Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-06-29
PETITION MOVE
OBSEQU|ES HELD
BY CITY CLERK
Demise of Commission Govern
nent Election Plan Is Of
fieially Announced,
LACKED 1000 NAMES
OF REQUIRED NUMBER
City to- Pay So, 500 for Cost of
Investigating and Verify
ing Signatures.

The petition of the Commission Gov
ernment League asking that special
election be held for the purpose of
passing on the question of a commits
sion form of government for Newark
is dead. 1t lost by about 1000 names.
The demise was officially announced
by City Clerk James F. Connolly to-
day.
DR.. William Buermann, president of
the league, and Secretary Theodore S.
Fettinser, received the official verdict
In the Office of the city clerk The
work of finding out whether the petit
ton had been drawn as tbs law re-
uuires lasted over month and will
cost the city about $4,000.
The leaders of the Commission Gov
ernynent League, although downcast
over the result, thanked the city
clerk for his excellent method of
handling the delicate situation. They
b. United their mistakes in the formu-
lating of the petition. They stated
they are at work on another petition,
and would profit by Nh Connellys
advice.
The figures as given out by the
city clerk show that about SO per
cent. ot the names actually turned in
were discarded after a personal in
vestigaticn. bomb was thrown into
the leaguers' camp when Mr.. Con-
nelly stated that his private detec-
tive have been at work in the
Eighth, Ninth, Eleventh and Six
teenth wards. In these places he
Investigated the signatures and some
amusing results were announced
Mr. Connolly denied to the members
of the league the privilege of annexing
additional names to the present petit
ton. He said that he has investigat-
ed the law and his decision was final
He granted the league the privilege
of copying the names on the petition
When so doing he stated: THE petit
tions are now public property and you
and all can inspect them
The long looked for threat Of law
suits by the league if the city clerk
would not allow them to annex
names, went to nothing when both
Mr.. Fettinger and rD. Buermann
warmly clasped the hand of the city
clerk and declared that fairness was
the by- word Of his work.
The results of Mrfi Connelly's in
Vestigation shows that the non-vot-
ers at the last general election killed
the petition. In addition TO these
names many forgeries and other mo
good signatures swelled the per-
centage column of defeat.
Mr.. Fettinger after receiving the
result stated that special meeting
OF the league will be called for to-
morrow night. He thanked &c news
papermen for furnishing SO much
humor" during the past month for
their version of comedy as found on
this petitions. ,,t.... f,..-s
The Official statement given out by
Mr. Connolly is as follows.
Petition, requesting the calling of
an election for the purpose of voting
upon the adoption or rejection OF
AN act relating to, regulating and
providing for the government of
cities, towns, townships, boroughs,
.tillages and municipalities governed
by boards of commissioners or inn
provement commissions in this
State approved April %. 1911 tbeing
Chapter 221 of the laws of 19li) pur-
suant TO the provisions of the said
act. and the supplements thereto and
amendments thereof, presented and
received for authorization May %.
: 1874. said to contain 1,022 sheets. 9.7g2
names, which, upon investigation.
was found to contain 1883 sheets,
9S49 names.
Result of Investigation--66S3 names
authenticated, 2.672 names found not
voting, 367 signatures did not com
pare bank clerks Investigation, II
signatures cor Jidered doubtful, bank
clerks inves, CATION, "a names out OF
city, etc. Total. 3.16f.
Recapitula tion-66SS names authen-
ticated, 1854 names not authenti-
ca ted, exclusive OF Implications,
deaths, etc. Total, 9,S47.
40910 number of votes general cleo
ton. 1918.
s,1S2. number of signers necessary to
petition.
49s total number of names less le-
gal requirement, exclusive Of dupll-
cations, deaths, etc.
1 have filed the petition as
voucher for the expenditure of the
none necessary to the authentica-
ton of the petition. which in round
numbers amounts to about $500,