Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1920-08-02
FILE PETITIONS
BY ) D CLOCK.
Have Enough Names Already
to Insure Vote on Commis-
sion, But Surplus Desired
WANT ALL TO SIGN UP
President Lyon of Association
Gives Out Interesting Facts
Concerning Opposition.
WANT ALL TO SIGN UP

Announcement has been made that
all petitions for the commission form
of government here must be filed at
the City Clerks Office before s
O'Clock tonight. Sufficient signatures
have already been obtained to secure
the Introduction of this new insti-
tuition, but it has been urged that
those who have not as yet signed, do
so Immediately to make available a
surplusage in case extra names are
needed.
If the petitions are filed today it
will mean that the election will be
held August II, the third Tuesday
from the date of filing as required
by law.
Adrian Lyon, president of the
Perth Amboy Commission Govern
ment Association, when asked this
morning about the move in opposi-
ton to the change in government
made the following statements. OPP
position which has been brought up
to defeat the new form:
II understand the report is being
circulated by those who are opposed
to commission government that If 1t
is adopted it will mean a general up
setting of affairs and the turning out
of office of all the administrative Of
ficials in city hall. The report is
even going the rounds that the police
and fire departments will be disturb
ed. Nothing can be more absurd
and unreasonable. Our only appeal
to the opposition is to tell the truth.
The only change in the structural
part of the government is the cleo
- fr,c fnad n
seven aldermen and a mayor. The
other offices must continue as now.
We must have a city clerk, and
collector. and q comptroller, and all
| the rest of them. Both political par
tiles will make nominations and II the
IRepublicans continue to carry tht
| city probably not one officer will be
changed. AS 1 said in my first letter
as far as / am personally concerned
| l hope that will be the case. But Il
we are convinced that commission
government ought to be given a fan
trial Ut is a poor argument against 4
that some body will lose a JOB.
stated in a recent letter, that tne
police and fire departments and the
schools cannot be touched.
"The essence 81 the wbolez thins
| is this: The commissioners VIII DC
1.-THE head and there will be a sfixlne
! of RESPONSIBILITIES There. will be nc
shifting of it to s6rne one elses The
commissioners will be responsible "a
| the whole people, to the 1t b ward
as we'll as to the first No commls-
lsioner can get put2 Of a<respQnslo1hty
by saying s.Iadon' tsrepresen you;
| lrepresent some 9th e. ward@sC CT course
lit cannot entirely destroy# p0N(lea
(ahd no one desires
| that it should), but ii will reduce xn<
/ Improper fand obnoxious part Ql
| them 10. a great. extent. - !,
| ssEverybody knows that the 4ourct
lof the greatest political corruptlon u
this county is in the cities The por
llitfcaf machines in certain large CT iei
come at once to mind. WHAT does y
lmean that over $50 cirfes nave
Iadopted this form apd all say II ]
Ian Improvement. with exceptions q
few that they are almost negliglDte
4 IN almost every case where lns
adoption of commission governmen'
lis. beaten at an election 1T is the re-
jsult of the nianipu1a tfon OF poiltlca
parties who want to hold on 70 tn<
lold form for the sake Of the pom
machine. It would be sad com,
1ment on the intelligence of any Gas
lof Independent voters If they woule
llet political machines deprive tnen
Of an honest attempt to improye tns
administration of the business @
their city.
"The work Of city authorities 4
business not government"