Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-01-28

WOODBRIDGE, Jan. 2S-Thc tax
budget hearing at the high school last
night developed into an interesting
debate on the proposed appropriation
for 1919. The meeting had been
started in the town hall, but the num-
Der of taxpayers who desired to at
tend became so large that it was found
necessary to adjourn the meetings
and repair to the high school, whN'e
over 100 taxpayers listened TO Che
arguments of Russell T.. Watson. rep
resenting several manufacturers and
citizens of the township.
Chairman breckenridge opened the
hearing by requesting any persons
who desired to speak at the meeting
to give their Views.
Russell l.. Watson, rtayop OF High
land Park and an attorney with on
ces in New Brunswick, started things
going by detailing h concerns and
individuals for whom he spoke. He
said that the assessed valuations OF
the companies which he represented
at the meeting totalled S55.-
S55,935. He filed with ;hc clerk, af-
935. He filed with the clerk, af-
ter reading them, several letters from
Guiding the Federal Terra Gotta Com
pany, Anness & Potter. Electric Smelt-
ing and Aluminium Company, General
Ceramics Company n others. Mfr.
Watson spoke without finding fault
with anybody or individuals and of
the present conditions in the clay in
dustries which are at low ebb, many
of them closed down. He said that IL
these companies were forced to pay
the large taxes levied a<ainst them,
they would indeed be facing hard
ships. as themy ave not yet taken up
operation allowed by cessation of the
war. He begged hat there be no un-
necessary expenditures and that new
work be kept down to the minimum.
r. Watson's particular objections
were based on the appropriations for
$4,000 for repairs to existing roads,
as against 100000 in the 1918 appro-
priation. He said that this was a bad
time to increase the road appropria-
ton ESQ per cent. He also said that
the people whomm he appeared for
did not object In any sense to a nor
NAL increase in the road appropria-
ton of twenty or twenty-five per cent,
but they believe the jump in the bud-
get was entirely too large end that
retrenchment should be resorted to by
the committee He also took up the
matter of bonds sold for Fords pave
ment, which was never made as the
war industries board refused to al
low the work 10 proceed after tho
township had rec lived permission TO
sell bonds for the work by the cap
ital issue scommittee OF this federal
reserve district.
Mr.. Watson also strongly objected
to the item for the Home Defense
League of $3.50, which, he said, was
not necessary now hat the war was
owe and cited that New Brunswick
had only $500 appropriated this year
and h a was to take care OF a 1918
debt. while Perth Amboy had nc APP
Precipitation for that purpose.
In speaking Of the increase in the
poor account Mr.. Watson facetiously
remarked hat If this budget went
through the poor account would have
to be greatly enlarged for the people
impoverished by the payment OF their
taxes.
Mr.. Watson also dealt with the
item of $4,000 for arrears on tax rev.
enue notes. He said that there had
been no sale of land for unpaid taxes
in the township for years and that
It was poor business for the township
to hold onto these properties. The
people who own the land, he said,
should be made to come acros or
have their property sold for satisfac-
ton OF the taxes.
The other item to which the attor-
ney objected vas the police account
which, he said, had increased SO. SOC
despite the fact that there were fouI
less patrolmen on tho force than
there were in 1918.
In closing he besought the commit
tee that they practice municipal econ
omy through the reconstruction peri
cd and retrenchment now. so that tho
people whose business must be ad-
justed TO post war conditions can re-
cover from the business s%tagnation
/ which has been thor lot.
Chairman Breckenridge replied on
one point, that the $4,000 road ap-
preparation had been put In at the
insistance OF many property owners.
Hans Krogh. or Fords, spoke Of the
terrible condition of the roads in that
section. He said that the township is
too big for the number OF people who