Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-12-24
CITY BUDGETF0R
1878 IS PASSED
But One Request for Increase
as Aldermen Put Through
Ordinance for Finances

A request that an additional $1,000
be given the library board for 1918 IN
order that they may continue the
branch library in Brace avenue, was
the only comment made at a public
meeting of the Board OF Aldermen last
night, at which they passed the city
budget for 1919 on Its second and final
readings.
With appeals from the libray, board
and members OF the Western Improve
ment Association for the Increase, the
board decided that the additional sum
will be granted when the budget in
creases are allowed during the first
part of the new year. Increases up to
ten per cent. are allowed under the
Pierson municipal financing laws.
When the item of $4,000 for IL
brary needs for 1919 was read Presi-
dent Frank l.. Antisell, OF the library
trustees, said that this matter had
I been gone inta very carefully by the
members of the library board and that
it owuld not be sufficient and unless IL
was increased by at least another
81 900, the board would find IL nee
essary to curtail to such an extent
that the branch library located In
Brace avenue might have to be closed.
Mr.. Antisell said the board had O
deficit of about 5000 for the pres
ent year and that the commission
ers had endorsed note personally
to borrow this money from the bank
until the appropriation for 1919 was
made available. The great increase in
the cost of everything was given as
the cause of the shortage.
Rasmus G.. Hansen, Peter Hanson
and MAIDS Madsen spoke for the West
ern improvement Association and
urged the branch library be main
tanned as its value to that location of
the city was realized. They resented
the attitude that when economy was
necessary 1t was always taken out on
them. They urged the additional
$1,000 appropriated IL the branch IL
brary depended upon that money, as
they would consider 1t a great hard
ship II 1t was closed.
J. Logan Clevenger, one of the IL
brary trustees. said the board realized
the importance of the branch In Brace
avenue, but when the $4,000 appro-
priated for the coming year has been
portioned out 1t left only about $4,000
for books, which was entirely too
small an amount and 1t was felt 1t
would be better to concentrate on
having one first class, efficient library
to serve the entire city rather than
scatter the money and have nothing
that was first class. With the addi-
tional $1,000, however, the branch
could be maintained and the good
work in the western section of the
city continued without curtailing at
the expense OF the main library.
The aldermen declared that they
had been asked by the library trus-
tees to appropriate $4,000 and they
had pared off only $500. now the re-
quest was made for an additional in
crease of $1,000, and they could not
understand why they should be criti-
cised 1t was explained that no crit
icism was intended, that the alder
men had been perfectly fair. the only
point was that II the library was to
maintain a branch during the coming
year 1t would have to have more
money that was at first supposed.
The aldermen decided TO give the
library board the money they asked
and II will be added TO the budget
when 1t comes UP for final action in
January.