Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-12-02
AGAINST
NEW SCHOOL PLAN
West Orange Organization In
Statement Raps Board
of Education.

Determined to settle beyond any
the West Orange Board of Education
hat the sentiment of West Orange
citizens Is opposed to the boards scheme
to buy a new site for a grammar
school to replace the old st. Marks
building In Valley road, the Citizens
League OF the town, a new organiza-
tion, which is headed by former Coun-
Gilman Max Brodesser, today issued a
lengthy circular to voters. In addition.
Mr.. Brodesser and Frank A. O'Connor
at a meeting in the Ridgeview Chapel
last night explained their reasons for
maintaining that the present school
structure can be put in proper shape
for future use, despite the condemna-
ton of the property by the State and
county school officials.
William F. Vossler presided at last
nights meeting of a neighborhood as
ISOLATION, and President T. H. Powers
Farr and Commissioner Herman Free
man defended the boards stand. Mr..
O'Connor asked Mr.. Farr what pro-
portion Of a vote he would consider as
satisfactory for a declaration for or
against the new school proposition.
Mr.. Farr did not reply. Mr.. Farr also
declined to state his attitude ON the
the Citizens League proposition for
another special election on the prob
lem, II the ants, who won at the spe-
cial election last month met with de-
feat.
The statement of the new league to
voters In part follows:
believing that the School Board of
West Orange are a~rrogating to them
selves the right to disregard the ex-
preston of the people concerning st.
Marks building after repeated defeats
of the project to abandon this build
ing and purchase the Lindsey and Gas
ton street property, n feeling that
their action in ordering an election
three weeks after having had an ex-
preston from the people because said
expression was adverse to their views,
we condemn their action as being the
methods of political machines, except
ing hat they are worse in so far as
theirs is a machine of perpetual mo-
ton, while the political machine must
walt from one election to another.
"Ninety-four per cent. of the increase
in this years taxes is due to the re-
yum ( u Ia DOoAu VI a.
The expenditure now urged by the
board would further increase the tax
rate, not merely 3 points, as commended
by the board, but 6 points, and that
for 20 years"
at has been admitted by the board
through its president that it is not It's
intention to abandon ST. Marks site or
building, but to retain them for future
school purposes. This in itself Is a tacit
admission that the premises. If suitably
repaired, are fit for school purposes and
disposes of the necessity of buying any
further swamp site or building in any
other place. In fact, the board through
It's spokesman, President Farr, at the
November Ii meeting. when the board
was charged with attempting to force
it's views upon the people willy-nilly
declared that such was not the case,
but that If the boards recommendation
are defeated tonight we shall regard
it as an order to repair and alter St.
Marks building. It's promise has been
broken by calling a new election within
twenty-one days to vote on the same
question"