Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1915-10-16

In a lengthy statement, published
in last weeks Fort Lee Sentinel,
Mayor Edward A. White gave the
details of his work in employing the
present Borough Engineer, Samuel
]. Mason. Mr. White went very
closely into the facts, as he says he
saw them, regarding the various
sums paid to Mr.. Mason, making a
comparison, also, of totals paid the
former engineer, Mr.. Clark, under
ex-Mayor Kerwein. In this presenta-
ton it was made to appear that
under Mayor Whites predecessor in
office it cost the taxpayers great
deal more than it is at the present
time costing them to run the en-
gineer's office. AS the attack was
made directly against Mr.. kerwein,
"The Palisadian' sought the latter
and asked for his views on the sub
ject as presented by Mayor White
Mr.. Kerwein said:
"Really, don't see that there is
need for me to say anything at all.
Mr.. White has made his case so
clear, as he does everything, that |
could only make myself ridiculous if
| made any answer to his tables OF
facts. l know they are facts be-
cause l have been all over them so
many times that | know them by
heart. Mayor White so loves to deal
in facts | wonder he does not deal
in truth awhile and learn the diff
ference on the public mind. | really
do not care to get into any argument
with Mr.. White. His side, accord
ing to what he says is the only side,
so what is the use? | could not
make any case against what he pre-
sents, anyhow, so the best thing to
do is to let the voters decide the mat
ter at the polls"
care you speaking seriously?" he
was asked.
seriously? Why, you make me
laugh. I've had cold several days,
and you make my lips crack. Some
of the mayors figures are so redic-
ulous and so utterly juggled that I'll
wager dollar to a doughnut he
could not tell them from his daily
grocery bill. Granting that any set
of his deductions are true, which l
do not admit, merely for the sake
of argument, he charges me with al
lowing excessive engineering fees
all through my administration, when
the opposite is true. Let me cite the
most important fact in rebuttal Of
his foolish charges: The eastern
section of our sewer system was
worked out under my administration.
This work totalled up $121 ,0O6.36,
for which the engineer was paid the
sum of $2,77594, or 1-3 per cent.
of the total cost. | personally super
vised almost every foot of the work
myself, and saw that it was done
right. If this had been performed
under the present so-called new
system of per cent, it would have
cost $6,050.30, or $3,274.36 more than
it actually did cost under my admin
istration. These figures are taken
from the same set of books in which
Mayor White has discovered so many
of his recent vote-getting mares
nests. 1t will not be necessary for
me to go into fuller detail to dis
prove these impossible statements
about how we wasted the borough
money. Of course, / know lot of
people will believe all he says, be-
cause they like to believe lies. |
like a little lying myself, provided |
can prove the other fellow is doing
it, as in this case. You know lie
can travel great deal faster and
do a lot more damage than the
truth"
"This does not answer Mayor White
on the points he Makes" was sug-
gested.
at doesn't? Well, let me tell him
something else: Taking the total
engineering work done under my
term of office, l find that the cost for
plans amounted to 1876 per cent; for
engineering pertaining to construc-
ton, 1856 per cent; making the total
cost for engineering work, 5.21 per
cent, which included all plans, speci-
fications and work incidental thereto.
The inspection work amounted to
3.12 per cent. Now, the price paid
for similar work in the neighboring
boroughs, like Cliffside Park and Pail
sades Park, is 8 per cent. for sewer
work alone, and this does not in
clude the cost of plans or inspection.
And the public cannot have any
satisfaction on properly done work
unless it is properly inspected.
Now, l am willing to admit that
Mayor White is wonderful man for
some things, but he is not going to
cram down the threats of this peo-