Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-08-04
Commission Government Views.

Editor EN NE
Will you permit me through your
paper to expose my idea in regard to
commission form of government now
thar matters of Importance have be-
gun to straighten up? Both in re-
gard to the commercial and financial
condition of this city it seems to me
that there are some persons who are
not al all satisfied with the present
conditions. /, myself, will admit that
every move made by the present ad.
ministration of the city does not suit
me, and never expect they will, as
1 do not expect to get all things my
way. and 1 feel that no one else
should expect that either. 1t Is an
old saying that cit takes all kinds of
people to make a world" and it now
seems to me that a few dissatisfied
voters of this city think that by call
ing themselves "non-partisan" that
we should all Join them, and act like
wise, and create a commission form
of government for this city, which
they try to tell us will then be a
Garden of Eden.
Now. if the voters who are in favor
of creating commission form OF
government should succeed in putt
ing it over I would advise that they
don't for their own sakes, have a tree
with forbidden fruit on it, a. some
one may do the same as Eve did In
the real Garden of Eden. Don't
forget that the world has changed
much since that time, and that we
now have a much greater population.
i will permit myself to say what
I think in regard 10 this matter:
First OF all 1 have never seen any one
yet-man or woman-who had any
ambition at all unless he or she
thought all the time of what they
could do themselves to be great, so
that the public would look up to
them and believe all things made by
them to be good and wonderful, and
should act as a guide to them as the
right things to follow.
Now to the voters who are in favor
of remodeling our city affairs, let us
see you do something big at a sacri-
fee to yourselves so that we a get
confidence in you, and then there
might be voters enough to elect five
of you to run the city the way you
think right. AS 1 for one do not be-
lieve in giving away my right and
title to citizenship to a few reformers
because nonpartisan, but believe that
anyone who holds office of any i'm
portance should be elected direct by
the voters@-who for the biggest part
are toilers and are the ones that have
always had to pay-will have to keep
the machinery moving.
1t is claimed that commission form
of government will bring about all
that 1 stand for, but so far 1 have not
been convinced, and 1 believe that
there will be more than enough, who
think as 1 do. that that kind of
government is a step toward self rulo
by a few.
How different from what we have
now, two or more parties, elections
every two years, when every voter
can have his say in his own ward
as to whom he wishes to represent
him, and if the representative does
his work well, and satisfies the
majority of the voters in his ward
he is almost certain to be reelected,
Republican and Democrat alike, and
that is non-partisan enough for me,
and in my opinion satisfies the
majority of the voters. We have had
enough of self-rule and reforms late
ly and a do without any just
at this time.
However, as there are many diff
.ferent opinions and ideas in regard to
the governing of a city like Perth
.Amboy, and if I can be shown con-
vincingly that this city of Perth Am
boy will be better off If we adopt the
commission form of government.
then 1 will vote for it. but just at
present / think hat We have toe
many forms of commissions as it is.
Years ago I thought differently. but
have learned from experience, how
I'm uyfUQlU I anfnd hU 4rnfin0 for an
appointed Board of Education. Why
do we elect a President every four
years. assemblymen and congressman
every two years. IL II Is not. as !
think, to get new blood and ideas in
our government? But If this were
done by a -non-partisan party 1t
would be the same crowd over again
AS there would be no opposition
and no criticising.-because the
rulers would be non partisan. In my
opinion we might as we'll elect a king.
or have him appointed by a few re-
formers. To you who are so interest
ed in the betterment and reform of
others, l would suggest that you do
1t right at home for the sake of your
own children, and We will have what
you are now looking for.
Trusting that / have given offense
to no n in thus expressing my
views. There is a lot more / would
like TO say, but l do not wish to take
too much of your space. neither do
| desire to create any newspaper dis
cussion. My idea is to simply to
before the readers of your paper
my views OF commission form OF
government.
FRED c. CHRISTENSEN.
90 AoAfonA ox~rn~