Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-13
MONDAY EVENING, APRIL 10, 1914.
@HoME RULE OR "HOME RUM"
JAMES SMITH. JR.
FOUNDED MARCH l. 1882.

There 10 no room for argument in the of
Senate bill 2s0, introduced by Mr. Hennessy and no"
law. The well-known law firm OF Hawkins Dea-
field & Longfelow, of New York, whose speciality 10
the handling of municipal bonds and whose advice is
sought and invariably accepted by financial institu-
tions and bond-buying individuals or concerns has
notified the officials of Trenton, Jersey City and other
communities governed by commission rule as repre-
sened in Walsh act that the Hennessy act posi-
tiyely takes away the to issue or float bonds
for public improvements. 1t is tantamount to q
repeal of the charter commissiongoverned cities
Instead of being "home rule" bill, strenuously
heralded the Hennessy act assumes the form of a
'shome ruin" proposition This, in brief, is the
description thoughtful business and lawyers I'M
hesitatingly apply to it.
1t is not whether big newspapers. chagrined and
disappointed elect to beitte themselves by weak
attempts at argument. after lauding the firm of
Hawkins Delafeld & Longfenow to the skies for its
views in recent bond sale because it pleased
those papers and their love and longing to see New
ark's administration embarrassed, whether they
would now like themselves because of the
bonding firms attitude the Hennessy act and make
light of it's stand. 1t is not that
1t is a plain unequivocai declaration from the
that buys bonds the party that furnishes the
Z money, that bonds of commission governed munich
pates will not be purchased. for the sound reason
that the law does not permit them to be issued or
sold. What are you going to do about that?
Is it the province of a newspaper to delude and
deceive the people of city. and advocate that which
Supplies feeling of false security or is 1t it's duty to
sound warning and point out financial pers?
Rather the latter it will be conceded.
s. Why should people be encouraged to even VEN
ture on dangerous ground In the matter of municipal
. government, when such grave doubt exists? Would
not be far better and certainly much safer to let
well enough alone?
Take the city of Orange for instance What would
be the position of that enterprisng municipality in
q the event of commission form of government being
Eau5,atsd- there? Hawkins, Delafeld & Longfellow
say 1t could not issue float bonds for public i'm
proven ents, as would buy the bonds. The
aplight of Orange would be pitable. City Counsel
Charles e. Bird of Trenton, declares that the bonding
law firm is right and that Trenton is now the
horns of dilemma.
s. Had City Counsel James r. Nugent failed to call
Hennessy act, should commission rule be adopted
here he would be recreant to his trust.
@s is Mayor Murray doing his full duty the people
Of Orange, in urging change in the form of govern
anent there, in the face of new developments? What
are his responsibilities? They would appear to of
vital importance
Now to Senator Hennessy. He has had his say
and If to himself in the event of the Supreme
Court sustaining the views advanced by Hawkins
Deiaheld & Longfellow, he maladroitly says he
suited President Wilson, who, II can well be believed
mas been too busy otherwise to have bestowed atten
lion Mr.. Hennessy's Legislative measures And
%then he Governor Fieders legal attanments
Why seek to saddle responsibility for his own