The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-03-08
Fairgrounds Commission
Fight Halted Pending
Council Decision.
NUGENT GIVES OPINION
AT CONFERENCE TODAY
Aronson, in Letter to Penning-
ton, Brings Issue to a
Head.
THREATENED TO CLOSE
RECREATION CENTRES
Hold-Over Body Can Now Go
Ahead and Pay Outstand-
ing Bills.

Following sharp criticism of "the
hack Of ordinary business judgment" of
the Common Council by Fairgrounds
Commissioner Louis Y. Aronson, a con-
ference was held at the Mayors office
today which resulted in a temporary
solution of the question as to who Is
really In charge of NewarlS's play
grounds and recreation centres. It was
the opinion of City Counsel Nugent
that the old board remained in office
until the new board was sworn in, and
general agreement was reached that
the members of the commission of 1908
should act in this capacity until their
successors are qualified.
The acute crisis In the affairs of the
commission which elected letter from
Mr.. Aronson to President Pennington,
of the Common Council, is thus averted.
The bills of the commission, now two
months overdue. will be paid without
further delay and the threatened clos
ing of the grounds will not be made
At the conference today were Mayor
Haussling, City Counsel Nugent, Presi-
dent William Pennington, of the COM
mon Council; Majority Leader Jerome
It. Congleton, Alderman Joseph A.
Wright, Wilson J. Vance, secretary to
the Mayor, and Fairgrounds cammis-
sioner Louis v. Aronson.
The complications In, the commits
sion's affairs arose from the Councirs
failure to confirm the Mayors ap-
pointment Of the new board. The only
change In the new board was the SUBJ
stitution for William j. McKiernan OF
Frank J. McTague. McTague was in
eligible, City Counsel Nugent ruled, be-
cause he had failed of confirmation by
the Common Council
Or. Joseph c. Froelich was named in
McTague's place, and at the last meet
ing Of the Common Council the mat
ter was laid over. City Auditor For
man, however, declined to pay the bills
of the commission without an opinion
from the city counsel, although he bad
assumed responsibility for the pay
rolls, which amounted to 1850, and
which were paid.
The conference today was the result
OF Aronson's letter to Pennington.
which follows:
Alderman William Pennington,
President Common Council.
MY Dear Alderman--As president Of
the defunct Board of Playground Com
tion of the Common Council on Friday
night In postponing. the confirmation
Of the names sent In for playground !
question the Councils act in such
matter did not know that / was
confirmed Ia, m1nth t age, and nt,dn have ,,5 besn EN-
fssshso fassii again. l '''' But But the failure
q. the Council to take some
saon y at gniSn sast an wVua aetns sss Board of
Playground Commission makes me feel
that ordinary. business Judgment was
mater seu was as before 5 ' them. arp have have mo- mo-
ticed this lack of business methods on
other occasions when attended meet
would suggest that you take steps to
remedy this growing evil. In my ca
paeity as city official ] make 1t a rule
Transaction Of city affairs that use
in business, and that is the only method
which should be used
the city a Board OF Playground Com.
n1issioners has left one. of our most
tan. Since the beginning of the year
the city has been practically without
; playground commission. -.
The fact that the work has been kept
Up is due entirely to the. enthusiasm. of
the playground commissioner who has
been retired from thS board He has
work. as he has done since the play
grounds were opened in our city, but
things have come to such pass now
that it will be impossible to continue
the Fairgrounds longer unless some ac-
tion Is taken at once by those who are
responsible for the present condition Of
affairs.
We are now three months in arrears
in the payment of all our bills, and, as
business man. do not propose to
contract any more debts until see a
legal way is made to pay them. ! shall
feel it my duty to order the closing of
our three city Fairgrounds and two
recreation centres If some action is not
taken at once looking to a settlement
Of the present difficulty.
I Intend to call upon his honor the
Mayor tomorrow Monday morning to
discuss the situation would sug-
gest that you might attend the con-
ference so that arrangements can be
made to call special meeting of the
Common Council l am. very truly
yours. LOUIS v. ARONSON.