Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-02

municipalities are empowered to
vide so-called budget exhibits an
pay the expenses thereof. recomr
that the city take advantage of
statute and provide an exhibit UPON
sufficiently elaborate scale. Butg3
exhibits are designed to show the cit
zens the purposes for which thefN
money is expended. The financia
statements of Newark have been for
several years models of clearness and
mprehensiveness, but no bookkeep
ing tables can furnish the graphic OBJ
iect-lessons which q budget exhibit
conveys. The exhibits have proven
very popular wherever held. They not
only serve to show how the public
money is expended, but they have also
been found the means for securing a
better cooperation between the gen.
eral public and the city government.
1.-THE bill designed to permit the city
to begin work on an adequate pro-
gram for the celebration of it's 250th
anniversary, which. occurs in 1916, re-
ceived scant attention at the hands of
the last Legislature. 1 recommend
that the measure be reintroduced and
strong effort made to secure its pas
sage. Two years is none too long
time in which to make preliminary ar
rangements for the celebration of this
most important event.
Inevitably, in a discussion of the
needs Of Newark, we must turn to
Trenton. Among the measures for
which we must seek legislative sane
ton this year are the following:
"A bill to permit the city to plan
for the celebrat ton of the two hun
bred and fiftieth anniversary of its
founding.
"A bill to permit the city to build
subways for trolley cars.
"a bill to permit the city to ap-
propriate adequate sums for city
planning projects. -
"A bill to permit the city to estaB-
, fish a central purchasing bureau.
"A bill to enable the city to correct
advertising abuses.
"a bill to enable the city to estab-
lish an emergency fund.
"A bill to enable the city to insure
against employers liability with the
Insurance Fund Commission.
Necessity of Home Rule
"This is but a partial exhibit. ar
ranged somewhat at random, of the
laws which the city must have in
order to make progress. Yet it may
| be doubted If a more striking proof
of the necessity for home rule could
be presented. Here are measures
ranging in importance from the high
| est to the lowest, covering practically
| the whole field of municipal endeavor
and for authority to carry out any
| of them the city must enter humble
| suit to the State government. 1t is
| an ignominiouS and shameful posi-
| ton TOR a metropolis of 100000 inhabi-
| tants, conscious of its strength and
| full of hope and vigor. The loss, If 1t
could be computed, which our city
suffers, in common with other New
Jersey municipalities, must measure
up into millions of dollars. We cam
not adjust the smallest of social
regulations to the wishes or usages
of our people; we cannot transact
the plainest of business propositions.
we cannot do even so small and logi-
cal thing as celebrate a great event
in municipal history without running
the gauntlet of legislative ignorance,
indifference or hostility. Not only
must we battle hard and wait longl
| for the laws which are vital to our(
we'll being, but we often have forced
upon us statutes which work tQ-cAI
great detriment-
|, "It is fortunate, indeed, THAT
municipalities are awakening
anomalies and inequities of
uation and are Joining in thy
local autonomy. Certainl
conditions are acute as TIL
Newark today, and cam
much longer without workil
harm to our city. But it may
as the darkest hour Is just
dawn so the present intolerab
| tenn may soon be done away
and the early future usher
period of self government for H.
municipalities of New Jersey with
consequent moral and material prog
ress and prosperity"