Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-06-30
CITY COMMISSION
DINEDBY CITIZENS
Boost Orange and Stop
Knocking" Keynote of OPP
timistic Speakers.

LlfIllSLlC OpedkeTSs
Oranges new commissioners were
banqueted by more than 200 citizens
of the city last night at Engmsh's
Crystal Lake Hotel, West Orange.
Speakers urged the cooperation Of
the public in general with the new
officials. The keynote of the gathering
was to boost Orange and stop
knocking. The members Of the gov
erning body in whose honor the din
ner was given are Mayor Daniel f.
Minahan and Commissioners William
F. Kearney, Harry D. Wethling.
Frank J. Murray and William A.
Calhoun.
George W. Perry, who organized
the movement for the function. pre-
sided as POSTMASTER, declared the
knocking of Orange came from
within the borders Of the city.
Former Judge Thomas A. Davis
declared success in government was
not a question of form so much as it
was the character of men In office.
He spoke of the five commissioners,
and declared they had tremendous
power for good or evil, and said it
was not time for unnecessary efiti-
cism, but the public-spirited men of
the community should Jump in and
help"
Mayor Minahan thanked his hosts
for the broad spirit exhibited at the
dinner and the expression of faith in
himself and colleagues.
Senator Colgate Lauds ofieials.
Senator Austen Colgate told of the
high esteem in which Orange is held
by the State and he spoke his faith
in the new officials. In a humorous
way he declared that the Democrats
had been gathering in all the offices
in the country while I'VE Republicans
have been stantling still in our fighr
to see which of our factions is the
more progressive"
Commissioner Calhoun, speaking of
future expenditures, mentioned among
other things the possibility of spend
ing half a million dollars for sewage
disposal and $4,000 for abolishing
railroad crossings"
Commissioner Murray said he was
pleased with the results of the COM
mission contest and felt no mistake
had been made by the change of gov
eminent. Politics is disappearing
from the city government, he de-
clared, and now is at the lowest pos
sible minimum. "You hold the reins
over U.S." he continued, land We
welcome criticism so as to avoid mis-
takes. Every man wants to make a
success of his department and my
colleagues have made splendid sue
cesses of their work so far lie
lauded Commissioners Calhoun,
Wethling and Kearney, and assured
the diners that 1--WE have buried poll
tics"
DIR. Walter G. Alexander, who was
a candidate at the recent election,
made an appeal to allow the colored
men to share the responsibilities OF
government and warned the powers
that be against the pretended IN
fluences of so-called leaders among
his people with hand out for some
chance" They are not representative
of his race, the physician declared,
and he asked to let his men share op-
portunity and responsibility and show
their worth.
old Form of Government Good.
Citv Counsel Arthur B. Seymour
eYnlained his opposition to the COM
mission plan movement as due 70 MS
belief that the charter revision com
mittee, had 1t taken action, could
have given Orange, under new
charter, a better plan of government
than provided by the Walsh act. lie
Thought If better to take an instru-
ment arranged by men familiar with
the city's affairs than accept one
which could not be changed in six
wears even though it might prove
unsatisfactory. Despite drawbacks,
he said. Orange had Jared well under
the old administration forms. he
instanced the city water and light
plants, good roads, sewer system and
other assets that had made orange
one of the leading cities OF the
county.
in the old government, which got IA
a rut. and its defects were so mani
fest that a change was ordered. And
unless commission government gets
your support and interest 1t Will fall
into the same rut. 1t is not ques-
ton of form in government, but or
men. Don't let your enthusiasm die
with the dinner tonight, but give the
commissioners your earnest support,
and we will have good government in
Orange-better government, in fact,
than we ever had before.
DR.. Walter Dodge, former play
ground commissioner, gave a witty
talk. He said the honors given the
men by election from their city at
large transcends the election of men
to State and national Office by voters,
a majority of whom did not know
those for whom they cast their bal
lots. He advised the men to be true
to themselves and they would give
the city intelligent and useful SER
vice.
Ralph E. Giordano telegraphed his
CONGRATULATIONS from Canada.
The committee in charge of the ar
rangements consisted of George w.
Perry, chairman; City Clerk John j.
Byrne, secretary; Gustave Kunz.
treasurer; John n. Lindsey, School
Commissioner John J. Booth, former
Judge Thomas A. Davis, Dr. Walter
Dodge, Chief of Police John DrabelL
Postmaster Edward S. Perry, John P.
Lee, James Macdonald, John d. Ev-
eritt, School Commissioner Sidney NJ.
Colgate, Charles Ippilito, Senator
Austen Colgate, John Mccarthy. As
SCISSOR John Keaster, Arthur Livings-
ton, Henry T. Stetson, DIR. Walter F.
Barry, Thomas F. Brennan, Alfred ].
Crosse, ]. Alexander Neill, Ralph e.
Giordano, John A. Rush and Police
Justice Edward W. Woodman.