Evening journal., 1922-02-18

SUGGESTED
AS TOLOAN
Continued from PAGE One.

Continued from Page One.
fed by DIR. c. NJ. Handy president Of
the Board of Health. that the board
had declined to permit use OF the
High School Auditorium on Monday
night for the town meeting. on ac-
count Of the danger Of spreading
scarlet fever.
President Ward. who is chairman
Of the joint committee Of Council
and the School Board, on arrange
ments for the town meeting. an
nounced that the meeting would be
held in City Council Chamber in
stead of the High School auditor
ium. It will be called to order
promptly at o'clock, and a large
crowd is expected to attend.
Proposal. advanced today that
postcard referendum of the city
should be taken. met with immedi-
ate support in many circles. For
. the last municipal election, City
Council appropriated $4,000 and
the sum was virtually all used up
by the Department of Elections for
expenses at the polls. etc. 1t is be-
lieved unlikely Council would ap-
propriate any similar sum for a
school referendum.
In place Of voters going to the
polling places, therefore, 1t was sug-
rested that postais with return cards
attached should be sent to heads Of
an households in the city As there
are about 80, 900 of these, cost of the
cards would be Approximately $50.
Printing would be $40 more. while
work of addressing the cards would
cost IS a thousand or $3.50. All told
It is thought such referendum
could he held for less than s400 at
fhe outside.
President Ward. Of Council, at
once gave his approval OF this plan,
saying he believed it would provide
an even better method of learning
public sentiment than the holding of
a regular referendum, as there would
be more widespread response.
When Ellwood Souder. president
of the City Board of Education. was
asked today his opinion concerning
holding a referendum. he said that
the Mayor had discussed such a pro-
cedure with him, but in an informal
manner only.
1T is my belief" said Mr.. souder
that we shall be able to obtain a
fair line on the sentiment Of the
public towards the proposed new
school at the town meeting which
will be held on Monday night. Such
view. ! believe. was held by the
Joint committee of Council and the
school Board which arranged for
the town meeting. Ample opportu.
nifty will he given opponents to the
project to state their objections. Let
us hold the meeting first, and. then
we can judge better whether
referendum is necessary or not
While I believe the majority Of peo
r pie of the city are in favor OF new
school. am open to conviction an'
shall he willing to change my view ]
the meeting on Monday night shoul'
= warrant IT,"
James b. McManus. chairman o
the finance committee OF Council
when asked his views. replied;
'I heartily agree with the Mayor
idea It would he absolutely thu
best manner OF finding out th'
real opinion OF the people. 1t 4
large proposition. and many tax
payers and property owners. witt
whom have talked have asked me-
how their approval was going L
be made known.
"A referendum IS a good thing.
he said. "but then we have no ap
, preparation to arrange for such
procedure No one wants to appea
as opposing the proEranc but still NJ
one wants to rush headlong into sucl
large undertaking"
DR.. Victor ID. Washburn said:
q IT am positively opposed to tn
! idea Of submitting this question {
a referendum. I believe that tn
b public has already expressed It's de
I sire for new schools. I believe tina
{ 10 submit Il TO a referendum Is {
r waste both time and money. TIL
only advantage Of putting 1t befor
I a town meeting is TO crystallize thi
sentiment and convince members q