Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-11-15
COMMISSION GOVERNMENT RESULTS.

COMMISSION GOVERNMENT RESULTS.
A great deal of comment has been made on
the commission form of government as adopt
ed in New Jersey cities. The enemies of the
plan declare it is a failure, while those who
favor it ask that it be given a fair trial. 1t
must be admitted that it is unfair to condemn
the plan after only the first year. 1t stands
to reason that contracts made under the old
system must be paid for and under ordinary
conditions it would be several years before the
new plan could correct evils that have existed
for years and for which they were not to
blame.
But in Trenton, the taxpayers are already
feeling the benefit of the change in local gov
eminent. Under the heading, "The Turn of
the Tide in Taxes" the Trenton Evening True
American had the following to say:
"The decrease in the Trenton tax rate this
year is gratifying. 1t is not only a vindica-
ton of the commission form of government,
but it is something to the credit of the city
commissioners, individually and collectively.
"Despite what the enemies of the commits
sion government say, it is extremely probable
that had Trenton held fast to the old system
the tax rate would this year have gone up
many points. That was the tendency of the
old system. It's each succeeding year brought
greater expenditures and greater tax rates.
Commission government has turned the tide
and Trenton may now look hopefully to a
gradual reduction of tax burdens through the
years that are to follow.
Meanwhile the other cities of New Jersey
that have refused to adopt the commission
form of government see their tax rates mount
ing steadily upward. IF you believe Trenton
would today be satisfied with the old system,
ask those who are still living under it and
who in about nine cities out Of ten in New
Jersey will be obliged this year to pay higher
taxes than ever before.
"a lower tax rate means much for Trenton.
1t means not only an immense saving to indi-
vidual taxpayers, but it means encouragement
to enterprises that are looking for advantag
eous locations. A decreasing tax rate is no.
tice to the world that the city is progressive
and enlightened. No manufacturing concern
or commercial enterprise cares to walk know
ingly into a mounting tax rate.
"Let the credit for the decrease in the tax
rate go where it will. Grant that the increase
in county ratables has had much to do with it.
The fact remains that the city commissioners
have stopped the waste Of money in Trenton
and have put the city in a position to profit by
tho WORK of tho Co,ptu T1ov Copopn,oc,o, po
sides, the County Tax Commission had the
encouragement of the city commissioners, and
especially of Mayor Donnelly, in it's efforts to
bring about a fair adjustment Of property
in Mercer county. Long ago Mayor
Donnelly called attention to the fact that
was paying a far greater share Of the
county taxes than was right, and he asked
the county tax board to deal justly by Trenton
in its work this year.
"The county tax board had the wisdom to
recognize the business Of the mayors COM
plant and the courage to act upon it.
"Altogether, it is simply an evidence that
the era of better things for Trenton has ar
rived. 1t is the era of progressivism. Gov
ernor Wilson's election was a progressive idea.
His appointment of an aggressive county tax
board was in line with that idea. The adop-
ton of the commission form of government
was another step in the same direction. The
election of a progressive city commission
the matter. The result is that Tren-
ton is now beginning to gather the fruits of
those progressive principles in the public serv-
ice to which it has declared its allegiance"