Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-05-07
WILSON
TURNED THE TRICK.
SAYS MINISTER
Anti-SaIoon Lacquer Credited
With Having Walsh Act
Passed.

The Anti-Saloon League and Sam
uel Wilson, its agent, are the princi-
pal hackers Of the commission gov
eminent scheme in New Jersey, &C
cording to a statement made at a
meeting Of the advocates Of the new
system IN the Mount Pleasant Bap-
fist Church last night.
The Anti-Saloon League more than
any one else is responsible for the
Walsh act, allowing cities to adopt
commission government declared
Rev. z. w. Pickering, pastor Of the
church, and one of the speakers in
favor Of commission rule. I'VE must
give credit to Samuel Wilson. He
succeeded in pushing that law
through. He caught the brewers nap
ping"
In concluding the meeting with
prayer Rev. Mr.. Pickering prayed
that the advocates of this cause
might have sufficient strength to rid
the city of an undesirable element in
its city government"
Mr.. Pickering did not state what
the undesirable element was or to
whom 1t was undesirable. Shortly be-
fore he spoke a speaker, not on the
program, argued against commission
government, and quoted figures to
of Newark wanted Mayor Hauesling
and favored his policies.
The speaker, William F. Utter, as
serted that he had not voted for
Mayor Haussling at the last election,
but was in favor of his opponent.
You know what happened" de-
clared Mr.. Utter. The mayor came
out and said plainly. If you don't like
the way / am running the city and
the way the liberal question is han
died, don't vote for me- The voters
gave him 6,329 plurality. That's
enough for me. The people want
Haussling."
Frederick w Do1nelly, mayor and
director of public affairs of Trenton,
was the principal speaker for COM
mission government. He told of the
affairs of his own city and quoted
figures from a booklet compiled by
himself for the American Academy of
Political and Social Science showing
the savings that are said to have been
effected in Trenton by the commission
government.
THE important characteristics of
the commission plan as adopted by
my city and 500 cities throughout the
country are:
First. the placing of Municipal
of men. Second, their election at
large instead of by wards, Third,
the power to exercise administrative
and legislative functions and the
privilege of appointment by the
board Fourth, the placing of each
commissioner in charge of a definite
department and making him respon-
sible to the people for its proper and
intelligent management. Fifth, the
power given to the people to secure
honest and efficient government
through the initiative. referendum
and recall.
He said that not one of the cities
that had adopted commission form of
government had ever gone back TO
the old system. He told of many
changes that have taken place in
Trenton since its adoption. I'm
salaries alone we have saved $4,000,
although we have added many police
men, firemen and clerks to the city
payroll. We have cut off useless de-
partments and department heads and
employed men qualified to do the
work that was needed. We have a
| better fire department, a better DO
lice department, a better health sys-
tenn and every thing has been bet
tered by the new rule. The taxpay-
DR. William Buernan, president of
the Commission Government League.
followed Mayor Donnelly. He asked
for signers to the petition to have an
election called. He said that the
league had more than the required
5000 signatures, but wanted to have
good surplus before filing the petit
ton with the city clerk. This would
be done next Tuesday. he asserted.
Theodore 5. Fettinger, secretary of
the league. offered TO answer any
questions regarding the commission
government plan. None We're asked,
but Mr.. Utter asked permission to
speak. He said he wanted to ques-
ton Mayor Donnelly. but the latter
had departed to catch a train and
was unable to answer his questions.
All Scheme, Says Utter.
Mr.. Utter then cited his election
figures and related what has hap
pened in Jersey City and Nutley under
commission BORN of government.
ITS not representative" he said;
"power is concentrated in too few
men. The cost of eleeting a commits
sioner is prohibitive. In Jersey City
it cost 100000 to elect a successor to
one of the commissioners.
1T seems to me-" he declared, sum
ming up, that it is all a scheme TO
get the ins' out and the outs in"
DIR. Buerman excitedly replied that
it was not 50; that no one connected
with the movement for commission
government had ever suggested any
one for any of the commissionerships
if the plan went through.
Others of the audience spoke on the
subject.