewer cost was
to be met by bonding the own. Mr..
Weber implied that the mayor had
not wholly lived up to this. All this
happened more than a year ago. ac-
cording to Mr.. Weber's statement.
Mahlon s. Drake. favoring the an
nexation project. said thai while there
was reported to be some dissatisfaction
In Vailsburg the Clinton Hill section
had received every Improvement, and
while he admitted that the taxes might
be slightly increased, he believed that
the town would reap the benefit in the
md. Albert Lacomb. representing the
West End Improvement Association.
disapproved of the bonding OF the town
without a sinking fund. In speaking
OF the library benefits, he ccused Iry-
ington people Of being h~ypocritical in
securing books from the Newark IL
brary under false pretensions. Fred
erfck Fowle. Edward Helm, Mr.. DiehI
and Joseph Walker made eloquent
pleas In favor of annexation.
Joseph X. Clickenger, sanitary in
spector of the Board of Health, was
the first to oppose annexation. He de-
ciared he would not like to live under
the present Newark government. He
was followed by Moses Badgeley. SUI
"perintendent of public works, who
spoke on the school question and on
street improvements. When he said
that h public library was a curse to
the community he was Missed from
every corner of the room. He was
loudly applauded. however, when he
declared that Newark only wanted to
make "a dumping ground of Irvfngton..
Trunk Sewer Question.
Former Freebooter Edward Jacob
said that the town would have To nav
Its share of the Passaic Valley sewer
IL annexation prevailed. Mr.. Neuhaus.
Of Vailsburg. who was present by re-
quest. spoke at length against annexa-
ton. DR.. Albion C. Christian, chair
man of the meeting, in answer to M.
s. brakes remarks regarding the i'm
provement of the Clinton Hill section
since annexation, stated that that sec.
ton was annexed to Newark Just at a
time when it was bound to grow.
Michael A.. Dougher stated that he
was told by some of the annexationists
that they were favoring thai project in
order to get rid of some Objectionable
town officers. Mr.. Dougher thought this
a poor reason, and urged every citizen
TO weigh the matter carefully and with
out prejudice, and If the officials in
office were not satisfactory to elect men
who could and would take the interest
of the t~ownspeople to heart. During re-
marks in rebuttal, some mud singing
was attempted, but the chairman quick
ly ruled the speakers out of order. Mr..
Dougher wanted a vote taken on the
annexation question, but his effort
failed. There will be another meeting
on the same subject on October 20. un-
der the auspices of the anti-annexation
advocates.
The sentiment expressed at last
nights meeting was more or less q
surprise to the general community, a.
1t was believed that the ants were
greatly In the majority.
The applause, however, was about
equal for both sides, and while there
were a few more who volunteered to
speak against the movement than there