Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-06-07
REASONS FOR CHANGE.

hEatNONS fOI tfhtANoIs
Persons Interested I'm commission
government for Perth Amboy now
have an opportunity to come forward
and do their part In bringing about
the change. 1t is desired to keeI
this movement as free from polite;
as possible. 1t is a movement for the
good of Perth Amboy. The question
aires sent out to get the sentiment oil
the city are being generously signed.
Every mail brings in the replies. These
men are to be called together shortly
to organize and help put the election
across. Here is the opportunity for
the average taxpayer who usually does
not take much interest In politics.
The question most frequently ask
ed in regard to the commission form
of government is whether or not 1t
would be possible to elect the right
men commissioners. Different persons
have different ideas of what is meant
by fright men," But whether they be
the right men or the wrong men, 1t
Is certain that the people will get just
the kind of men a majority OF the
voters favor and, after all. that is the
most that can be expected of a repre-
sentative form of government.
One thing Is certain-a man to be
elected a commissioner must meet
with the approval of the whole city.
All five of the commissioners to be
elected are chosen from the city at
large. There is 40 separate ward
representation. Under the commission
form of government a man cannot
build up a little organization OF his
own In his own neighborhood. so to
speak. and have himself reelected
term after term because of his
strength In a single ward. To be
elected a commissioner he must get
a majority of the entire city, the same
as a mayor or alderman-at-large must
do at the present time. This fact
ought to assure men of m~ayoralty or
alderman-at-large ability. anyway. and
we have usually had pretty good men
to hold down these positions.
Then, again. responsibility is direct.
II a man is not capable of holding
down his job the public will soon
know it. He cannot shift responsibility. |
There is no hedging or ducking. The
street department cannot blame the
police department and the police de-
partment cannot blame the Board of
Health and so on. Each commissioner
is at the head of one OF the hve
divisions into which the municipal
government is divided. These depart
ments are: Department of Public
Affairs; Director of Revenue and
Finance; Director or Public Safety;
Director of Streets and Public I'm
provements: Director of Parks and
Public Property. The jurisdiction and
duties of each department are clearly
defined so that there is no escaping.
With responsibility so directly fixed
q commissioner is given a year to
make good. If he fails to measure up
TO the Job 1t Is within h power OF
the voters to recall him and elect
another man to take his place.
But the one main reason for favor
ing commission form of government In
Perth Amboy is that it does away
with our present cumbersome and
antequated system; wipes out the
ffty-year-old charter and brings the
city government up to date. No mat
ter how capable the men who are
elected under our present form of gov
may be, they are prevented
from doing their best for the city be-
cause of the serious handicaps of u
present Anticipated system and lack or
authority vested in anyone or any
where. Perth Amboy can never ad-
vance as she should as long as this
condition continues. The commission
form of government simplifes the
Who'll government machinery and
affords a way out of our present
complications. 1t is for the people of
the city to say whether they want 1t or
not. That is what the election is to
be called for.