The Mount Holly news., 1916-11-21
A Clever Scheme.


At the meeting of the township com.
mlttee Thursday eveninga scheme was
quietly pulled across and some changes
were make that were not made public
in advance. All did not go as was at
6rst proposed, because there were OBJ
fstacles in the way. On the first day OF
January there will be two Democrats
in the committee, and if one OF the
Republicans should tender his resigna-
ton then, it would mean deadlock or
there would have to be concessions to
the minority members. So the action
OF Thursday evening resulted.
On Tuesday DR.. Prickitt approached
s.. Earl Assay, the Democrat member
elect, and asked for support of the for
mer who wanted to be the health Off
Ger of the Board of Health. Assay sug-
gested that he might vote for DR..
Prichtt, but he also suggested that
there would then have to be new
member of the committee appointed,
and that the Democrats ought to have
him. To this there was a demur, and
it was said that as q Republican was
going out of course a Republican
should take his place. When the ap-
plicant was reminded that this idea
was not followed when Francis H.
Reed, Democratic collector, resigned,
but that Republican and member
OF the township committee, who re-
signed that he might be appointed as
Reeds successor, was chosen, there
was an argument that could not be re-
futed and other tactics had to be taken.
The law says that the township COM
mittee shall not elect any of its MEM
bers to any office in its gift, SO this was
settled by DIR. Prickitt rendering his
resignation as member of the COM
mittee. Charles c. Cowpe=thwait was
chosen to fill the vacancy and was also
made chairman of the committee. Mr..
Cowperthwait resigned as treasurer
and George W. Dading was selected as
his successor.
Then the Board of Health held
meeting and elected DR.. Prickitt health
officer until the first of January, when
an officer for the full term of five years
must be selected. The term of DIR.
Prickitt as member of the committee
will expire on the last day of Decem-
Der, next year. and the health officer to
be chosen will hold the office for five
years. The pay of committeeman is
$3.50, plus $50 for being a member of the
Board of Health, 5000 in all. The sal
ary Of the health officer is $3.50 unless
the Board should take notion to in
crease the pay. But the possibility of
a term of five years by appointment is
preferable to running the chance of
election again.
The matter was kept very quiet, Mr..
Stokes, the Democratic member, not
knowing that it was to be put through
Thursday evening. One part of the
scheme suggested did not get very far,
as those to whom it was proposed did
not favor it and it was abandoned. 1t
was to appoint Mr.. Royle, who was de-
feated at the election. In putting the
4uietus on this scheme those who op-
posed it showed their good judgment,
Tor the people had spoken on that mat
Ter.
The selection of Mr.. Cowperthwait is
0ne of the best that could be made, for
the committee certainly needs the aid
Of financial man. AS treasurer he
has kept money matters down to a
strict business basis, and the only won
der in this affair is that he is willing to
devote the time that is required of a
member of the committee. He will
serve for the unexpired term of DIR.
Prickitt, which will be until December
81, 1917. Whether the scheme to con
'inue DR.. Prickitt as health officer for
i've years will be carried out when the
organizes on the first day of
January remains to be seen.