The Penn's Grove record., 1921-04-08
Commission Rule Or old Borough

Commission Rule Or Old Borough
Continued tgrla page
ing tia. u special election be called.
Ii a majority approves at an election
at another election three commission
ers would be elected tor four years.
After confirming much of that Mrs.
Welch said, Mrs. Willis, summarized
as follows:
If a nan wanted a manager for his
business would he trust it to some n
who had their living to make at some
other business and could only attend
TO his affairs in the evenings OF when
they could spare the time? This
same mar invests his money, by pay
ing taxes, in the town and allows that
business to be run in the most hap
hazard fashion.
1t places direct responsibility on the
Commissioners, who are paid and able
to give their whole time to their
duties. 1t means the heads Of the town
cannot give or sell public rights, OF
franchises without a vote by the peO-
pie. 1t means a shorter and more
simplihed ballot.
1t means the adjustment of partl-
a politics. The nominees are on the
ticket and are voted for as capable
men and not because of their party. ,
There are no confusing boards and
committees to scatter responsibility.
Three men, each of whom thoroughly
understands his work, can pass more
intelligent legislation in n short st
ting than a uniform and hesitatlng
council will get through in a weeks
time.
know of one instance in a city
where the right to a valuable piece OF
property was sold TO a corporation for
one dollar. At least that is the
amount that was recorded on the
books.
For Borough Government
Mrs. Hunt led the debate for the
Borough form of government. She
said in part:
am here not to criticise but to
argue with undeniable facts. For
seventeen years our Borough has been
governed by a mayor and six council
men. They have served without sal
aries for the good of their town, by
supplying our needs by performing
their duty faithfully as they saw 1t.
They have been frequently changed at
each election as the voters saw mt.
The commission government de-
ponds upon three men. Upon them
devolves the supreme power OF APP
pointing the assessor, collector, treas
urer and members of the board of
education. This deprives the voters
of a choice of these officials which
they have had from the founding of
our government. The voters pass
their Judgment to three men.
We set up the judgment Of three
men against the wisdom of eve
1t does not make graft impossible
nor crookedness. Three men argue
and agree much easier than seven
Electing commissioners does not nee
essarily place the man best qualified
in the position. Calling the office by
another name does not change the
character of men nor change the duties
to be performed for the people. The
commissioners have the power to add
expenses, pad pay rolls, raise salaries
and increase taxes. Men worthy OF
the commissioners can be elected
mayor and councilmen. Men worthy
of councilmen and mayor should have
a heart for the welfare of his fellow
citizens.
Penns Grove has a high tax rate
and some are feeling it g~rievously,
but when we look to other towns in
our county we see a lower tax rate at
home. Salem's rate for 1921 is S4.16
500; Woodstown, $40, while
Penns Groves is only 1898, with all
the improvements we have made nee
essary by a great inflow of popula-
=. A. ro-+ civ y-nals Mo have
had to build a high school building,
the streets and have a Dor
)ueh hall to be proud of. Surely we {
nave got the value of our money I'M
der the necessities imposed by war, l
which is not so with Salem and Woods {
own.
If we did add the salaries of the {
commissioners would that not make '
IN unnecessary expense and a higher
ak rate?
l present to you the tax rates for c
he past two years and this year for :
consideration. | would call your at
.ention to the fact that the borough
ak is less than last year and our Dor y,
,ugh school tax less than two years Z
You Will notice that it is state q
cad tax. soldiers bonus tax, bridge e
ak and mostly the big increase in the {
.ounty tax from 60 cents 10 SLOT :
hat has kept cur ia rate up t.l4 =
Those are due To your leglsla- i
OILS ana county freeb0lQa- and not g
g. lie mayor and council. z
Tax Rate 1919 ,
state School Tax 70 :
State Road Tax 10 :
Tax 30 !