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

auspices of the Board of Health at
public expense, but by a private or
ganization. The strict legality of this
method is open to some question and,
moreover, as was perhaps natural,
there have arisen some questions
which have caused friction. l feel
that this work is so important that
it should not be jeopardized or i'm
peded in any way, and 1, therefore,
recommend that legislation be Sc
cured permitting the creation of a
bureau or board of infant hygiene,
the members of which shall be APP
pointed by the Mayor and which shall
receive a direct appropriation from
the city and conduct its operations
somewhat along the lines of the
dental clinic.
Eventually all such functions
should be administered by the health
department, but it seems wiser to me
that this work, for while at least,
should be conducted Independently.
City Advertising.
TT is time, in my opinion, that eff
fective reform should be adopted with
regard to city advertising. In the
year just closed the expense to the
city from advertising public measures
has been over $45, 900, and in one year
recently it ran as high as $4,000.
Under the law the full text of all or
dinances must be given, and other
notices must be published with super
abundant verbiage. 1t may be doubt
ed that the methods employed carry
out the purpose of the law, which is
that the people of the city shall be in
formed as to what measures are pend
ing or are to take effect. The recently
adopted building ordinance was adj
vertised in full at an enormous ex-
pense, but the complaints as to it's
provisions and suggestions as to
amendment did not come in until long
after the measure had become legally
effective. There was recently brought
to my notice a case where street i'm
provement which actually cost but a
little more than $100 was charged
against the property concerned at
almost $500, the difference being
largely in advertising charges There
is an opportunity here to effect a
great saving of public money and at
the same time give the public better
information about the transactions of
the municipal government than is
now possible.
Occasions have arisen with some
frequency in the past when it was
desirable to have Investigations made
from the executive department, or Sc
cure the service of experts on some
pending question of Importance. 1t is
possible that the Common Council has
now the power to provide funds for
such purposes, but in the absence of
expressed statutory authority l have
not thought it advisable to invoke it.,
recommend that legislation be
sought which would empower the
council to set aside, not to exceed
~. -
ency fund, payment from which
should be made upon the Mayor s
order. If it be deemed advisable, the
scope of the fund might be broad
ened so as to apply, not only to the
purposes already mentioned, but to
the proper entertainment of conven-
lions and distinguished visitors.
1.-THE playground and bath system
is deserving of more generous support
than 1t has yet received. Not only
should larger sums be appropriated
for maintenance, but there should be
furnished to the commission money
with which lands might be purchased
in various sections which are not as
yet built up, but which will not long
be unsettled. A fund of $4,000 would
be none too great for the commission
to eXpend in this manner. Play
grounds have come to stay, and if
to provide them we must not only
purchase land which has reached high
values because of dense population.
but also contains buildings, we will
have to pay much more in the near
future than a more prudent and far
sighted policy would render neces-
sary.
Budget Exhibits.
Under the provisions of an act
passed by the Legislature last year