Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-06-02
FIRE HOT SHOTS
At WOODBRIDGE
Jackson Says There's Only 2
Honest Men on Township
Committee
HOLD MORE SESSIONS
Committeeman M'EIroy Gives
Reasons for Opposing Com
mission Government

WOODBRIDGE. June 2.-The
commission government fight con-
tinues in this township and as 1t
nears the day of election it becomes
more bitter than ever. Two meet
ingS were held in the township last
night, one at Woodbridge and the
other at Fords. At the Woodbridge
theatre an enthusiastic meeting was
held by those in favor of he move
men, while at Fords the association
opposed to the new form held
meeting.
The latest development in the
campaign is the issuing of a state
ment today by Township Committee
man Leon E. McElroy. in which he
states that he is against the COM
mission form of government. MT.
McElroy is a Democrat and con-
nected with the law office of former
Senator Thomas Brown of Perth
Amboy. He was elected to the
township committee last fall. HIS
statement follows:
II am opposed to the present
movement on foot in Woodbridge
township to supplant the present
form of government with commits
sion rule. In the first place. the
commission rule is not suitable 20
| the wants of territory the size and
extent of Woodbridge township.
| Secondly, there is no advantage TO
| be derived in its adoption, 1t may
prove detriment. Thirdly, the
commission system is too expensive
and the law clothes the commission
| ers with unlimited power to crea.e
useless offices and extraordinary
| powers in the expenditure of public
moneys. Fourth, there is very grave
| danger of usurpation, of power II
| competent men are not placed n
| office. Lastly and one of the most
! important phases to be considered
| by the people throughout Wood
bridge township is the very evident
| fact that some section thereof is 60
ing to find itself taxed without
representation
"On tust the item of salaries alone
there is an apparent saving unde:
the present form of nearly S5,O0O
over the salaries fixed by law under
the commission form. The peopie
of Woodbridge township are nov
taxed under the present form ol
government for township purposes
the lowest they have been in years
with a possibility of being cut stii
lower next year. 1 venture to pre-
dict that if commission government
is adopted in Woodbridge township
the people. will be greeted with one
of the most stupendous increases IL
taxes it has ever known-it cam
help but come true"
| WOODBRIDGE, June 2.-Alleg'
ing that there are but two honest
township committeeman, Pop
Christie and Bill Gardner. Harry Nj
jackson as chairman of the meeting
of the citizens committee in favor OF
commission government last nlgh
created considerable sensation at the
meeting of the committee for the
icommission form of government heid
in the Woodbridge theatre. Ih'
meeting had been scheduled for an
open air affair in the lot adJoinlns
the theatre, but due to the rain the
session which was attended BY about
$50 voters, was held in the theatre
The principal speaker of the eve
ming was Mayor Mcconnell of Mont
clair. Mr.. Mcconnell gave history
of commission government, how i
! | began in Galveston, when com
mittee of five men was appointed oy
the legislature to put the city pacf
on its feet after the great storm
there. The government under these
five men proved so successful tina
: the citizens of Galveston petitioneo
the legislature for permission to CON
, tinue the system. OF 6S2 cities whlcr
t have adopted commission govern
: ment. Mr.. Mcconnell pointed ou
, only one, Denver. had voted TO re
: turn to the other form. Although
, commission government had beei
> talked of in 1910 at meeting II
New Brunswick. as the proper TORN
of government for the cities of thu
: state. it was not until the Walsn ac
/. was adopted in 1912 that commits
sion form was voted for larger cite
. of the state. said the speaker. n
held that commission government
applying business administrator
to town government.
I. Mr.. Mcconnell said that 1t is
r mistaken idea that the man who re
(Continued on page four)