Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-07-03
CITY HAS PLAN TO
AID LEATHER MEN
Common Council Will Author.
ize Mayor to Appoint
"SWorn Measurers."

Seeking to prevent the necessity of
a special session of the Legislature to
protect local leather interests, the
Common Council, at it's next meeting,
on July IL, will adopt an ordinance
authorizing Mayor Haussling to ap-
point Sworn measurers," as re-
quired by the Massachusetts law
This step was decided upon at a
conference between the Mayor, Pres
ident John II. Donnelly, of the Com
mon Council. and Majority Leader
Patrick J. O'Brien, at noon today.
Word has been received from tho
Massachusetts authorities that they
would accept the certiflcations of
"measurers" appointed by the Mayor
until such time as a law covering the
question can be put through the Leg
islature.
While Acting City Counsel Herbert
Boggs recently gave an opinion that
the council had no legal authority to
pass such an ordnance 1t will never
theless be put through. Massachusetts,
has already declared II would accept
such an act as an evidence of good
faith.
| The ordinance which, 1t Is under
stood, will be put through on all three
readings at the same meeting, pro-
vides for penalty of $50 for wilfully
and wrongfuIly certifying to the con-
tents of a hide of leather.
Mayor Haussling today replied to
Governor Fielder notifying him of the
| contemplated move by the local au-
thorities and also testifying that a
| special session of the solons will not
be asked unless absolutely necessary.
His letter follows:
my Dear Governor:
Il am in receipt of your letter of
| the 1st inst. 1t Is probable that our
| Common Council within a few days
| will pass an ordinance to authorize
me to appoint measurers of leather in
| accordance with the Massachusetts
statute. The local leather manufac-
| turers believe that such action will be
accepted as an evidence of good faith
| by the Massachusetts, authorities and
| that the measurements of Newark
measurers will pass for the time be-
ing. but the legal authority for the
| city to make such appointments is so
/
Massachusetts, would be imperiled
should any person raise a question.
| Therefore, we feel that a validating
statute should be enacted as soon as
! possible.
| IT appreciate the difficulties attend
ing an extra session, and am grateful
for your assurance that, should 1t
become absolutely necessary, you
will. nevertheless, issue your call. l
will keep closely in touch with the
situation and advise you IL the extra
| session should be necessary.
| ut Is due to our manufacturers of
leather to say that they did not have
the notice of the Massachusetts law
which the date of the passage of that
act would indicate at first glance. I
am advised that the law was put
quietly-I do not mean to imply sur
ptitiously-through the Legislature,
and that little was known of 1t in
Massachusetts until the printed
copies were distributed, consider
able period after 1t had been ap-
proved. When advised by their
Massachusetts, houses of the terms of
the act the Newark leather men spent
some time in ascertaining the exact
construction which would be put
upon 1t by the authorities of Massa-
chusetts. Hepce, there was no oppor-
tunity for them to communicate with
our Legislature while It was in ses-
sion."