Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-07-02
MAYOR IN DARK AS
To PAVING AWARD
Was Not Consulted About
Wood Block on Me-
chanic Street.

Even though he is chief executive
and official head of the city govern
ment, Mayor Jacob Haussling is not
always consulted in the city's bust
ness. This fact was brought to light
for the first time today, when the
work of repaving Mechanic street,
with wood-block was begun.
The first inkling that the mayor, or
In fact, any of his official office force
had of the repaving of Mechanic
street was this morning, when the
actual work of laying the blocks was
begun. Last years Board of Works,
by a neat display of strategy, had
put one across.
On October II of last year the Board
of Works then in power. composed OF
Commissioners O'Connell, Denman,
Mungle, Ryan and Kraemer, passed
motion to allow the National State
Bank and the Progressive Investment
Company to repave Mechanic street
for 1876 feet east of Broad street at
their own expensa with form of
smooth and durable pavement. No
mention was made in the motion as
be laid.
Ordinarily, permission of this kind
| is granted by resolution, which before
| it is effective Is presented to the
mayor for his signature. This proce-
| dure was not carried out in this In
| stance. for what reason Is not known
| II is pointed out, however, that some
time previous to this incident pri-
vate interest owning the entire front
age on an alley in the lower section OF
the city wished to repave the thorough
| fare with wood-block at its own ex-
pense. but was prevented by the re-
| fusal of the mayor to stand for thi;
style of pavement.
| II NAV have been that the board
members did not know what style oil
pavement 1t was contemplated, to lay
! in Mechanic street, but 1t is poipteo
out again that public bodies usually
are thoroughly informed on all sub.
iects of this kind before going or
record.
| Now that the actual work has be
gun the mayor can do nothing. l
Is safe to assume that If he had beer
consulted or even asked to sign
resolution similar to the motion
passed he would have looked int
the matter more deeply. 1t Is safe Il
asumme also that no wood blocl
would have been laid except over hi
veto. In this instance, however, h
had no opportunity to go on record.
The records of the board of tn
proceedings in question show that tn
permission was granted without op
position on the recommendation o
the street committee, of which Com
missioner Mungle was chairman.
The motion provided simply tina
the necessary permission be granite
and that the pavement "a smootl
and durable pavement) be laid on a.
eight-inch concrete base. Two pc
cent. of the cost should go to pay tn
city's inspector or inspectors on tn
work. 1t was provided also that thos
making the improvement should pa
for the city's inspectors on the jo'
and also that per cent. of the cos
go toward paying the engineering
cost.
The contractor Is obliged also t
| file surety bond for one-quarter o
| the total cost, and also to leave pc
cent. of the cost with the city. o
this latter amount 2 per cent. will b
paid back at the end of two years AM
the remaining 8 per cent. at the en-
of five years, the guaranty period.