Bridgeton pioneer., 1916-07-20
THE PROJECT
WELL ENDORSED
Many People Present at Meetino
OF City Council, and With One
Exception All Urge Improve
ment i'm School Facilities.

PRESIDENT John H. Evans, Council
men T. o. Esibill, William T. Laning,
Henry Hettinger, William B. Holmes
and Edward S. Channels sat for two
hours last night at City Hall and
heard men and women of Bridgeton
discuss the High School proposition
in all its phases. There was single
protest against the proposed ordi-
nance appropriating $125,O0O for the
school, while in favor of the High
School enterprise were many repre-
sentative men and women of Bridge
ton and these citizens not alone urged
upon City Council the necessity for a
new and adequate High School, but
demanded of City Council the passage
of the appropriation ordinance.
The result of the meeting was that
the six Councilmen all voted for the
final passage of the ordinance ap-
propriating $125,OOO for a new High
School plant.
The meeting of City Council was
one of the most interesting held in
1Lany years and feature of the eve-
ming was the presence of a score of
determined women who as citizens
were ihsistent that City Council meet
the demands of the city for an ade-
quate High School building.
President Evans early announced
that the people present would have
ample opportunity to speak upon the
subject, but suggested that City Coun-
Gil could Go nothing more than pass
the appropriation ordinance, and the
discussion should be upon the appro-
priation alone.
Former Mayor George Hampton
appeared as a representative of the
Bridgeton Commercial League and
spoke for J. Ogden Burt, chairman
of the Municipal Committee, who was
out of town. Mr.. Hampton said that
whether or not the public wants the
appropriation can only be determined
by the referendum which is imprac-
tical here. AS to the need of the
High School that can be answered by
saying that there is none in Bridge
ton. The enterprise costs money. All
such projects have opposition. He
remembered the opposition to the
purchase of the City Park property,
and now it is universally conceded a
great public benefit. Upon behalf of
the Commercial League, he urged up
on Council to provide the approprSa-
tion Of $125,OOO.
Mrs. Elizabeth Perrine followed
Mayor Hampton, and at intervals
pretty much everybody else. Her
voice was the single one in protest to
the public necessity, and her opposi-
ticn was based almost alone upon the
plea of economy. Mrs. Perrine said:
81 came here to talk and I might as
we'll do it. AS to the Park purchase
I told Senator Nichols at the time il
the city bought the property for a
water supply all right, but if it was
bought for pleasure l was against it.
1 am bitterly opposed to the High
School project. Greenwich is bur-
dened with a $1,000 building it don't
need and Shiloh is the same way.
Bowentown was compelled to buy
$50 stove when one for $50 was just
as good. The state arbitrarily rules
the schools. Our taxes go round
Robin Hoods barn and office holders
get a good deal of it before it gets
back. The State Board of Education
does shameful things. The voters, the
reputable citizens don't want any
thing to do with City Council and
Board of Education. They came af-
ter an old woman to stir things up.
This is e gross injustice. 1t takes us