Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-03
OFFICIALS TOLD BY
BRANEGAN MERGER
BILL WOULD FAIL
West Hudsonites Accuse Lead
er of ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
Trade Protests.

That Harrison officials had spoken
to Assemblyman Joseph NJ. Brane-
gan, of Harrison, regarding the Null
ligan merging bill and had asked
whether it would be necessary to
send a committee to Trenton to op-
pose the measure, was stated today.
1t was also said Mr.. Branegan, who
is majority leader of the House. had
given assurance the bill would never
go through
The bill, however, has gone through
the Assembly, and West Hudson Of
ficials realize they will have a hard
fight on their hands to prevent ii
passing the Senate next Monday
flght. The bill, If 1t beaomes law,
viii, according to officials of the West
Hudson towns, result in an ANAL
gamation of the municipalities of
Hudson county into one city. Harri-
sen, especially, objects to any closer
atliliation with Jersey City than IT
has at present
Councilman John j. DAILY, who is
acting Mayor of Harrison, started
the ball of agitation rolling when he
attacked Assemblyman Joseph NJ.
Branegan, of Harrison, yesterday.
The clash between the Solon and As
semblyman followed the statement of
Branegan to the effect he was not
present when the bill, fathered by
Assemblyman Mulligan, of Hudson,
was introduced and passed in the
Assembly.
you are a fine one to have for a
representative, DAILY is reported to
have said the idea of absenting
n fub 8AE 00n
900 worth of property in your own
district was at stake!"
The news of the clash spread
through the town like wildflre When
the provisions of the Mulligan
merging bin were explained there
was criticism forthcoming from every
quarter.
Trade Board Protests.
The West Hudson County Board of
Trade, at a meeting last night,
passed the following resolution pro-
testing against the passage of the
bill:
"Whereas, The attention of the
board has been called to a House
bill which seems TO have for its pur-
pose the forcing of a number of
towns and cities located In Hudson
County into the formation of one
large city. ~
among such municipalities that
might be taken are the West Bud-
son towns of Harrison, East Newark
and Kearny. This board goes on
record as being utterly opposed to
any such legislation. If consolida-
! tion does come Ii should come only
/ through proper consideration of all
! interests. One town should not be
sacrificed for the benefit of another.
I q II, s,I,r l.
allowed to vote on the proposition,
and no town should be required to
give up its entity unless the people
of such town should vote for it,
This board in taking the action it
does feels that 1t expresses the
Unanimous sentiment of the citizens
of the West Hudson towns. The
president and secretary of this board
are instructed to confer with the
Senate and Governor Fielder and con-
vey to them the sentiments of this
board"
Town Clerk Peter J. Goodman, act
ing under Instructions of Acting
Mayor DAILY, will send out today to
the different manufacturers letters in
connection with the affair. A copy of
the letter is as follows:
Asks Manufacturers Aid.
acting Mayor John J. DAILY has dl-
rected me to call your attention to
the fact that bill has been passed
this week by the lower House of the
Legislature, sponsored by Assembly
man Mulligan, of Hudson County,
the ultimate purpose of which, 1t is
| claimed, is to enable Jersey City to
annex and absorb the other cities,
towns and boroughs of Hudson
I &c, 80
would be co-extensive with those of
the entire county.
This measure has since gone to
the State Senate and. if passed by
that body and signed by Governor
Fielder, will become a law. Inas-
much as the date of adjournment has
been set for next Tuesday. there is
hut little time left in which you can
make protest with the officials of the
town against this artfully devised
scheme OF municipal spoliation.
''Harrison's manufacturers now en-
joy city advantages with suburban
tax rate, and 1t Is to their interest to
maintain this condition, which would
be impossible We're Jersey City's am
bitions realized and this town COM
PEELED to share the huge obligations
and the heavy upkeep cost of the big
municipality east of the Hackensack
Needless to add under the present
form of government in Jersey City
and its preponderating voting popula-
tion little could be expected here In
| the way of representation. In fact,
there is nothing that Jersey City
could offer us in the way of extra
fire or police protection in an
emergency that could be given more
swiftly and generously by the city of
Newark, with which, If a choice had
to be made, our citizens would prefer
to cast their lot.
"Our town is in an exceptionally
sound financial condition and our tax
rate is steadily tending downward,
Harrison's various departments were
never better managed and will COM
/ pare favorably with those of any
/ town in the State. Its officials are
/ faithful and competent and radical
/ change in the town government might
work serious injury to the people and
the S1G,000,000 Of property interests OF
/ Harrison
Should the measure pass the Sen
ate, you are urged to appeal to Gov
ernor Fielder to veto 1t as unsought
by this section of the county, unne-
E, cessary, eXpense-creating and mis-
! chieVous."
Mayor Cornelius A. McGlennon, of
4 East Newark, last night declared he
will aid in every way possible TO ef-
| feet the defeat of the bill.
Newark Coal Dealers Deny