Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-08-14
SCRAPS WILL OCCUR.

in this city calling attention to a
red hot scrap that is now on in that
city between Mayor Donnelly and
the Times editor. 1t seems, Mayor
DonneIly made the accusation that
the editor of the Times tried to get
him to appoint a certain man con-
nected with the Times OF the school
board of that city. The Times came
back at the mayor not only denying
that any such attempt had been
made, but bringing counter charges
to show that the mayor had sought
the influence of the Times editor on
various occasions. And 30 the scrap
has gone back and forth.
Now certain opponents of commits
sion government, it seems, thinks
this is an argument against the
adoption Of the commission form Of
government in Perth Amboy. But
we can't see what bearing this has
on the subject. 1t is not claimed
for commission government that
once 1t is adopted there will be no
further disputes. arguments or
charges made. AS a matter OF fact.
when there are such disputes and
arguments the people always have
the better of the situation for they
are able to concentrate responsibility
and unless the commissioner under
fire makes good, he can be handled
by the people readily enough.
AS for this scrap now on in Tren-
ton, it is not the first of its kind
that Mayor Donnelly has had. He
is somewhat of a fiery nature to be-
gin with and is apt to speak his
mind freely on the spur Of the mo-
ment without a second thought. 1t
may be said in passing, however.
that he has usually been able to
take good care Of himself on all
such occasions.
This is not the first time that a
scrap between the Trenton commits
sfoners has been used as an argu-
ment against commission govern
ment. It was evidently put up in
Newark at one time for the Newark
Evening News published an editorial
on the matter under the headline
Proof, not Disproof." This editor
ial ran, in part, as follows:
I'VE submit, not only as a logical
but as the only logical view
that these same heated discussions
are not disproof of the commission
plan, but the strongest possible
proof for it. and, further, that re-
gretable as it may be that the ses-
sions have at times descended to
personal invective. this very fact
carrier with it even greater promise
OF the future.
IN the first place, we hold that
the very disagreement itself is proof
that the government of Trenton Is
seeking to be representative;
I'm the second place. that this
disagreement Is a proof that tho
commissioners are feeling keenly
the extent to which personal re-
sponsibility is focused upon them as
individuals. with the result that
they are trying to acquit themselves
so as to please what each regards
as the most pronounced public opin-
ion;
I'm the third place, that where
personal pettiness has appeared the
publicity upon and personal re-
sponsibility of the commissioners in
dividually. gives the average citizen
a better idea of the mental caliber
of each of his representatives than
even before, with the certain re-
suit that If he desires bigger men
in the future, he will at least know
those of the present board that do
not measure up to his standard"
In spite of the fact that commits
sion form OF government has n0
worked as well in some cities as 1t
has in others. and although the
commissioners do get into red hot
scraps occasionally, the truth is
that hundreds OF citizens all over
the country are enjoying much bet
ter government under the commits
sion form than ever before and
more and more cities are adopting
it while only two or three have
given ii up and returned to the old
system. There are numerous argu-
ments why Perth Amboy should
adopt the commission form Of gov
eminent, but no real, effective argu-
ment has yet been advanced against
it.