Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-08-18

LOST

indifference of the people prevent 1t
being adopted. Everyone had an op-
portunity TO vote, but few made use
Of it. The few who did take enough
Interest in their city government TO
60 to the polls showed that they pre-
ferred to have things as they are. So
be it. We are content.
The disappointing feature about
the election is not so much the de-
feat of commission government as
the utter indifference on the part Of
the voters as to what kind OF NUM-
pal government they have. And this,
too, in the face of an ever mounting
tax rate and the expenditure Of mill
lions Of dollars on public improve
ments.
II cannot be said that a majority
Of the people favor the present form
of government for they did not take
the pains to vote to retain 1t. For
ell that the majority of the voters
knew yesterday. there would shortly
be a radical change In the handling
Of municipal affairs yet they cared
not enough about the matter to 90
out and vote one way or the other.
Even those who favor the govern
ment as 1t is tan md little en-
couragement in the outcom eof yes
terday's voting. When the electorate
loses all interest in the way munich
pal affairs are handled it is time TO
show some concern. Our govern
ment is based on the rule of the peo-
pie and when the people show such
q don't care spirit as was mani
tested yesterday American institu-
tons are in danger. Rather, by far,
have an overwhelming vote n way
or The other thar to have such an
exhibition Of indifference as was so
plainly manifested at this election.
The EVENING NEWS believes
that the people of Perth Amboy have
lost a wonderful opportunity to real
~ do something worth while for the
city. On the eve of great develop
ments, as we are, 1t vas highly de-
sirable that the city government be
brought UP to date along with the
other modern cities of the country in
order to make the o Of what is
before US. AS it is. the city will
have to continue under the handicap
of a charter drawn up to meet the
needs of a municipality of half a
century ago.. We win have to con-
tinue our present complications with
various boards, each one i~ndepen-
dent OF the other. doing the city
work while the politicians ind soft
berths where party workers may
draw salaries from the taxpayers
treasury.
There no doubt has been a decided
sentiment about the city in favor of
commission government. A previous
attempt to have it adopted resulted
In q huke because the movement at
that time was not taken seriously.
It was our desire TO give the people
a real, genuine opportunity TO adopt
the change if they wanted to. We
thoroughly believe that the commits
sion form is the best yet devised for
a municipality and we were anxious
10 have it adopted in Perth Amboy.
We welcomed. therefore. the first OPP
portunity to get behind a real move
naent in behalf of commission gov
eminent and do all In our power to
show the voters the benefits that
would be derived from the new sys-
tenn.
Everything possible was said and
done to explain to the people what
roramission government is and te
show the advantages to be derived
from It.. An organization of inhuen-
tial and representative men were
hack Of the movement. Under thes'
most favorable conditions the ISSUE
was laid before the people and thu
people were not even interested
enough to go to the polls. 1t is sig
nidcant that not as many citizen
voted in favor of commission gov
eminent as signed the petition I
have the election called. The vote
IN favor OF the change were not SUI
heient to carry the proposition eve
II mere had been q majority in ia
sor OF the change. Had the result
been reversed. wen. and the numbe
nat voted against it had favored tn
proposition. there still would nc
nave been enough votes to adoT
commission government.
The people having spoken, O
ther. having failed to speak at al
result OF yesterdays voting wi
accepted As Perth Amboyss Al