Perth Amboy evening news., 1917-10-13
EASY TO SEE POLITICIANS
ARE AGITATtD ON ELECTION

Expenses for street improvements
. IN Passaic have been heavier each
year. as all seem to want the improv-
ed streets. and are willing to pay for
them. but he says that in every in
stance the city assumes a large pro-
portion of the assessment, which nat
urally makes an increase in bonded
Indebtedness. The cost of running u
city," to quote Mayor Seger, goes up
the same as the cost of living"
The mayor of the up state city calls
attention to the fact that the state
road tax this year, causes a ten per
cent. jump in the tax rate. The city
of Passaic is at present leading fight
to have the legislature, either repeal
the road act. or so amend it as to
have railroads and banks bear their
burden
During our regime the Public Ser
vice wanted to double track some of
their system through Passaic. They
did this on part of their system during
the days of the old council, gratis, but
the commissioners made them pay
$4,000 for this privilege.
Our parks are being developed and
new schools are being erected, when
and where needed. l don't think
Passaic would vote to go back to the
old form again." continued the Pas
sale mayor
In October, 1916. just one year ago,
a magazine called Equity" publish
ed in the interest of government,
the initiative and referendum and re-
call, etc, sent a request to the city
authorities of every municipality in
the country that had adopted the COM
mission form of government asking
for an opinion as to how it was work
ing. and how the people liked it, Also
as to whether or not the initiative.
referendum and recall had ever been
used. The replies received as pub
llshed in their October issue of one
year ago are extremely interesting.
All are favorable to the new system.
Some of the replies from New Jersey
cities are as follows
Hawthorne: Population 1000. Ref
erendum used once. Plan working sat
isfactorily. Greater efficiency. Vot-
ers would not abolish the initiative,
referendum and recall.
Ocean City: Population 1921. In
itiative and referendum used twice in
1913 with satisfactory results. The re-
call was attempted once in the case
of mayor but the petitioners failed to
secure sufficient signatures. Plan
works well. Mayor Champion says
that the initiative referendum and re-
call have a good effect by placing re-
sponsibility on the municipality in
stead of the city officials.
Passaic: Population 61,225. Init
iative, referendum and recall not yet
used. Commission government has
given city an efficient and business
like administration. Mayor Seger says
cities having the powers of initiative.
referendum and recall have direct
control over officials, and officials give
more efficient service.
Trenton: Population 103,19O In
itiative. referendum and recall not yet
used. Plan has eliminated politics and
given business methods. Filtration
plant plant has been established at a
cost of about 100000, a municipal
colony for the care of indigents. mora
playground. better system of book
keeping. In reference to the referen-
dunn and recall it is stated that it
causes officials to be more careful in
the desire to do what the people wish
Atlantic City: Population 51.667.
Recall has been attempted several
times but failed for want of properly
signed petitions. Plan works well.
Money saved, power concentrated. re-
suits accomplished with greater speed.
Phillipsburg: Population 1900.
City satisfied. All business open to the
public. Efficient work for money
spent with no politics.
nkbury Park: Population 10,910.
Plan works well. Realization that th.s-
officials are directly responsible to the
people through initiative, referendum
and recall is conducive to better gov
ernment.
Orange-Population 29,805. Plan
works well.
Millville: Population 13,S07. Plan
works well. Reorganization and ef-
ficiency in all departments.
So it goes all through the reports,
and the reports from cities in other
states show the same thing.