Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-05-06
zoo MADISONIANS
At BOOST DINNER"
More Public-Spirited Citizens
Attend Than at Any For
mer Occasion.
TRENTON MAYOR TALKS ON
COMMISSION GOVERNMENT
Warns Borough Residents to
Accept 1t Now and Preserve
Its Beauty.

Especial to the Evening start
MADISON. May Madison :
spirit of boosting was clearly
demonstrated last evening when
about 200 public-spirited citizens, in
spite of the inclement weather, at
tended the third annual Boost Madi-
som dinner given under the auspices
of the Board of Public Improvement
Ia their experience in this line the
board has found each attempt more
successful than the one preceding.
William O. Ludlow. president OF the
Board of improvement, presided. Ap-
propriate decorations Of palms on
the stage and various varieties OF cut
flowers on the tables aroused favor
able comment.
Mr. Ludlow announced that the
board was indebted to William II.
Ducl<ham for the decora tons. and a
rousing cheer was given The national
emblem was much in evidence, large
rags being draped from ali of tbs
walls. Entertainment was provided
by the Phonograph City Trio and the
program contained the words Of
number of popular songs which were
sung by all. As the wives of the
boosters" came to their seats in the
cheers for the ladies' Preceding the
speaking there was cheering for
President Wilson, the United states
navy, the army and for Peace with
honor
The speakers of the evening We're
Frederick W. Donnelly, mayor OF
Trenton; Brian G. Hughes. of Amer
lea (since, as he said, any commu-
nication to the nation will find himl
and y Harry Moore, one of the com
rnissioners of jersey City, who turned
out to be the Harry Moore.
DonneIIy's Tribute to Madison.
Mayr Donnelly began by speaking
of the noticeable civic pride of Madi-
son and commenting the town on its
representatives at Trenton He said
the town could not be better repre-
scented
Trenton he said was the first
of the cities in New jersey to accept
the commission form of government.
The commission form of government
is the substitution of a strictly bust
ness and efficient rule for an old, de-
generated political system. The Tren-
ron Chamber of Commerce instituted
the change and none regrets its ac-
ton.
'I am an optimist of the future.
with the problems of the present day.
The commission form is an immedi-
ate success. The commissioners are
responsive to the voters on account
of the initiative. recall and referen-
dunn. 1t decapitates the city boss
and the political organization, There
Is absolute control of each depart
nsent.
NO Comparison"
''All meetings of the commissioners
consist of political caucuses in the
open. which are so vastly different
from the old line conferences behind
closed doors that there is no COM
parison. There is absolutely no ques-
ton Of the improvement over the old
system. Some of its greatest factors
are the recall. Capitalization of re-
sponsibility. non partisanship, greater
efficiency, application of business
methods, initiative. referendum, sim
plification of the system and wider
publicity. Private conferences are
thing of the past with the new form.
Commission government accom-
plished wonders for Trenton. The
financial system was improved to
such good advantage that there was
an immense saving. A deficit of S112,-
000was wiped out, there was bal
ance of 5000 in the treasury at the
end of the fiscal year, and Withall
the budget was reduced from 100000
to $500 900. And there was not a dol
lar borrowed in anticipa ton Of taxes
until the last day of the year We in
stalled a live collector instead of
delinquent one, with the result that
we had money on hand and collected
a large proportion Of the poll taxes,
thing unknown before.
Getting stung Continuously.
you think you are getting SOME
thing for nothing. the Common Coua-
Gil, for instance, but you arc getting
stung continually. I do not mean
with graft, but with special faVore
and inefficiency. With the elimination
of politics on the Trenton board we
have not had a party vote on any
question. My estimate Of a saving Of
$500 900 during the last two years in
Trenton will stand the acid test.
The speaker here told in the many
ways in which savings could be made.
fIe instanced open contracts, amalga-
nation of offices and in general
greater degree of efficiency resulting
from exhaustive study of governmen-
tai principals.
New Jersey" he said, is now the
most progressive State in the Union,
and it is up to the rest of the munich
palities to join in the procession Of
the cities already having the com
mission FORM
\. Harry Moore was the next
speaker. His address was inter-
spersed with funny stories, which,
however, formed for principal of his
talk along more serious lines.
He speoke of civic pride and the
need of good, earnest cooperation in
the progress Of town.
Praises Msdison's Beauty.
AS 1 came into your town this eve
ming" 1 saw the beautiful avenues of
trees and the patches of green grass
and O. general appearance of fresh
ness Then 1 saw another vision Of
this same town in years to come. The
patches of green grass are no longer
TO be seen. In their place are tene-
ment houses built close together, no
parks, no Fairgrounds and nothing
but q, mass of buildings and business
houses. 1 tell you that the future
generation will blame you of the pres
emit age if this condition is brought
about. Now is your time to make
wise plans for the future. Strangers