Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-04

"Since the receipt of your invitation
of the 2Sth uIt. / nave bell trying to
arrange so as to attend the conference
of mayors of New Jersey municipali-
ties, called by you for next Friday. !
find, however, that it is impossible for
me to get to Trenton that day. An
engagement of great Importance and
long standing will take me outside the
city, and l will not be able to return
In time to participate in the conference.
1 regret this exceedingly, as 1 believe
that much good might come out of such
a gathering.
sAs / will be unable to attend the
conference l trust that you Will pardon
me for expressing my individual views
on the topics which o suggest, as
follows:
81. Tax rate and debt limit.
TN my opinion, the maximum tax
| rate law should be Immediately re-
pealed. It's operation has been so OBJ
yiously in the interest of the railroad
corporations, and against the interest
of the great body OF taxpayers. that
whatever theories may be advanced In
its support. there can be no defense
for it from O practical standpoint.
The law is unfair and inequitable, and
enables a body of wealthy taxpayers
to shift its share of thespublic burdens
to the shoulders of those who are far
less able to meet them. 1t is my view
that the State may properly impose a
limit of debt in proportion to ratables
This limit should be liberal, however,
il it embraces absolutely all forms of
municipal bonded Indebtedness. II un-
der such a law, such municipal utili-
ties or undertakings as pay their own
interest and sinking fund charges, as
for instance. most water plants, are
excepted, this limit can be made
smaller.
SO. Municipal boards Or departments
with a single head.
Il strongly favor this suggestion,
Concentration of authority in admins
tration would solve, l believe, a great
many problems Of municipal govern
ment.
IS. A State department of municipal
accounting.
"a State may with propriety, in my
opinion, prescribe uniform methods of
municipal accounting. and may charge
with the duty of enforcing such regu-
~lations some existing department of the
State government. 1 see no need, how
ever, for the creation of an Elaborate
bureau or department.. as I conceive
that the machinery now possessed by
the State would be entirely adequate
to secure , the enforcement of a uni
form accounting law.
"a. The appointment by the mayor
or other city authority, rather than the
election, of city officials not necessarily
elective.
"This is another suggestion which
believe appeals to most students OF
municipal affairs. If, for instance, tht
mayor is charged with the appointment
of the chief administrative officials. and
has the power to remove without
charges, the responsibility is centres
upon him for good or bad administers
ton, and il he fails to secure goot
results he can be readily reached by
the popular win.
SO. Shorter ballot for municipal cleo
lions.
"A shorter ballot enables the people
to concentrate attention upon candi
dates, and therefore tends to good gov
eminent. But, whatever the form o
ballot, municipal elections should b.
absolutely separated from State or ma
tional elections. This is. at least, al
important as the short ballot, and III
~desirabiiity is so well recognized tina
I need not enlarge upon the subject.
Permit me 70 add to what l hav'
already said, that / am strongly i'm
pressed with the absolute necessity fol
large powers of home rule. The con
troll and interference with by tn,
Legislature of matters which are o
purely local concern is hurtful, both
TO the State as a whole and to cacl
municipal subdivision thereof, The
cities should have the power to regulate
THE excise, to issue bonds, to guard tn,
health of their inhabitants, to ia,
property within their borders, ant
otherwise to conduct their own bust
ness. The present conditions ar,
humiliating, expensive and altogethel
unsatisfactory. While they prevail
good municipal government is an &C
cident rather than otherwise.
Again expressing my regrets, ] hav'
the honor TO be, yours very truly.
(SigneL JACOB HAUSSLING,"
Mayor of Newark.
rs he q genius2r
!, No, II guess not. He's never has
any trouble with his wife."-Detroi'
49,. Io.r.U~ *. "It"|+N. 10y rHtE