Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-11-14
TIL OPPORTUNE TIME

Especially is This true when the control Of the city government
is in the balance. The recount for the election Of an alderman
at large has been ordered and perhaps it is just as well, for it
affords an excellent opportunity for both parties to get behind
the movement for commission government without either
claiming an advantage.
The movement for commission government should be based
solely on the desire TO better the condition of the municipality
as a whole. There should be no agitation of the outs trying
to get in, and the ms trying TO hold what they have got. Com
mission government is for the welfare of the whole people re-
CARELESS of politics and it must be kept as free from politics as
possible.
The recount that has been ordered places the municipal
government for the time being in doubt. No one really knows
for a certainty which political party will control the city gov
eminent until after the recount is completed. For that reason,
to begin the movement for commission government now
neither party could be accused of trying TO GUST the other.
Now is the time, then, to start a non partisan movement
in order 10 get the machinery working to place before the vot-
es at a special election early next year the proposition Of
adopting The commission form Of government in Perth AM
boy. Both Republicans and Democrats can enter into such a
movement now without having it appear that either Of them
are sorehcads, trying TO overthrow the existing order because
they lost.
Every person who has given the slightest thought to our
present system of government realizes what a handicap the city
is working under. The city charter, which is the foundation Of
our municipal government, was adopted in 1874, nearly fifty
years ago. At that time Perth Amboy was a mere country viii
lage of about 900 inhabitants. State street was then the west
erly limits of the town and Fayette street was about as far
north as the habilalions went. All beyond in either direction
was woods and open country.
The charter under which we are now living was drawn
up to suit a village of that character. True, there is not much
left of the charter today. During the past fifty years many
laws have been passed by the state legislature affecting NUM-
cipalities so that The charter is hardly recognizable, yet when
no law can be dug up that applies to the city we revert back to
the anliqualed document for guidance.
For instance, the question has never been settled as to-
whether or not Perth Amboy should have a set Of councilmen
T., addition, TO n Rnord Of AIderrnen The charter so DrOydesI
and every time someone wants to fight the city or to question
The authority OF its governing body this question is raised and
court action is threatened. The last time this ghost was
brought out in an effort to brighten the authorities was when
The city relinquishcd its claim to the so-caled "wet dock"
property between Foyette and Commerce streets on the water
front now occupied by the Roessler & I~Iasslacher Chemical
Company.
Every day, nearly, some obstacle is run up against in theI
management of city affairs because of the cumbersome system
and conflicting authority of the city governments. We have
had striking object lessons during the past year Of the CONSTANT
disputes between the different departments of the city govern
ment, each one claiming jurisdiction over certain matters and
neither one knowing who had the authority until the city at
torney rendered an opinion. And there is mighty little for him
~ base an opinion on, but being the city attorney it is a case of
submit to his ruling or go to court.
Naturally, u growing city cannot make the progress it
should under such conditions. The system is too antiquated
and there are too many complications constantly arising. 1t is
time to bring the cily's form of government up to date.
Several times am agitation has been started in favor Of Sc
curing a new charter. 1t has been realized for the past twenty
years that the present charter was more of a hindrancc than a
help in solving present day municipal problems. But just what
form the new charter should take was the question. When the
cham was made it was desired that the very best government
possible be secured for the city.
Then the commission form of government for municipal
lilies came into existence. Galveston was the first to attempt
il as an outcome of the great storm that practically wiped that
city Off the map years ago. The Galveston plan was developed
and improved upon by different cities throughout the country
so that today many municipalities are being conducted solely
as a business proposition. The taxpayers represent the stock
holders who elect commissioners who perform The duties of
a Board of Directors and these commissioners hire an expert
in municipal engineering, known as a city manager, who runs
the city for the interests Of the taxpayers on a strictly business
basis, just as he would manage a great. industry. But whereas
in a corporation the stockholders get their profits in the way of
dividends earned through the efficient management of the in