Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-07
King Asks Cays,deS,
Commission, Rule


SVuuuueh hbVHu SBo WV
ready having petitions circulated 40
that Camden voters could decide if they
want n commission form Of government.
Six thousand names, or 70 per cent
of the vote cast Mt tho November clcc.
'Thc commission form of govern
ment.' said Mr.. King, ''is the only
available solution Of Camden's govern.
mcnt muddle. I would rather 90 back
TO my business and never hold Office
again in my life than be Mayor. Of
Camden with my. hands tied. And
with the State Legislature, rather than
the people. making and amending the
laws under which We will be controlled, I,
my hands will certainly be tied"
Mr.. Kings letter to Acting Mayor
Van Hart follows:
~ beg to acknowledge your letter Of
me Join you In appointing commission
crs for the police and fire board and the
public works board as required by the
Act Of 1907. will submit names for
your consideration on Saturday next.
"Your high. minded attitude will be
appreciated by your fellow citizens. You
have shown yourself too big to take
advantage Of a legal tangle for political
gain.
1T Is evident that the present $3.50
city government, half commission and
half councilmanic, can be but tempo.
ray. We must find way out Of this
maze Of conflicting laws as quickly us
possible 30 that the progress of our
city will no< be retarded by the lack
Of n practical working system of gov
crnment.
Suggests Commission
"Lct us both then appoint temporary
commissioners who will be pledged to
make the least possible change In the
existing form Of government and per.
sonnel Of tho city departments. Let
them be men who arc above seeking
n petty political advantage at the cx ..
pensc Of the general welfare of the city.
"Wc all know that the Paterson
system was not intended for Camden.
Neither Of us want to take advantage
Of a legislative slip. Then let the com
missioners whom we appoint make as
few changes as necessary In our present
municipal establishment. pending Il
final solution of the difficulties.
''To adopt all Of the Paterson sys-
tom would be only one degree better
charter Of 1923. There Is only one
Camden out Of the present muddlc in
which II finds itself.
That one way is the commission
form Of government. Under the Walsh
act this modern and efficient system
can become operative IN less than three
months. All the larger cities Of the
State except Paterson and Camden.
already have adopted this system. 1t
Is in force in Newark, Jersey City,
Passaic. Atlantic City, Trenton, etc.
Sees Practical Side
"rhcrc is no uncertainty about the
effect and Interpretation. Of the Walsh
act. Every phase of it has been set =
tied and threshed ont In the courts. We
; adopt a system Of government which
has been tried by our sister cities and
found practical, and. above all, it Is
Il system Of government by which the
officials elected by the people are di-
! rectly responsible to the people.
Your generous attitude has inspired
inc to be willing to sacrifice my own
interests and my threc.year term In
Office in order that Camden may have
a certain and workable system OF gov
ernment.
"In order that the public may have
an opportunity to make said decision
l Hill uuNlnB pICphICu PSt1eAoh" ""'|'
will be circulated for signatures ncrcs-
sary to hold special commission form
Of government election.
"As you have asked me to join you
in naming temporary commissioners
may l in turn ask you to join nc In
supporting commission government fol-
the good of the city which we both
love:'
To Circulate Petition
II enough names arc obtained on ;he
petitions special election can be called
two weeks after the petitions are fled.
Should the voters adopt commission
form Of government, a primary election
could then be called and later n general
slcction. when five commissioners would
| be chosen.
The election OF commission would
automatically abolish the Camden City
Council, which has twenty -eiyht mem .
bers. two from each of the fourteen
wards. The members Of the commits.
sion would be authorized to name ono
Of their number as Mayor, although
all would have equal power in lcgis.
lating for the city, and each would
have charge Of certain branch OF
the city government.
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