Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-01-03
Billy Tells
Of INTENTIONS
New Mayor of South Amboy
Makes Suggestions in His
Annual Message.

hall was Inc audlence
was not confined to men, the fair
sex being represented. The room
had been decorated for the occasion
by the South Amboy Woman's Club.
Christmas greens. laurel and huge
American flags made up the decor
ating scheme. Shortly before the
hour of the meeting arrived a floral
horseshoe" was brought in and pre-
scented TO the mayor.
Promptly at noon the five
cilmen entered the council chamber
from the office of the mayor whore
they had assembled. They took their
seats while the audience cheered
for several minutes. City Clerk
Peter ]. Coakley called for the NOM
nation of temporary chairman.
Councilman-at-large Stockton was
elected.
Mr.. Stockton In delivering the
keynote" speech was brief, but 10
the point. Sound business judg-
ment, it seems to me, makes it
necessary that this body shall give
careful elaboration upon the views
and suggestions of His Honor. the
Mayor. AS spokesman for the Re-
publican majority may l express the
firm wish that there may be an un-
selfish cooperation between the ex-
ecutive head of our city and its ad-
min~istrative body. The situation IS
somewhat peculiar. Although it is
customary for the budget to be
made up in the last months of the
previous year, the Council, with a
majority of men who are rather in
experienced in municipal affairs,
Will immediately have to take up
the task of compiling the budget
for 1921, and will have but a limited
.t..~ a., xvhtoh ~ nntHnn tho Sahad-
uie of finances that has such a
weighty bearing upon the tax rate.
l do not want TO be a pessfmist, but
frankly it seems to me that South
Amboy, owing to u present state
of finances, is facing in 1921 the
highest tax rate in its history"
In his introduction Mayor Scully
thanked the people of South Amboy
: for honoring him by h election,
and he briefly reviewed some chap
tiers of municipal life.
Mayor Scully said in part:
THE most important, in fact. II
all important, matter confronting us
is our financial condition. The ex-
4. p~erience. OF the past not only here
but throughout the land, has decided
that the budget system Is the most
efficient check on municipal inanc-
ing. To secure the benefits there
must be not only a budget of appro-
priations. but a rigid adherence TO
the letter and spirit of the law that
requires and directs the system.
For time cut of mind the acqui-
sition of n water supply has been a
~favorite recommendation In each an
nual message. Today our w water
supply is a reality. The dream has
beer realized not so much because of
the efforts of any particular person
or any special party. but in response
to the demand of the evident wishes
OF the people. With Its completion
has come the important duty to see
that the hopes and expectations of
the people are justified. Wisely and
economically managed. the water de-
partment will become an important
financial asset: careless and waste
full management can quickly convert
It into a serious liability. Now is the
appropriate time to revise and re-
draft the water rental schedule, bas-
ing them on the ratio that the water
consumed bears to the cost of the in
sestment and the expense os opera
ton. This action l commend to your
wise consideration.
NO matter how brave or devoted
this personnel OF the police force, nor
how wise its leadership, satisfactory
service cannot be given under the
ANTICIPATED system here III vogue.
Except in number. our Ioiice force
today differs little from tie obsolete
c~onstabulary If the township days.
There Is a more important aspect to
this phase of our government tina
Is often considered-the rights OF
the public. The public pays for pro-
lection, expects protection, has a
right to protection. Every section
of our city is entitled to police sui
veillance. and beyond this our peo-
pie are entitled to know where t.
call in an emergency for police aid
with a certainty the call will not &c
in vain. What we need first is some
system of patrol and supervision. ard
next the establishment of "a modern
police alarm or call. We should
have a decent and modern head
quarters, a desk man by day and
night, a police blotter. a comprehen-
sive record of police activities, and,
having provided such paraphernalia
as is required then we must insist
ON that measure of service from the
police force to which we are entitled.
More men are needed to modernize
the department and the council
should Sc amend the police ordl-
nance as TO provide for them. The
extra cost should not deter you. Far
better that we have an expenditure
double the present with quadrupled
efficiency than the present expense
with efficiency rated about 80 per
cent. of normal. Pending such &C.
lion as the council may see fit to take
of these suggestions it will be my
desire to have the chief of police
district the city and assign a patrol
man to each district. to devise a way
and a OF reporting, and to keep
some permanent record of police
activities.
Second only to the police de-
partment stands the branch of u
government devoted to preventing
and checking the spread of fire. Not
only in the assurance of security
but also in the cost of insurance
against fire, a live, competent and
we'll equipped fire department is a
valuable asset. To every one with
a sense of civic pride there comes a
pang of shame when reference is
made to the fire house on Broad
way. AS a sample of public prop
erty this building is a disgrace. and
while conditions may not have been
opportur.e to build surely there can
be no justification for permitting
the building 70 prematureiy decay
for want of paint, to become the
prey of the elements for the lack of
doors and windows. An early and
thorough survey of the entire de-
partment. It's membersEip. apqara-
Jus. Appliances emil equipment
would seem 10 be 4 .,ass:ns need.
The hrel cosami..er. shs -aisf OF Ike
department an.i such representative
from tbs sx:st,ns Are ~eor.rSnfss as
nlay be lprorer. shoiig NEE; sn1 a.