Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-07
COMMISSION RULE
IN JERSEY CITY IS
DOOMED, He SAYS
Orange Residents Hear of Bad
Effects, Including Higher
Tax Rates.

The people of Jersey City are SO
disgusted with commission govern
ment, according to Martin Rein
hardt, who spoke at mass meeting
in Orange last night, that there will
be a recall before June. He added
that 10000 signatures were secured to
a petition asking for a change within
two days.
1--WE are going to elect delegation
to Trenton next fall" he declared,
(which will bring relief from the
present intolerable conditions"
Mr.. Reinhardt spoke before a large
gathering In New Essex Hall, Or
ange. The meeting was arranged by
the opponents of commission govern
ment. James d. Moriarity presided.
Mr.. Reinhardt took the place of for
mer Judge Joseph p. FARMER, of Jer-
sey City, who was unable to attend.
Opening his talk with a comparison
of the tax rate in Jersey City pre-
vious to the acceptance of the Walsh
act and that of the succeeding year,
Mr.. Reinhardt delved into the activi-
ties of Frank Hague, commissioner of
public safety; James M. Ferris, COM
missioner of streets and public inn
provements, and George f. Brensing-
er, commissioner of finances. all of
whom he repudiated in forceful
language.
He accused Hague Of continually
bounding the policemen and firemen
of the city and characterized him as
"a typical ward heele'"' he asserted
Brensingef was s7le t,onsiDle
q 100 ser can't increase in the
property valuations OF the Eleventh
and Twelfth Wards. and alleged Fer
ris Is illegally holding office because
he is identified with the Pennsylvania
Railroad, receiving yearly salary
of $25, 200 from the company.
Hits at Brensinger.
Mr.. Reinhardt hit back hard at
Commissioner Brensinger for the lat
ters denunciation of Naval officer IL,
Otto Wittpenn at q meeting held in
the same hall last week.
The speaker characterized the move
of Mayor Pagan in selecting "a COM
missioner of correction from outside
of Jersey City as a sure identifica-
ton that he will aspire for the Pro-
gressiVe nomination for Governor In
1915.
Residents of the Tenth, Eleventh
and Twelfth wards, comprising Hud
son City, which was merged with
initial Steps toward getting separated
again was stated by Mr.. Reinhardt.
"A split Is inevitable" he said, "un-
less the citizens of Hudson obtain inn
mediate relief"
He charged that wards which re-
turned the biggest majority against
commission government are being
injustly treated because of the de-
termination on the part of commits
sioners to get square" for being op-
rosed to the commission form.
Mr.. Reinhardt directed that criti-
cism against the administration of
Commissioner Ferris, declaring that
since he took charge of streets the
thoroughfares are intolerably filthy
with mud and dirt When referring
to the commissioners alleged identifi-
cation with the Pennsylvania Mr..
Reinhardt said it is probable that
before the present Legislature adj
journs q bill will be passed making
it a crime for him to continue in
office.
Respecting a statement attributed
to Ferris, that he proposes to resign,
Mr.. Reinhardt termed 1t a "bluff''
uttered in the hope of arousing SYM
pathy in his behalf
Increase In Budget.
.OelV1nB INTO HnaHclal nBureS Mr..
Reinhardt declared the budget last
fall showed an increase Of $50, 900 over
the one previous to the adoption of
the Walsh act, and this, he said. oc-
cured notwithstanding there was con-
siderable pruning of the pay rolls.
although Ferris ousted the street
commissioner, Martin F. Quinn, who
was very efficient and who main
taineda the thoroughfares on an ap-
preparation of s3,000," said the speak,
er, "the streets since have cost $4,000,
yet they are in poorer condition than
ever"
The speaker declared conditions he
cited existed in every municipality
where commission government is in
vogue, and he warned the Orange
men the adoption of the Walsh act
in their city would undoubtedly bring
about the same. state Of affairs. He
explained the system must remain
for six years before 1t can be rejected,
and that recalling a commissioner in
wolves great expense.