Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-12-28
MAKING THE APPROPRIATION DO

The resolution passed by the Board of Health at its meeting
Tuesday night shows a peevishness hardly to be expected of public
officials. 1t is another striking illustration Of the lack of co-opera-
ton in the government of the city. While the health commissioners
are to be commended for showing interest in their work and desir-
ing in every way to improve health conditions, they must realize
that the aldermen, who control the city's finances, have to face
the demands of all departments and at the same time do every
thing within their powder to hold down the constantly increasing
tax rate. To give to all the boards and commissions all that they
asked for, and admitting that every penny would be spent w~orhtily
would require a budget that would come pretty close to bank
rupting those who have to foot the bill.
The aldermen, upon whom devolves the task of portioning out
the funds, have a hard job. Tt is taken for granted that they are
just as interested in the growth of each branch of the city govern
ment as are they who have direct charge of the respective branch
es. The aldermen would like to see the health Of the city improved
in every way possible; they would like to see every modern i'm
provement in the schools and ample room for every pupil; they
want parks and Fairgrounds and an efficient library; they would
like to see the streets all paved and kept clean and adequately
lighted; they would like to have band concerts and bathing beach
es and all the other features that a modern, progressive city should
have. But the aldermen are responsible to the people in the matter
of taxation. There is a demand on all sides to keep down expenses
as the taxes are already more than many can bear. 1t is for the
aldermen, then, to consider all the demands, figure out the funds
available without putting too heavy a burden on the taxpayers, and
portion it out accordingly.
Here is where the advantage of the commission form Of gov
eminent for municipalities comes in. Instead of having a whole
lot of boards and commissions, each one interested in its own
work and giving not a thought to the needs of any other part of
the city's activities, the whole city government with the excep-
son of the management of the public schools, is in charge of five
men. These five men also have the handling of the money and they
are directly responsible to the taxpayers.
At budgst-making time these five men get together around a
tkb1ss. lay all their cards face up and consider the municipal prob
lem as a whole. They are familiar with the needs of each parti-
cular branch of the government and so they are able to use the
money where it will do the most good.
Commission form Of government of cities is not perfect, by
any means. Many objections have developed in the way it is con-
Quoted, especially in this section of the country. For some reason
Or other we here in the East do not get the results so apparent in
As West, yet, taken as a whole, the advantages even as
commission government is conducted here, seems to outweigh the
objections.
1t is to be regretted that the health board cannot have all the
money it wants to carry on its work. We regret that the library
board can't have all that it needs, too; likewise the park board,
the harbor board, the City Plan Commission and all the other de-
partments. But none of them gets what they deem necessary to
carry on their work properly. Yet they are not sulk1ng IN their
tents and passing resolutions of defiance. They are going to take
what they can get. realizing the awful burden OF taxation that the
people are carrying, and they are going to work all the harder to
make what money is given them go as far as possible.
The Board of Health, by resolving not to ask for any addition
al money during the year, except under extraordinary circum
sianssz, are taking the proper course. 1t ought not to be neces
sary for them to pass a resolution to the effect that they will live
within their appropriation this year. That is what they are ex
pected to do and if, through strict economy and careful manage
ment, they are unable to maintain their present staff the only thine
to do is to curtail. But care should be taken that the cuttins
down is done where it will be the least felt in protecting the heahl
o. the city. There is a feeling, however, that if THE Board o
Health make their plans for the year with the greatest considera
sson md Judgment they can maintain their standard on the none.
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