Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1919-09-26
The MAYOR NOW

marks before the City Commission Mrs.
Woodward asked about the size Of the
police force for summer service. The
Mayor told her that it consisted regu-
Iarly of a chief and four men. AT
last weeks meeting when Charley
Heinle asked if the board walk was a
speed way for bicyclists and a prone
made for summer visitors clad in their
bathing suits, the Mayor explained
that he bad reinforced the police squad
by the appointment of two additional
officers, one on ckpockets and the
other on costumes. George D. Porter,
OF Philadelphia, was the pickpocket
detective selected, and Mrs. Lillian
Fisher, of Hartford, Conn.,, was en-
gagged to look out for persons on the
boardwalk wearing immodest bath
ing costumes. The Mayor depended
on Heinle to further strengthen the
police protection. The Washington
Building man was deputized as a
special officer about three years ago.
If things were not going right, the May
or wanted to know why Heinle wasn't
on the job.
"'And that government of the people,
by the people, and for the people, shall
not perish from the arth."-A. Lin
coin.
Something of the spirit and high re-
solve of President Lincoln in 1868
seemed to animate the large number
of Wildwood citizens yesterday after
noon as they focked to city hall to be
present at the weekly City Conn mis-
sion meeting. Two o'clock ives the
hour 80. cited for the introduction Of
Ordinance No. SO, ''for the appropria-
ting of 500, 900 for the purpose of con-
suucting a new board walk in Wild
wood, along the beach or ocean 'front.'"
but 1t was long after that time before
any attempt was made to even read
the ordinance, and the opportunity to
"jam it through" had then ''gone a.
glimmering." 1t became evident to
all in the earlier stages Of the meeting
that Commissioner Ryan was weaken
ing and beginning to ~'hedge." He
made a little speech setting forth the
urgent need Of money for other purpo-
ses, for better fire protection and for a
competent garbage and rubbish re-
moval system. He suggested the con-
.struction of an incinerating plant as
being the best way of getting rid of this
notifying trouble, and said he didn't
believe any contractor would under
take to remove the waste matter free
of charge. No doubt, like many others.
Mr.. Ryan considers this a"pipe dream"
or a joke sprung on the Mayor to see
If he would bite; and he did. He took
the bait quick. Commissioner Hendee
spoke against the passage of the board
walk ordinance, basing his argument
on the limited borrowing capacity of
the city. AT the opening Of the meet
ing City Treasurer Kay was summon
ed to state the extreme borrowing ca
pacity of u municipality, which he
figured to be $120, $50. To bond the
city almost to the very limit for a prop
osition of doubtful wisdom at the pres
emit time would be an act Of supreme
folly. All who attended the meeting
yesterday and heard the arguments
pro and con could not help but feel
how dangerously nea thin ice we have
been skating, and some recoiled from
the thought Of it with a shudder. Five
women were present and voiced their
protests occasionally, as II to clinch
some arguments against the mad
scheme of the "frenzied idealists."
D. F. Hallahap, a real estate dealer,
of Philadelphia, whose summer cottage
is at the corner of Baker and Pacific
avenues, Wildwood, led the forces of
the boardwalk promoters. He made
what was pronounced to be an "impas-
stoned and a fowery address," "He's
a dreamer" was the private opinion
expressed by one person who heard
plea. in which he pictured
the city's vaults as OVERLOOKING with
the big revenue to be derived from the
taxation of property and business VEN
lures along this proposed new board
walk. John T. Byrne followed Mr..
and opposed the project.
And thus the new boardwalk ordi-
nance failed Of passage yesterday
all three Of the commissioners voting
it. 1t is nov as dead as the
proverbial "door-nail," s'and non so
poor as to do it reverence" This hap
py result shows what an aroused pub
lie spirit a do, and how all-powerful
he people are when they are interested
and fearless enough to assert !