Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17
DELIVER BRIEF
AGAINST RULE
I BY COMMISSION
Speakers Tell BelIeville Audi
ence of Impracticability of
Government Change.

. Arguments to show that commits
sion government is unnecessary, i'm
practicable and undemocratic were
made last night by Mayor William
Hauser, of Bloomfield, and w. FL. *.
Davey, of Belleville, in Belleville
Town Hall
Mayor Hauser contended that the
fundamental principle of the commits
sion rule was wrong in that it was a
reVersion to a species of ohgarchY.
Commission rule, he contended, was
advocated mostly by faddists, and
people were rushing into it blindly
without any concern for its ultimate
results. That the faults of the pres
ent system were not on account of the
law but of its administration, was the
contention Of the mayor, who eau
toned his hearers not to be misled
by the false lights, and advised them
in Shakespearean tones that it is bet
ter ITO bear the ills we now have than
10 fly with those we know not Of"
He told his hearers of the progress
made in Bloomfield in recent years,
and characterized commission rule as
BENG in the same category as the
that it is here today and gone to-
morrow, as is evidenced from our
helghboring municipalities who are
c.amoring for a change to the old
form"
Uncollected Taxes Rise.
The uncollected taxes in Trenton, he
SAID, had risen from SIS $50 with a re-
serve fund of $53 inel909 to $347, 1853
with reserve fund of $4,000 in 1915.
The initiative, referendum and re-
call were not new inventions, con-
tended the speaker, and people were
lnisled by the emphasis placed upon
them by the commission advocates.
] ne initiative, the Mayor advised, is
granted through the State constitu-
Ton, which grants to the people the
right to peaceably assemble for the
purpose of obtaining redress of griev-
a.nces." The referendum, he advised,
is in the same category, and men
tionod in his report the erection of
he Town Hall. which first was sub
mitted to the people at large for their
consent.
The recall, he advised, was in the
hands of the people at the present
time, inasmuch as man could be
removed from office by impeachment
or criminal procedure Besides, he
continued, the exercise of the recall
under commissions is no guarantee
that the official recalled could not be
returned to office.
Commission Rule Costly.
Mr.. Davey pointed out that among
many shortcomings the commission
form was to be condemned from an
economical point of view. He quoted
the per capita cost of Belleville as
sl2.90, and that OF Bloomfield as 81,
and contrasted this showing with the
per capita cost of Jersey City
amounting to s14.50 and Trenton
amounting to $3.50. As an instance
OF how a commission worked Mr..
Davey told his hearers that when he
undertook the study of law thirty
years ago a commission was appoint
ed to take care of the Passaic river,
and he appealed to his hearers to
note the result.
Mr. Davey discussed local condi.
tons and cited the recent improve
ments in Belleville as an instance of
what was accomplished in the last
few years under the old form. That
tie commission did not abolish par
tsanship in politics was eontended by
the speaker, who pointed to Orange
as an instance of his contention in
the awarding Of its garbage contract.
witch he said was a partisan act.
The speaker quoted Mayor Don
nelly, of Trenton. as sponsor for the
statement that the recall. initiative
and referendum were mere phantoms,
and were equivalent to placing a
twenty-foot club in the hands of
policeman because it was no use to
him.
Despite the inclement weather the
hall was crowded. and both speakers
were enthusiastically applauded.