Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-09-26
COUNCIL SCORED
BY FUSION FORCE
Independent Candidates TO
West Orange Offices An
nounce Platform.

The platform of the Independent
fusion candidates of West Orange, as
the opposition to the present admins
tration is styled, was issued today
It includes sharp criticism OF the
party in power. The increase in the
low tax rate is also mentioned and
the secret meeting OF the Town Coun-
ell. which always precedes the open
session of the BODY. is styled an af-
front to citizens.
The platform follows:
1.-The administration of the town
affairs Is essentially a matter of busi-
ness-not of politics. The mayor,
councilmen and other officers should
be selected for their ability and in
tegrity, just as in any other business,
and not because of their membership
in a political party. In the conduct
of the town affairs the citizens are
entitled to require of their public SER
wants. among other things, the follow
ing:
Intelligent business methods should
be vigorously required in all depart
ments. The officials should spend the
public money more guardedly than il
it were their own; be sure that dol
lars worth of value is secured for
every dollar spent; and not add a sin
gle unnecessary dollar, to the taxes.
1.-The officers of the town should ex-
ercise great care to conform to all
legal requirements. Any other course
must result in discredit to the town.
and confusion as to the rights of indi
viduals. The citizens are entitled to
have the proceedings of the council
conducted in public
This statement followed the plat
form: THE independent fusion can
didates are pledged to support these
principles. Their opponents are put
forward by the machine that domi-
mates the present council--a majority
of these candidates being members
of that council-and, If elected, they
may be expected to follow in the foot
steps Of their sponsors.
1.-THE administration of the town
affairs by the present council Is chal-
lenged as not meeting any one of
the requirements of our platform.
The members of the present council
and the candidates now presented by
i. in opposition to the Independent
fusion candidates were selected upon
strict party lines.
"A conspicuous instance is the So
called experimental welp driven with
town moneys on the land of a coun-
Gilman. No investigation appears to
have been made as to the feasibility
of joint action with other municipal
ties; no option was obtained on the
land before beginning the work; the
contract did not conform to legal re-
quirements, and the work did not
conform to the contract requirements.
Inefficiency and responsibility char
acterizes the entire proceedings.
Yet this is intended as preliminary
to- the expenditure of many hundreds
of thousands of dollars of the money
OF the taxpayers.
Among many other instances are
and the lack of detail in the reports
of expenditures made upon them. The
rising budget and the increased tax
rate are unpleaSantly familiar.
Courteous criticism OF the scaven-
ger matter was treated with scant
civility by the council. Such lack of
courtesy to individual citizens is not
When application was
finally made to the court 1t promptly
and emphatically adjudged that the
action which had been criticized was
Illegal There can be little doubt that
the action of the council In reference
to the experimental well was also
Illegal
1.-THE so-called caucus or secret |
session of the Town Council as here
tofore conducted is undemocratic. |
1t is an affront to the citizens whose
affairs are the subject of these secret |
1t may be a shield to |
weakness, inefficiency or worse; but
the men who manage public affairs
should require no such protection"