Palisadian., 1925-10-30

have the Public Service name their
newest ferry boat "Fort Lee" and
Notwithstanding the opposition of
other municipalities he was trium-
phant in his efforts, and was one of
the guests on the trial trips of the
ferry boat Fort Lee" from the dry
dock of the A. w. Fletcher Company
at Hoboken to the Battery.
January 20, 1916, he was elected
President of the Fighting Mayors.
October 81, 1916, he announced that
there would be reduction of II
points in the new tax rate, the first
time since Fort Lee was incorpor-
ated as borough.
January IT, 1917, he won a legal
battle against the County Board of
Taxation effecting a saving of thou
sands of dollars to the taxpayers of
Fort Lee, by securing a reduction
of assessments levied after the tax
rate had been announced.
In April 1917 he participated ac-
and the Harlem Chamber of Com
merce and succeeded in compelling
the railways company to operate the
Willis Avenue Car from the Bronx to
the Fort Lee Ferry for a five cent
fare.
In conjunction with the Fighting
Mayors" the Board of F'reeholders
and the Harlem Chamber of Com
merce, he brought about the lower
rate on the Fort Lee Ferry.
With Americas entry into the
world war. he organized the local
chapter Of the American Red Cross,
and became its first Chairman.
He was Chairman of the five Lib
erty Loans, all of which went "over
the top" in spite of the large quota
allotted.
Mayor White was selected by the
Federal Government as head of the
local Exemption Board and served
during the entire period of the war,
having had one of the largest dis
tricts in the State Of New Jersey
and giving sometimes fifteen to
twenty hours day. allowing his per-
sonal business interests to suffer.
When he entered the Office of
Mayor the debt of the borough had
reached 6.67 per cent of the legal z
per cent and when he left office, dis
regarding the fact that the country
had been at war and every munich
pality under heavy expense, the debt
had been reduced to 4.16 per cent.
T When he took Office again on jan
uary 1, 1924, he found the borough
| finances once more in chaotic state,
dangerously near the debt limit. The
inability of the borough to borrow
much more money was standing in
the way of needed improvements
which will be necessary in the years
just ahead. He foresaw this and the
past two years has labored to put
Fort Lee on firmer footing, ready
for the period of development just
ahead.
improvements that were absolutely
necessary were made and in addi-
tion to this and the work accomp-
lished in paying old obligations and
increasing Fort Lees credit, taxes
were reduced.
The tax rate under this last ad-
ministration of Mayor White took
drop of % points from $3.50 per $10O
of assessed valuation to s5.41. This
was accomplished despite the tre-
mendous slash in ratables of the mo-
tion picture industry ordered by the
County Board Of Taxation.
He is running for reelection at
the urgent request Of many friends
who feel that his business skill, his
experience in municipal management,
his acquaintance with State and
County officials will mean much to
Fort Lee and be her saviour in this
day of great development on account
of the bridge. He has yielded to
their appea, and is candidate with
his record as platform and says
himself, "f you agree with my
friends that possess these qualif1ca-
tions, then vote for me-"