Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-17
WANTS COUNCIL TO !.
FAVOR Commission
Mayor Murray, in Message,
Seeks Its Aid for Govern
ment Change.

Advocacy of the commission form
OF government for Orange was given
prominent place in the annual mes
sage of Mayor Frank ]. Murray,
which was last night read to MEM
pers of the Orange Common Council.
several typewriter pages were de-
voted to the subject, and the Mayor
even went so far as to ask the MEM
bers OF the council to devote their
enorts to secure such a government.
Majority Leader p Allen Smith
wanted to know whether or not it
was matter for the council to take
up, and also whether the council
would be performing their duty If
lhey endeavored to have the taxpay-
ers TO expend the amount necessary
10 nave special election. He finally,
however, suggested that as a matter
of courtesy to the Mayor the mes
sage be received in full and the points
touched upon be referred to the
proper committees.
To What Committee:
What committee would you send
the commission form of government
recommendations top asked Coun-
Gilman Daniel F. Gallagher.
"Oh, the committee of one hun
dred," replied Councilman Smith,
without smile.
There was general laugh, as ev-
eryone present knew that Mayor
Murray had organized a committee
of citizens to foster commission form
of government, and the message was
ordered received and filed without
further comment. 1t was noticeable
that those present did not greatly
approve of the Mayor endeavoring
to use the members of the council as
a means to bring about a particular
object which does not come under his
personal jurisdiction as chief execu-
tive.
Faces Tax-Rate Rise.
That Orange is facing a rise of ten
points in the tax rate is one Of the
contentious made in the message
along with his urging that the strict
est economy must prevail in all de-
partments.
The message deals in detail with
the sewerage question that confronts
the city and, while the Mayor Is
agreed that in joining hands with
East Orange and Montclair, Orange
could save by the Imhoff plant, he
urges, however, to go slow, as to his
mind the Imhoff plant has not been
sufficiently tested to arrive at a def
mite conclusion as to its serviceable-
ness.
The Mayor also takes up the ques-
ton of eliminating the grade cross
ings, and on this point comes to the
conclusion that the negotiations now
going on with the Lackawanna Rail-
road might terminate satisfactorily to
the city, provided the cost to the lat
ter is kept in certain bounds. And
while he points the way that under
ma 30 nc he
compelled to eliminate the grade
crossings, he expresses the opinion
that under mutual agreement the
railroad would erect better stations
and do the whole work more artist
cally than would be the case II the
company were compelled under the
law to make the change.
Good Roads Revival"
In dealing with the Central avenue
trolley franchise the Mayor expressed
the hope that the city and the COM
pany may be able to get together
and that the work may be under way
before the end of the year.
Mayor Murray urges the repavine
of Main street, and also states that
most of the streets of the city are in
need of. improvement. He points to
the time when Orange had great
reputation for good streets, ana ne
expresses the hope that there be
good roads revival"
The Mayor further urges the re-
moval of the market from Main
street to point centrally located.
In regard to the lighting plant the
message recommends that the coun-
ell consider the advisability of max
inc a more extensive use of the
plant. First of all it should take
care Of lighting the schools and pub
lie buildings, and secondly supply
commercial enterprises or private
houses with light should be con-
sidered