Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1940-04-18
Just as Sensible to
Provide Hitching Rack,
Councilman Says

OIIlllS OppOOlClOII VI Jus
mess and industrial men
and farmers and laborers,
members of the Newark
City Council last Monday
defeated a proposed ordin-
ance for the installation of
parking meters in the busi-
ness district by a 6 to 3
vote.
Councilmen Herbert Ere
nier, James Ellis, and Jay
B. Lentz voted favorably on
the proposal following a
controversy on the council
floor in which members of
the Council, Mayor Glenn
Wright, and city officials
joined. Present and cast
ing votes to kill the ordin-
ance were Councilmen Da-
vid Walker, F. L. Stare,
Louis Rehbeck, A. D. Lock-
wood, Peter Faust, and
James Neighbor. Clint
Conner, president, presided.
The proposal, which has been
opposed by the Merchants asso-
citation, Chamber of Commerce,
Newark Federation of Labor,
and other civic and business
groups, was quickly attacked by
council members as it came up
for debate following it's third
reading. Motion for passage by
Councilmen Ellis and Premier
was opposed by Fourth Ward
Representative Lockwood who
expressed satisfaction with pres
ent facilities and enforcement
policies.
''It would be just as sensible
to provide hitching rack
around the square as to put
these One-armed bandits on our
Streets" Lockwood declared in
summarizing the opposition.
The ordinance as proposed
provided for the installation of
approximately 447 parking met
ers in certain sections of the
business district. One and five
cent coins were specified for
parking privileges ranging from
IL minutes to one hour. The
proposal also invested the di-
rector of public service with
power to enter into a contract
for a nine months trial period,
and further stipulated that pay
ment for meters and installation
would be provided for from re-
ceipts obtained from their oper-
alton.
Terming the merchants around
the square as Newark's biggest
industry, Councilman Faust op-
posed meters as a inimical to
their interests and claimed 100
per cent opposition to the pro-
posal by farmers. Strong oppo-
sition was also expressed by
Stare, Rehbeck, and Walker who
drew applause from the crowd
ed council chambers.
STILL BELIEVES METERS
GOOD THING IN NEWARK
Stating that he still believed
parking meters would be "good
thing for Newark" Second Ward
Councilman Ellis, who has twice
seen his motion for rules suspen-
sion and final adoption fail in
previous meetings, urged the or
dinance on a trial basis. The
farmers would be more ade-
quately served, he said, and mer-
chants would benefit by the
greater turnover of cars parked
in front of their establishments.
A challenge to the council to
find methods of enforcing the
present two-hour parking limit
in inclement weather was issued
by Mayor Wright. Assurance
that he would support whatever
action the majority favored was
given by the Mayor who cited
shortage of men in the police
department and inability to col
lect for tickets as additional
handicaps to enforcement of the
present ordinance.
Chief of Police Gail Christman
stated that five men were re-
quired for enforcement of the
two-hour law, and that police ex-
perience in collection for viola
tions showed the restriction
was not wanted"
Results of a poll conducted by
the Newark Automobile club re-
vealed 6 to l disfavOr of install
alton of the meters. In a letter
read in council chambers, the
club revealed a fOur-day poll of
industrial workers, farmers, and
business men which found pre-
dOminantly negative reactions to
the question "Are you in favor
or not in favor of having park
ing meters installed"? PrOvi-
sion was also made for indica-
tions of indecisiOn. The cross
section of 430 pOlled found 364
opposed to the installation, 58
favorable, and eight undecided.
SAVINGS CLAIMED FOR
LEWIS DISPOSAL PLANT
Claim that the Lewis process
sewage disposal plant would re-
suit in a saving of nearly a
quarter of a million dollars in
"a years over the activated
sludge system was heard by the
council in a letter from Forrest