Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1916-01-08
NEW CHARTER AN
IMPROVEMENT,
IF NOT IDEAL
Mayor Tells RoseviIIe Improve
ment Association Present
System Is Costly.

The proposed city charter was dis
cussed by Mayor Thomas L. Raymond
at meeting of the Roseville I'M
provement Association last night.
About 100 men and women were pres
ent during the talk by the mayor and
another by City Trolley Inspector
Joseph Crawford on Trolley Systems
and Municipal Improvements" The
meeting was held at the Roseville
Hotel Roseville avenue.
In the course of his talk the mayor
took occasion to refer to some of the
happenings of his own and past ad-
ministrations to illustrate the ineffi-
cheney under the present form of
government. The new almshouse. and
the way the project has been mis-
managed was one of his principal
arguments for the placing of control
In the hands of a few rather than
many. The new charter, the mayor
declared, would center responsibility,
instead of allowing 1t to be shifted
from official to official as under the
present system.
Under our present charter" said
the mayor. IAN army of people do the
work which a few would do under
the new system. No responsibility
can be placed, whereas under the
proposed system the people could i'm
mediately point TO the mayor or any
of the commissioners and say You
are responsible"
Not tho Ideal Charter.
The mayor said the trainers of the
charter did not claim 1t to be the
best obtainable, but that they did
claim 1t would so crystalize things
that Newark would have an up-to-
date and modern government. He il
lustrated the inefficiency of the pres
ent system by telling how 1t was
necessary for the city to hire archi-
tects and engineers every time new
improvement Is needed, although
there are corps of engineers in the
Board of Works and an architect in
the Board of Education. These be-
long to special departments, he said,
and could not be used for other city
work. This would be changed under
the proposed charter. he declared.
"Of all the members of the Com
mon Council" said the mayor, there
is not one that can tell me the cost
of a proposed Improvement or give
me reasons why 1t should be done in
this way or that"
He called attention to the troubles
over the new alnlshouse, the exceed
ing of appropriations and the fact
that the building will house only 800
inmates. although the building itself
cost 100000. This was one of the
worst pieces of municipal mismanage-
nt he had ever heard Of the execu-
tive asserted.
The mayor also attacked the pres
ent method of electing aldermen. He
pointed out that some years ago the
y was SO gerymandered that even
II the total couheii,lan'e vote
throughout the city should show "A
Republican majority, the Democrats
would still elect a majority of the
aldermen.
Referring TO the recreation depart
ment, the mayor said: II hate TO
think of 1t. hate to think of a COM
mission that has wasted a whole year
without getting an expert director for
the Fairgrounds
The mayor laid the greatest stress
upon the making up of the budget
under the new scheme of things. This
would be done by the executives and
sent to the council for approval, and
not by the council and then sent to
the executives for approval, as at
present. The mayor predicted that
this plan would soon be followed in
national government.
Prepare for Merchants Day.
Inspector Crawford's lecture was
extremely interesting. He showed
views of the most ancient street cars
obtainable. the most up-to-date cars.
the many different styles of cars in
operation in different cities. the
methods of handling traffic in the
most congested spots in the country,
and. in addition, many views of
beautiful spots he had visited in his
tour of the country.
OF particular interest to the Rose
whites was his description of the
methods of showing the numbers of
houses and designating streets in use
in several cities in the West and
which he said the Board of Street and
Water Commissioners were now
thinking of adopting in this city.
Views were shown of lamp posts
In front of which they stood and
sidewalk curbs on which the street
names were plainly lettered.
Prior to the address and lecture
short business session was held at
which the only business transacted
was the appointment of a committee
to take charge of the Merchants Day
which will be held early in February
when the new lights will be lighted
along Orange street, and another
committee to present nominations for
officers for the ensuing year.
The merchants day committee will
| consist of Mortimer NJ. Schlosser,
chairman: A. d. Walguarnery, Con-
rad Schneider. jr., a. Woelper, f.
Maring, C. Slavin, Mrs Hattie Nor
ris, II. Creamer, A 7. Francis, c.
McNair. G. Altman, Fl. Herzberg. r.
Benedict, ]. May and A. Tellone
| Tho nominating committee, which
will report back at the first meeting
In February. Is composed of the fol-
| lowing: Former Judge George Fl.
Lambert, chairman; William Halsey
| Peck. William A. Cox, Conrad
Schneider, jr., and Harry Creamer
/