Gloucester County Democrat., 1909-01-07
Old COUNCIL ADJOURNS
NEW SOLOhS TAKE SEATS

At high noon on january first Clerk
Starr called the new Council to or
/ der and Mr. Burkett was made tenn
porary president. Clerk Starr then
read the results of the last election
/ in the city which were ordered placed
upon the minutes.
There was a full membership of
the new Council present, the new
faces being those of Oliver T. Justice.
of the First Ward, DR.. Curry, of the
Second, and Everett e Pierce, of the
Third.
DR.. Curry nominated G. Walter
| Shivers for president and Mr. Coombs
nominated Victor E. Kugler. The re-
suit of the vote was: Shivers 6,
Kugler votes. Mr.. Eurkett quickly
vacated the chair, and Mr. Shivers
j stepped into the Office without waiting
: for a committee to escort him.
He said that this year there was no
reason why Council should not get
down to business and dc business and
get done in respectable time in the
evening. He said that in the past
year petty politics caused a great him
drance to the business of the body,
but said he knew of no reason why
the new body should not get along
harmoniously and for the best inter-
ests of the city.
Without opposition the city police
men were elected-Daniel H. Davis,
Samuel Merchant and Clarence Red
/ field
Samuel E. Wilmer was reelected
without opposition.
| Edward Wheldon was elected as
Street Supervisor likewise wisiout
opposition.
The City Surveyorship went to VIM.
c.. Carter without opposition for three
| years. The trustees of Deptford In
stitute were reelected as follows:
Miss Lydia Griscom, Mn. Edgar P.
Trask, and Miss Lucille Andrews
Mrs E. r. Johnson, the present
/ librarian, was re-elcted and the two
members of the Board of Heat h
whose terms expired, w H. Duffield
and Al W. G.attell serel s1seSed !.
On motion of Mr. siatlock, the e.ac-
tion of Fire Chief and assistants WIS
| laid over until the next meeting and
the question of whether a councilman
could be chief was ordefed referred
to the city solicitor for his opinion.
/ The adoption of the bylaws sas
laid over and a committee pf3viGeG for
| the examination of the present ones
| to report on any changes deemed nee
essary.
The care of the strangers Euryiag
ground was on motion OF placed in
the care of the Street ,mnit5ee
when appoined.
On motion of Councilman Kugler
/ Council mhar if adin71rpo5 1Ai.a.r,.po1
until January 18th, and is to meet on
every other Tuesday thereafter and
on December 31st next.
Z The Ogden Fund, ON motion was
Eplaced in the hands of The Finance
Fcommittee when appointed, then fol-
Elowed the reading Of the abstract
of the Ogden will. Messrs. Pierce,
| Justice and Kugler were appointed a
committee to wait on the MAYOR for
his message. After searcn in the
chambers the committee reporieh the
Mayor absent The Clerk thenlpulled
| the document from an inside pocket,
| and it was read as follows: So
l again have the pleasure of pre-
senting to your honorable body an
other annual message. From what |
can learn, think the financial eondi-
| tion is in a better and more satsfac-
tory condition than it has been for
sometime. The last Council is TO be
congratulated on being able I'd sell
their sewer, school and street improve
ment, and other bonds at fair price,
considering the financial condition of
! the country.
! | think your body should take up
the subject of the taxation of the real
estate in our city and thoroughly in
vestigate the matter. | have ,.eard
| great many complaints about the in
! justice of unequal taxation of the real
estate in our city and from what |
| hear properties have been increased
! in value, taxed for more than the Gwn-
ers would be glad to sell for At the
same time that the valuation has gone
up our rates of taxation has also in
creased, hence the burden is eavy,
| particularly on some properties Our
citizens are entitled to fair and just
1 valuation of their property
would also suggest that during the
coming year that ordinances l;,l are
| introduced be given little more CON
sideration. Then pass them with
| penalty (where one is needed) that
can be enforced. | do not believe you
have the power to make the penalty
of any ordinance to exceed the fine Gf
| $40 or thirty days in jail, or both and
the costs. For instance, take the or
dinance providing for the cleaning OF
snow off the pavement ! have re-
ceiyed a great number of complaints
which should come under this ordin4
anceI do not know bow I am to en-
force it. On February IA, 1908, +
wrote the Solicitor asking him his
opinion how and by whom this ordin-
ance would be enforced I have not
received any written opinion from
him about it but informally he told
me he thought the ordinance should
be amended. This is one case There
are other ordinances like it.
| would also suggest that Council
pass general ordinance in reference
and found its way from roof % cellar
but this Was not enough to awake Mr..