Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-12-27
MAYORS PLAN BIG
REFORM PROGRAM
Grade Crossing and Revision of
Tax System Two of Many
Topics at Meet.
HOME RULE is URGED
AS PRIME NECESSITY
Consensus Is That Executives
Salaries Are Too SmaII-De-
eide to Seek Raise.

The elimination of grade crossings,
prevention of mandatory legislation
concerning municipalities without re-
gard to their financial resources, a
thorough revision of the tax system,
and also an agitation for an increase
of salaries received by the mayors
will be taken up when the Mayors
Association Of the State of New Jer-
ssy meets in annual session. The
executive committee In session yes
terday mapped out a program which
will be followed.
Those present were Mayor Fred
erick w. Donnelly, of Trenton, who
presided; Mayor Jacob Haussling, of
this city; Mayor Alfred A. Stein, of
Elizabeth; Mayor George w Downs,
Of Madison; Mayor Julian A. Gregory,
of East Orange; Mayor F. L.. Kelley,
of Chatham, and Mayor Charles Ly-
mar Denison, of Belleville.
Mayor Donnelly, reviewing last
years unsuccessful fight for the
elimination of grade crossings, stated
that there was no cause for COM
plant so far as the Pennsylvania
Railroad was concerned, but that
most of the other roads remained
very hostile toward improvements of
any kind along their roads through
the State, while spending a great
deal of money on the terminals.
They enjoy franchises hat T not
offset by the tax returns" Mr.. Dom
against aiding the companies 1nan-
cially in the abolition of the grade
crossings, and they ought to be penal
lied If they do not abolish them"
He her stated that last years bill
had been too drastic and that per-
haps provision as to time limit and
place for the abolishing of death
traps should be made. He expressed
confidence hat with the present vol
ume of information the matter could
be handled successfully. but that a
bill should first be submitted to the
Governor as a matter of courtesy
and then introduced to the Legisla-
ture.
Mayor Gregory likewise expressed
confidence, basing 1t on a speech by
Governor Wilson. made in Elizabeth
during the last campaign, in which
he gave a precise Interpretation to
the respective plank in the Demo-
cratic platform. He differed, how
ever, with Mr.. Donnelly as to the
means of accomplishing the desired
ends in that he thought the 1903
railroad act was adequate, but that
the power of the Public Utilities
Commission should be extended, en-
abling them to enforce action on the
part of the railroads. But by no
means, he said, should the commits
sion have power regarding the ap-
~portionment of expense, as they have
shown prejudice in the past. Upon
motion it was decided to have a new
bill drafted to be presented at the
annual meeting and the chair ap-
pointed Messrs. Stein and Gregory as
q special committee for this purpose.
Mayor Haussling Comedies.
The necessity of home rule to its
fullest extent was voiced by Mayor
Gregory and supported by Mayor
Haussling as well as the other mem
bers of the committee. 1t was the
consensus Of opinion hat while the
Legislators undoubtedly meant we'll it
was impossible for them to know the
immediate needs of the municipalities.
"Any Mayor thirty days in Office"
Mr.. Gregory said, twill see how much
he is handicapped by legislation"
The discussion Of home rule brought
UP the topic of mandatory legislation,
which, Mayor Donnelly stated. should
be prohibited unless it was followed
by provisions for ways and means in
order to prevent the necessity for
raising the tai rate in cas- a mu-
nicipality should be financially unable
to fulfill such mandatory laws carry
ing with them high penalties.
While the members gave credit to
the good faith of the average tax
assessors it was their opinion that
the whole taxation system was anti
uuated and unscientific and should be
brought to a higher standard elm
mating crude methods and supplant-
ing them with such in keeping with
the completely of modern property
interests.
1t was also the sentiment of those
present that the office of Mayor is
generally underpaid and it was de-
cided to be active in lettering their
w condition in this regard.
The annual meeting Of the associa-
ton will be held at Trenton on Janu-
airy IA.