Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-09-29
A

Mayor Dorsey put UP q wonder
fully strong argument In favor Of a
city plan and a soning system in his
speech t the Democratic mass
meeting Monday night. No n can
dispute the logic of such a program
as he outlined. The trouble is IN
getting something actually done.
Some progress has been made. as
the mayor says. in the fact that the
Board of Aldermen have ~appropri-
ated $4,000 for a city plan. but there
the money lies in the city treasury
and nearly a whole a has gone
by without a To- being made.
Apparently. the hitch is over nam
ing a city plan commission.
The city Is now engaged in a re-
organization campaign for the
Chamber of Commerce. Big things
are promised for the community II
the people will band themselves to-
gether to work for the cityis inter-
est. As has frequently been said.
there 10 not a city on the whole
Atlantic seaboard where there arc
greater possibilities. We meet fire.
quently and tell each other about
these wonderful facilities that we
have, but that is as far as we get.
Is We ought to begin with a city
plan. This plan ought to include
Woodbridge township as well as the
city Of Perth Amboy. II we are to
have proper housing accommoda-
tions, terminal facilities and indus
trial sites we have got to include
Woodbridge township. We believe
that an elaborate plan for future
development drawn up by an expert
would prove so attractive to Wood
bridge as well a. to Perth Amboy
that the township would readily
unite with us to put it across II
would mean one great metropolis
here at the mouth OF the Raritan
that would rank among the leading
ports in the United States.
Any scheme that the reorganized
Chamber of Commerce may decide
to put across will rest upon the
adoption of a city plan. Without
such a plan, how is a man to know
but what after he has invested his
savings in making what he supposed
would be a permanent home for
himself and family some chemical
factory. as the mayor says. will
locate alongside or back of him
within the next few years?
I This is the season of the year for
making big promises and setting
forth elaborate ideas that sound fine
and that are intended to win votes.
The people have been hearing about
all these things for many years. yet
little or nothing Is done. We will
give the officials credit for meaning
well. They are, perhaps, doing the
best they can under the circum-
stances, but they don't seem to get
anywhere. 1t is like running around
in circles.
There is but one explanation. The
city government is 30 complicated
and responsibility Is SO divided that
progress on any large scale is inn
possible. With our mayor and Board
Of Aldermen and with numerous
other boards and commissions. each
ore functioning by itself, there is
all utter lack of harmony and CO.
operation so necessary If big results
are to be attained. Perth Amboy
ignored the opportunity to adopt a
commission form Of government so
that the city could take its place
among the most progressive NUM-
cipalities of the country. conse-
quently we have got to struggle
along under our handicap the best
way we can.
II all these candidates for politi-
cal ONCE would only do some of the
big things they talk about at cleo
ton time what a wonderful city we
would have. Perhaps the reorgan-
lied Chamber Of Commerce. with a
united citizenship back Of it, will be
able To show the way.