Frank B. Hanna

FRANK B. HANNA was born in New Jersey in 1894. He married Rachel Thomason around 1914. A daughter, Elizabeth, was born the following year. The Hannas were living at 5315 Locust Street in Philadelphia at the time of the January 1920 Federal Census. Only 25 years of age, Frank B. Hanna had risen to the post of Chief Clerk at one of the shipyards that operated in the Camden-Philadelphia area. The family would soon return to Camden, and Frank Hanna would enter local politics.

A Republican, Frank B. Hanna was named superintendent of streets for Camden on July 12, 1927. He was appointed to Camden’s Board of Commissioners when William D. Sayrs resigned due to illness in 1929. At the time of the 1930 Census the Hannas were living at 549 Haddon Avenue in Camden. By 1933 the family had moved to 450 Carteret Street. By the fall of 1935 he had been elected Surrogate for Camden County.

Frank B. Hanna had passed away by late 1941. His widow Rachel was then working as a matron for the Camden City Police Court, and living at 762 Wright Avenue. She passed away in Baltimore MD on November 25, 1990 at the age of 87.

Damage in Fire at Sixth and Bulson Streets Estimated at $45,000

Three boys are being held and two others are sought in the investigation of the $45,000 fire which today destroyed the warehouse of Sitley & Son, wholesale hardware, roofing material and grain dealers at Sixth and Bulson streets.

The three boys were ordered held by Police Judge Pancoast after authorities expressed belief that the three alarm fire was caused either by thieves or boys smoking cigarettes on the premises.

Two of the youths admitted they stole coal from the plant’s siding last night, while the third confessed that he, and two other boys were in the plant last evening. He said his two companions, who are expected to be arrested this afternoon, were smoking.

One fireman was slightly hurt when he ran a nail into his foot, while other firefighters narrowly escaped injury when the roof of the blazing building collapsed.

A dense fog, rain, great clouds of thick smoke and intense heat all hampered the firemen, and rendered them practically helpless for more than three hours. When the blaze was finally under control at 8:00 a.m., only the blackened and buckled walls remained standing.

Practically the entire stock was lost, but through the courage of four men including two policemen, a team of terrified horses and three trucks were saved from the blazing stable.

Twenty employees were temporarily deprived of work.

Discovery of three rolls of wire fencing on nearby railroad tracks and the presence of two men near the premises when the blaze was discovered led Fire Chief Thomas Nicholas to believe thieves had thrown a cigarette near some flammable material.

The arrested boy is John Brodzik, 1927 Fillmore Street.

Two other youths, John Hadyniak, 16, of 685 Ferry Avenue, and Anthony Parraine, 11, of 2026 South Seventh Street, arrested on a charge of stealing coal from the Sitley siding last night are also being held. They declare they were not in the plant.

In addition to the smoke and heat firemen were further hampered by the fact that two railroads pass the building. Many of the hose lines had to be stretched over the tracks, so that in order to prevent passing trains, from which thousands of commuters saw the fire, from cutting the lines, holes were dug under the tracks and the lines run through the excavations.

Captain David Ellis, of No. 7 fire company at Mt. Ephraim and Kaighn Avenues, ran a nail in his foot, and after being given first aid treatment at the scene was taken to the West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital.

The first alarm was sounded at 4:18 a.m. from a box at Fillmore Street and Chelton Avenue. The fire was discovered by Paul N. Naurath, 1727 Master Street, an engineer at the Camden brewery, which is in the immediate vicinity of the Sitley plant.

Naurath ran to a gasoline filling station at Broadway and Chelton Street from where he telephoned to fire headquarters. He later told Police Lieutenant George Frost that when he noticed the smoke and flames he saw two men running around the Sitley stable, which is attached to the main plant. However, he paid no attention to them, being intent upon turning in an alarm.

While fire apparatus sped to the scene, Naurath, Frederick Baum, 431 Winslow Street; Patrolman Frank Del Rossi and Police Sergeant Edward Carroll, heard the shrill screams of horses in the stable, which had quickly become an inferno.

Horses Rescued

The four rushed into the stable, broke down the door, and led out the two horses, which several times attempted to run back into the flames. The men also drove three trucks out of the place before they were driven away by the dense smoke.

The building occupies a plot about 300 feet square and comprises several one and two-story sections. There was formerly a grain elevator on the site belonging to the Sitleys, but it was destroyed by fire more than a decade ago and never rebuilt. On the south side of the plant are the Atlantic City Railroad tracks, and on the east side the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad lines.

Flames Spread Rapidly

Believed to have started either in the stable or at the extreme northern end of the plant, the fire quickly swept through the entire building. Rolls of tarred paper and bins of grain were quickly consumed, throwing out huge clouds of smoke.

Two more alarms were sounded for additional apparatus, but it was not until 7:30 a.m. that firemen could enter the building. Meanwhile, about 50 hose lines were stretched to the building and water continually played on the fire. Commissioner Frank B. Hanna arrived and increased the water pressure five points at the pumping stations to keep a water supply to feed the hose lines. Chief of Police Lewis H. Stehr also sped to the fire.

A touch of tragedy was added when Thomas Mills, 70, of 431 Viola Street, employed by the Sitleys for 40 years as a packer, arrived. The elderly workman burst into tears when he saw the flames, and sobbed that he was now out of work and had a family to support.

Finally, about 8 a.m., firemen had the blaze under control, after the roof had caved in. Only the walls stood, but several times they threatened to collapse.

The owners, Frank B. Sitley, Sr., of Woodbury, and his son, Frank B. Sitley, Jr., arrived, but declined to estimate their loss. However, police and firemen fixed an approximate damage of $25,000 to the building and $20,000 to the stock.

Lieutenant Frost found three rolls of wire fencing which had been taken from the building. They were lying on the Reading Railroad tracks, apparently dropped by thieves when police arrived.

Young Brodzik was arrested at 8:00 p.m. yesterday by Special Officer John Stevenson, who turned him over to Patrolmen Smith and Rieh. The youth was charged with suspicion of having broken into the place, and is alleged to have first denied being in the building, but later admitted that he and two other boys crawled through a basement window.

The boy declared that he neither smoked nor stole anything, but said that other boys had smoked. He refused to divulge their names.

Hadyniak and Perraine were arrested last night and charged with theft of coal from the siding. Brodzik declared those two were not the boys who were with him last night.

All three were arraigned before Judge Pancoast in police court this morning and held without bail pending investigation.

Bonds, New Incinerator and Repairs Prevent Further Economy

Total expenditures tumbled $1,286,737 in the four years since City Commissioner Frank B. Hanna took charge of the department of streets and public improvements.

The expenses would have dropped $1,791,086.89 but for bonds totaling $504,349.89 that had to be met during that period for water improvements, a new incinerator, street construction, and repairs, sewage plants and street surveys, representing indebtedness incurred partly by preceding administrations.

Hanna also had to meet a total of $96,828.91 from 1929 to 1932 inclusive to operate sewage disposal plants, an expense that his predecessors in office did not have. If that amount were added, the grand total cut made by Hanna in expenditures during the four years would be $1,887,915.80 under the total for 1928, the year preceding his assumption to office.

Table Shows Economy

The amazing drop in the department’s expenses during the last four years came to light Saturday in a 9-year table made public by Hanna. The table shows that the commissioner spent $768,305.97 in 1932, against $2,055,043.39 in 1928 when Commissioner William D. Sayrs, Jr., headed the public works department.

Hanna pointed out that he made public the comparative nine-year table of expenses so that the public might know how every penny has been spent during the four years of administration as a city commissioner. He added that the tremendous cut in expenses is due to no one man, but because of the wholehearted co-operation of his assistants and subordinates and the general public.

The table reveals that the 1932 expenses under Hanna were $2,188,108.88 less than the $2,956,414.85 aggregate in 1924, when former Commissioner Carroll P. Sherwood was in charge of the department.

Records at Hanna’s office also show that his 1933 budget calls for total appropriations of only $503,575.40, and that his receipts from the water department are expected to total $621,321.90. That would give him a balance of $117,746.50 over and above his expenses for the year, which is considered a material credit balance in these days of considerably depleted revenues.

Budget for 1933

Further, the 1933 budget for the department is less than one-third of the $2,055,043 spent in 1928 before Hanna became a city commissioner. It would not be amiss to mention at this point that the budget figures are mere estimates, and that they may be over or under the amount actually spent in any given year. In each year that Hanna has been commissioner, the records show, he has spent considerably less than the amount he was allotted for that year in the department’s budget.

For instance, the department’s files reveal that while Hanna was allowed $706,075.90 in his 1932 budget, he spent only $646,902.60 of that total, or $60,973.30 less than the estate for his department by effecting economies not anticipated in the budget.

The department’s net expenses to operate last year, the records further reveal, were only about $73,600. In other words, of the total expenditures of $768,305.97, more than $573,900 was met in receipts from the water department and a total of $120,727.59 went to meet water and street bonds, representing indebtedness of that and former years.

$73,600 for Routine

With the net total of $73,600, Hanna directed street and sewer repair and cleaning, the collection of ashes and garbage, the operation of the city sewage disposal plants and the city engineer’s office, and paid salaries.

A comparative itemization of the 1932 budget figures and what Hanna actually spent reveals the additional $60,973.30 in economies he effected under the 1932 budget estimate.

While he was allowed $10,075 for his office as director, he spent only $9735.14; the highway office budget called for $19,746, with but $18,223.91 expended; streets called for $221,000 in the budget, but $172,607.06 was expended; culverts, $22,600, but only $18,695.98 was paid out; city engineer’s office allowance, $20,638, with that total cut to $18,511.36; sewage disposal plants, $30,695 allotted, but only $23,178.43 spent; water department, $381,321 called for in 1932 budget, with $383,950.72 paid out.

Of the total of $383,950.72 expended in the water department, $98,881.14 went to meet bonds for improvements and replacements made in wells last year which showed iron in the water, Hanna’s table of 1932 expenses revealed. The item is listed in the table under the heading, “Water bond contracts payable.”

Annual Profit Shown

The water department shows a profit each year. In the 1933 budget this year, for instance, it is expected to show a profit of $240,000 over and above its expenses of $381,321.90, which total includes maintenance and operation, $273,000; interest on water bonds, $73,079; maturing water bonds, $27,475 and water sinking fund, $7767.90.

In other words, the total receipts this year of the water department are expected to be $621,321.90 or $117,746.50 more than the 1933 appropriations.

Aside from the expense figures already mentioned, other interesting facts are shown in the table.

For instance, it is reveal that the commissioner would have shown an even greater cut in expenses of $1,286,737 during his four years’ administration except for the fact that sewage disposal plants were added to his costs beginning in 1929. Those expenses did not enter into the expenditures his predecessors in office had to meet because the improvements had not been operated in their time.

The table shows that the expenses for operation of the sewage disposal plants totaled $96,828.91 from 1929 to 1932 inclusive. If those expenditures did not have to be met, the reduction which Hanna effected in the time he has been in office would have come to a grand total of $1,383,565.91.

Another interesting revelation in the table is that under the item of “street construction.” The table shows that Hanna spent only $2675.78 for street construction last year, against $275,623.84 in the preceding year and against $393,810.96 during the term of Commissioner Sayrs and $797,714.70 in 1924, under Commissioner Sherwood.

For Public’s Information

Commissioner Hanna pointed out that in making public the comparative table he has arranged it so that the public could understand from the report the exact amount spent each year in the department.

“The table is arranged in a simple, concise manner that it will be understood and will not cause any confusion,” the commissioner said.

“In the reductions that have been made in department’s expenses during the four years of my administration, the credit goes to no one man. They were made possible through the co-operation of everyone in the department and the general public.

“Officials and employees of the bureaus under my direction have shown an enthusiastic spirit to serve the public well at the least possible expense. Their constant thought has been the public interest and it is to them and to our citizens that the principal credit should go for the savings we have been able to make.

“We have economized to the limit during the last four years, but I feel that we have reached the point that we cannot cut any further and at the same time give the efficient and adequate service we have offered in recent years.

Records Always Open

“I feel that every citizen of Camden should know how the department has been spending the taxpayers’ money. The citizens have a right to know. It always has been my policy to let them know, and to reveal to anyone interested all the records available at my office.

“In conclusion, I am taking this opportunity to thank the public for its co-operation in wrapping garbage and in furthering the department’s campaign to keep the city’s streets and sidewalks clean. Such co-operation is appreciated by me and by every other official and employee in the department of streets and public improvements.”

Slash of $702,890 Is Revealed in Totals Passed at Session of Rulers

LEASE ANNOUNCED OF RADIO STATION

Commissioners Debate With Von Nieda as He Charges Gross Extravagance

By WALT BATEZEL

The Camden City Commission yesterday approved the 1933 city budget after hearing and rejecting economy recommendations of several civic and labor organizations.

Eight speakers representing five organizations urged budget reductions and protested the total of $3,353,124.60. Verbal clashes over opinions were frequent between Commissioner Harold W. Bennett, director of finance and revenue, and former Councilman Frederick von Nieda and Thomas B. Hall, representatives of the Congress of Civic Associations of New Jersey.

Nearly 300 persons attended the hearing, in marked contrast to the 5000 who marched on city hall last year to demand budget reductions. The hearing lasted three hours. The departmental budget appropriations of $3,353,124.60 with the local school appropriation of $1,250,000 and other appropriations, totaling $960,060.55 to be added in the tax ordinance yet to be adopted, will give the city a total expense of $5,563,185.15 for 1933.

Tax Bill About Same

The tax rate will not be known until the tax ordinance is adopted. After the hearing Commissioner Bennett declared that due to equalization of assessments, the bills of some taxpayers will be a few dollars higher than last year, and a few dollars lower in other cases. The commission, after approving the budget on a motion by Commissioner Bennett, adopted a resolution leasing WCAM to the Broadcast Advertising Company for $1000 per year and a percentage of all receipts over $24,000. All maintenance costs will be born by the company, of which Rudolph Preisendanz, Jr., is head.

After the budget was adopted Bennett declared the City Commission would take into consideration an allegation of Frank J. Hartmann, Jr., secretary of the Civic Congress, that the $125,400 appropriation for street lighting was $26,450 higher than it should be according to figures obtained by him concerning the city’s lighting equipment. “If there has been an error the budget can be amended at any time,” Commissioner Bennett said.

Commissioner Clay W. Reesman, under whose department street lighting comes, declared that figures in his office concerning street lighting were different from those quoted by Hartmann. The figures he used, Hartmann said, were obtained by him from City Comptroller Sidney P. McCord.

Von Nieda Case

Von Nieda was the first citizen to address the commission. Shifting papers in his hands, he faced the commissioners and said: “We have here $40,000 for your Recorder’s Court in 1932, and $25,000 for 1933.”

Commissioner Bennett jumped to his feet.

“Those 1932 figures,” Bennett said, “were merely an estimate of the receipts to be taken in, but that amount did not come in. This year we anticipate only $25,000, which we consider a fair estimate.”

“That’s fine” said von Nieda, “but we have never had a chance to sit in with you on these figures.”

“You can sit in with us at any time,” responded Bennett, “We’re glad to have you.”

“I see here,” said von Nieda, “that the transportation inspector is paid from fees, but you show no fees and the inspector should be paid by the Public Service. I also suggest that you turn Convention Hall over to the poor. Now in dealing with Station WCAM, I see you show a profit for the last three months of $1000, while in 1932, you show no records of receipts, and we are just wondering.’.”

Worried by WCAM

“Do you want that answered now?” asked Bennett. “WCAM has given myself and the other commissioners some concern during the past year. It is our duty to see that we receive as much income as possible. Different methods have been used in the radio station to make it pay during the past three months, and during this time that station has been in the black. We figure that in 1933 there will be no deficit in this station, and we look for a profit of more than $1000.”

“Now in this matter of eliminating deputy directors,” von Nieda said.

He was interrupted by Commissioner Reesman.

“I’ll tell you,” said Reesman, “about my deputy director Carlton Harris. My deputy receives $1750 a year. He has charge of all labor in the Department of Parks and Public Property. He is on the job every morning at 7:00 AM, and often works until 10 p. m., with the labor outside.”

“In speaking of the assessors,” von Nieda continued, “we should have assessors who are not influenced by politicians or political dictators.”

“You know I won’t stand for that,” answered Bennett. “The readjustment of ratables is only a small part of the work we are doing. Each property is assessed on a basic principal. Any time you have a suggestion that will help us in our work we will be glad to hear from you but I firmly believe that real estate must be relieved of its heavy tax burden by an income and sales tax, and this tax must come sooner or later.”

Seeking Relief

“As far as the city commissioners are concerned, we are studying it from day to day, in efforts to get out of the wilderness.

“In speaking of the purchasing department,” von Nieda continued, “we know what happened there last year. You fired your purchasing agent, and if you had not fired him it probably would have afforded the public some interesting reading about this purchasing department.

“All of my men are working overtime,’ replied Bennett. “It is true the purchasing agent is out and his work is being done by an assistant (William Dilmore) at half his salary. We have got rid of as many people in these departments as we can. I had to let one girl go in the purchasing department and one girl in Controller McCord’s department. One man went on pension in the tax office and two were let out in efforts to balance the budget.

“In one of my departments where there were three girls I had to make a $900 cut by leaving one girl out. I called the three girls into my office and told them that one had to go and asked them what their home responsibilities were. One had to take care of her family, including a 77-year-old aunt; another a family with a 66-year-old aunt, and the third was supporting three or four brothers with the help of another brother, who is a barber working for practically what tips he could get.

“But I had to make a $900 cut. The girls asked me not to dismiss any of them, as they each would take a $300 cut in addition to cuts already applied. Another man took an extra $260 cut so that he would not be out of work. But I had the budget to take care of, and I am ready to challenge any city the size of Camden to show so nearly a balanced budget. Our plan is to pay as we go.”

“You cite two or three instances,” protested von Nieda. “But I want to show you scores of families which have no money and they are taxpayers. You say you have cut to the bone, but you should cut through the bone. This is no grandstand play by us. Maybe we can give you some help. Then, too, the debt interest must be paid on this tragedy,” he shouted, pointing to walls of the commission chamber.

“Maybe you can tell me how to get rid of the bonds,” suggested Bennett. “You must remember this year we have cut $900,000 from the budget.”

Offers Recommendation

Von Nieda said the Civic Congress recommended that work now being done by two city solicitors should be done by one, that when more policemen and firemen are needed “little fellows” be restored first wherever possible; that the city incinerating plant be closed; that the personnel of the city’s two sewage disposal plants be reduced; that the city’s lighting bill be cut $40,000; that inspectors of lighting be abolished and their work done by policemen and the city’s engineer’s department. Personally he favored an income tax, he said, to relieve the burden on real estate.

“I realize,” von Nieda said, “that the city commission has done a fair job, but of the congress, with conservatively 15,000 members, think you can do even better.”

Commissioner Frank B. Hanna, director of public works, interrupted von Nieda on the subject of the incinerating plant, which von Nieda declared could be abandoned because it did not burn garbage, but only rubbish.

“Can you see me at 9:00 AM tomorrow and go through my department with me?” asked Hanna.

“Any time,” replied von Nieda.

Warns of Tax Strike

“However,” von Nieda continued, “we are wondering what the figures in the right hand corner of the tax bill will be. Assessments may be lower and the tax rate higher, and that does not give a true picture. I fear the bills will be more for 1933 and for one am willing now to take the 1932 assessment on my home.

“The congress vigorously opposes this personality tax. You expect to tax the homeowner for everything he has. I warn you gentlemen that if this tax is imposed in Camden there will be a run on banks and building and loan associations. If that happens homeowners and renters will leave this unfortunate city. There will be a tax strike here, and so help me God, I’m helping it!”

Von Nieda was followed by William Hughes of 578 Mickle street, who spoke for the Unemployed Council of New Jersey.

Hughes reiterated demands of the union for increased relief payments to unemployed, urged a municipally-owned lighting plant, operated at a profit, the same as the city’s water department; a municipal lodging house; use of hand labor instead of machinery in all city contracts and the employment of labor to “tear down the slums in Camden.”

Hartmann was the next speaker. He read from a prepared statement which he declared was an analysis of the city’s 1932 lighting expenses, and which, he said, could be lowered “had we used larger lamps.”

Reesman Contradicts

After enumerating the individual costs of lamps of various candle power, and contending a change in the lamps would effect a saving this year, Hartmann charged the city has overpaid for electric energy in street lighting.

Commissioner Reesman declared that figures used by Hartmann were in error and that therefore, his computations as to possible savings were wrong. He announced, however, he would study the situation to discover if there was any error in the budget concerning street lighting, as alleged by Hartmann.

“The Civic Congress is now circulating petitions for a referendum on a municipal lighting plant,” Hartmann said. “We now have 10,000 of the required 11,000 signatures, and we do not intend to stop until we have 25,000. You commissioners can stop these petitions by adopting a resolution declaring a referendum on the question.”

He then asked that the work of the city electrical inspector be taken over by the National Board of Fire Underwriters, and that “when the next tax sale is held, all properties be advertised, including banks, garages and to whomever the property belongs.”

Commissioner Bennett then arose and said: “I’ve used discretion on that. There are some who are paying as low as $5 per month, and I think these people should be helped. We commissioners do not want to sell the home of anyone. That is what we are trying to stop. We are in perfect agreement on that.”

Debt Moratorium Asked

“How about the Bridge Garage?” some one in the audience shouted.

“The Bridge Garage has just paid $1500,” Bennett said, “and promises to pay something every month. We are trying to make the tax bills lower by getting in all the monies we can, and where possible to take in delinquent payments no matter how small.”

Clarence Moullette, secretary of the Unemployed Union of New Jersey, then arose. He asked for a moratorium on the city debt service for five years, and urged the commission to adopt such a resolution memorializing the Legislature for that relief. He announced opposition to the personality tax.

“We are not questioning the actions of the commissioners,” Moullette said. “Spending less money will not help the situation. Commissioner Hanna told me if he had $51,000 additional in his department six closed garbage trucks could purchased. This will help give work. By cutting down salaries you decrease purchasing power. Work must be had. Eventually you will pay in scrip. Why not pay in scrip now and give out work.”

Hall asked that Convention Hall be abandoned and the building used for hospitalization work for the needy, and urged the city commission to “meet in the evenings so that citizens will know and see what is going on.” He asked for abolition of the positions of plumbing, building, sewer and heating inspectors.

‘Close High Schools’

“The commission should face conditions as they are,” he said. “I speak for myself, and not the Civic Congress. I ask that the high schools be closed. I heartily approve closing of the Vocational School, but if choice was to be made between high schools and the Vocational School, I would say close the high schools. Before selling the home of anyone to meet impossible taxes, I say cut to the bone by getting rid of everything that is not absolutely necessary.

“You commissioners must be made to realize that increased taxation is what has destroyed purchasing power in America. Meet this condition!”

Commissioner Bennett challenged the statement of Hall that government costs were responsible for conditions of today.

“There are numerous causes,” Bennett said.

“I would rejoice in debating it with you or anyone you select,” Hall replied, “including United States senators, and convince them in 20 minutes.”

“I’ll debate that with him,” shouted Morris Stempa of Audubon from the audience. Stempa later addressed the commission, speaking for the Socialist party, and urged the moratorium advocated by Moullette, also a Socialist.

Eugene Wasilewski, speaking for the South Camden Civic Association, denounced the commission for failing to call in civic association representatives in their preparation of the Budget.

Bennett Gives Reply

“You called in the bankers, but not those others of us who also are interested in city costs,” Wasilewski said. “You tell us now there is a reduction in assessments and then come along and wallop us with a higher tax rate. That is not fair. You were elected to look after our interests and that you have failed to do. You are making us eat red herring, and we want you to eat red herring with us.”

The last citizen to address the commission was Salvadore Guadelli, president of the Citizens-Taxpayers’ League. He made a general indictment of conditions, and asked that the city commission “do not let sectionalism creep into city affairs.”

Commissioner Bennett then arose and addressed his fellow commissioners and the audience.

“All these things suggested here today have been considered,” he said. “We five men came into office with the idea of serving the people. I know the business of financing the city is a serious problem. We have endeavored to move the budget into that realm of ‘pay-as-you-go!’ We appreciate everything presented here. Every taxpayer we look upon as an employer.

“Looking at it from every angle, this budget cannot be delayed any longer. You’ll find we were severe in preparing this budget; you’ll find we were severe last year. Last year we cut a half million. This year we cut $702,890.74, and to that the board of education, we hope, will add a cut of $250,000. That is a total cut of $952,890.74. Other cities in New Jersey show nothing to compare with it.

Budget Adopted

“I hesitate in making more cuts. I speak from experience when I say I’m a taxpayer. In the past two weeks I’ve been trying to raise money to pay taxes. I want all of you to know we commissioners can sympathize. It is not easy being at the head of a government in times like these. I hope that municipalities will receive federal relief in payment of debt service. There has been a tremendous cut in our budget, including the board of education figures. I feel the commissioners are to be commended for the work they’ve done this year.

“If we pass the budget we won’t stop at that particular point, but will see what else we can do all along the line. I feel the essential thing is to pass the budget. I’m proud of the fact we came through 1932, and are started in 1933 the same way, although I make no promise for the future. I wish for a moratorium for interest on bonds. There are the bondholders on one side and the taxpayers on the other, and the man out of work to be considered.

“We are in sympathy with the man out of work. I say let the federal government put some money into the interest rate. We must pass this budget this afternoon. Do not delay longer. This is not an arbitrary stand on my part. I make a motion the budget now be passed.”

City Clerk Frank S. Albright called the roll and all five commissioners voting unanimously. No demonstration followed passage of the measure.

*Eugene Wasilewski referred to in this story was Eugene Waleskiewicz, who was later known as Eugene Wales.

To the Editor:

Sir:—A great deal has been said and written about the fine showing of Commissioner Mr. Frank Hanna by his department of streets and public improvements. The thought is implied that the rest of the commissioners should make the same fine showing. As a Socialist let me tell why Mr. Hanna is doing so well. That good showing comes from the publicly owned water works, which sells something to the people for cash.

This water works not only pays its own expenses of furnishing the people with the best of water, its profits also pay the expenses of street repairing, ash collection, garbage collection, operation of the incinerating and disposal plants, the expenses of the highway bureau, the city engineering office, driving additional wells to improve the service, etc. In addition to all that it turns over more than $100,000 to help run the other departments. If the city makes that much profit by serving only 12 of the 14 wards with water, why does it not force its agreement on acquiring the New Jersey Water Company which is supplying about one-third of Camden population, but which keeps its huge profits for a few private owners. The Socialist party demands that the City of Camden exercise its contract and by so doing lessening the cost of government by diverting these private profits to relieve the burdensome taxes. There are 84 cities in the United States that pay no city taxes because they own their own electric plants. Why not Camden become the 85th?

If the ownership of water works and electric plants can accomplish these amazing results, why not go further and own the banks, telephone systems, transportation, coal, milk, ice, gas, etc. Don’t say it can’t be done. If we can collectively build and operate the Delaware river bridge at a profit in these times of depression we can do anything. Think it over.

HERMAN F. NIESSNER

“Municipal Ownership of Light” will be the subject of an address by Frank Daugherty, Philadelphia engineer, at a meeting of the Camden Kiwanis Club at Hotel Walt Whitman today.

Daugherty, a member of the Scofield Engineering Co., designers of the Jacksonville, Florida municipal lighting plant, will be the guest of City Commissioner Frank B. Hanna, with whom the commissioner visited the southern city several weeks ago on an inspection tour.

Mrs. Frank B. Hanna and daughter, Miss Betty Hanna of 450 Carteret street, leave today for Ocean City where they will spend the Summer. They will be joined over the weekends by City Commissioner Hanna.

Commissioner Says, However, He Awaits Public Sentiment

MOORE SIGNS ACT, NEW FEES FIXED

Stewart and Bennett Against, Hanna and Rhone For

With four members of the city commission deadlocked on the issue, Commissioner Clay W. Reesman last night appeared to hold in his hands the final decision as to whether Sunday beer sales will be permitted in Camden.

This was revealed when he announced that his deciding vote on the issue would be guided by a “sounding of public sentiment.”

On April 26 Mayor Roy R. Stewart and Commissioner Harold W. Bennett declared they would vote against any resolution permitting Sunday sales, while Commissioners Frank B. Hanna and Dr. David S. Rhone declared they would favor such a resolution. Reesman asserted at that time that “it would be foolish for him to comment until the measure before the legislature becomes a law.”

Measure Now Law

The state measure, which permits Sunday beer sales upon resolution of municipal bodies, became law yesterday when Governor A. Harry Moore signed it. The bill, primarily, extends the state temporary beer act until August 31.

When asked last night how he stood on the Sunday beer sale question in Camden, Reesman said:

“I can’t state any opinion at this time, for I really have none. I want to sound public sentiment first. Whatever the people want, that is the way I’ll be guided.” He added that he would be unable to say how much time would be required for him to arrive at an opinion.

As soon as the city commission learned that the governor had approved the measure yesterday, it met in special session and adopted a resolution calling for an additional fee from Camden beer retailers for the extended period of two months.

At the same time, the Beverage Tax Division of the State Tax Department announced that all retailers of beer and wines must make tax payments by July 7 on all purchases and sales of beer by them between April 7 and July 1.

Tax Experts Coming

To assist retailers in determining their tax liability representatives of the Beverage Tax Division will sit for one week, from July 1 to July 7, in seven South Jersey towns, as follows: Camden, Room 212, court house annex; Burlington, city hall; Bridgeton, court house, July 1 and 3 only; Atlantic City, Room 729, Guaranty Trust building; Gloucester City, clerk’s office, city hall; Cape May Court House, court house, July 6 and 7 only; Salem, city hall, July 5 only.

Retailers who have purchased beverages from any source outside New Jersey will be subject to a tax of three cents a gallon if the tax has not already been paid by the manufacturer or distributor.

Mayor Stewart, in expressing his opinion on Sunday beer sales, declared it would have a bad effect on the community and its people, and that employees of restaurants and inns were entitled to a day of rest as other workers.

Commissioner Bennett declared sale of the beverage would not help observance of the Sabbath. Commissioners Hanna and Rhone took the view that Congress had legislated 3.2 percent beer as non-intoxicating, and that it was therefore as equally non-intoxicating on Sunday as any other day, and that its sale would make little difference.

New Fees Cited

The Beverage Tax Division also pointed out yesterday that the extension beverage act require manufacturers to pay an additional license fee of $400, and distributors an additional fee of $100 if their licenses are to be automatically extended. Security for the extended term must also be furnished and acceptable to the State Tax Commissioner.

Licenses for the extended period will be issued in South Jersey at the offices of Deputy Beverage Commissioners Frank B. Middleton, Jr., in Camden, at 130 North Broadway, and Frederick Stahle, 4105 Sunset Avenue, Atlantic City.

Various South Jersey communities, following the lead of Camden, are expected to announce new additional fees for municipal licenses before a week has passed.

The city resolution provides that the additional fee must be paid to Frank S. Albright, city clerk, before tomorrow night, and that all the beer regulations adopted by the city April 6 remain in “full force and effect.”

Under the measure, according to Albright, distributors in the city that do not pay a state beer license must also pay an additional $50 fee.

Retail beer servers began paying their new fees shortly after the city commission passed the resolution.

In approving the state measure, Governor Moore said:

“I am constrained to sign this temporary act, which expires at midnight, August 31, because without it there would be no effective regulation whatsoever covering the manufacture and sale of beer.

“Then too, each municipality must determine for itself by resolution of its governing body whether the sale of beer shall be permitted after 1 p. m. on Sunday. Without such action, it cannot be legally sold.”

The governor signed the measure at 12:30 p.m.

Before Moore reached his decision to approve the bill, it had been a question for several days whether he would veto it because it contained no provision for a referendum on Sunday sales, as proposed by the Democratic legislators in Trenton.

REESMAN TO DECIDE IF COMMISSIONERS OFFER RESOLUTION

Beverage Dispensers Will Discuss Question at Next Meeting

19 LICENSES ISSUED

“The Camden City Commission will take no action on the Sunday beer sale question unless the people express a strong desire for Sunday beer.”

This is the declaration made yesterday by Mayor Roy R. Stewart.

And not only are members of the city commission divided on the Sunday beer issue but saloonkeepers are themselves.

Fred J. Stuebing, president of the Camden County Beverage Dispensers’ Association, revealed that some members of the association are against Sunday sales and some are in favor of it.

“We have not gone on record for or against Sunday sales.” Stuebing said. “Some of our members are against it. The question will be brought up at our own meeting a week from today.

Wants His Day Off

“Personally, I would not want to keep my place open on Sunday afternoons. I want a day off after working all week. I might open up for a while Sunday evenings, though, if it were permitted.”

In the event of a resolution being introduced in the city commission to permit Sunday sales after 1 p.m., the final decision would rest in the hands of Commissioner Clay W. Reesman since he has refused to commit himself on the issue, while Mayor Stewart and Commissioner Harold W. Bennett have announced against it, and Commissioners Frank B. Hanna and Dr. David S. Rhone have pronounced themselves in favor of it.

“I don’t think there is any insistent demand for Sunday beer,” said the mayor. “If there is, I haven’t heard about it.

“Furthermore, I see no real reason for Sunday beer. In the so-called good old days before prohibition, saloons were closed on Sundays. Why should they be opened now?

“And as I said in a statement some time ago, the men and women employed in the retail beer business deserve a day off a week for recreation and worship just as any other workers.

“The City Commission will take no action unless the people express a strong desire for Sunday beer.”

Owners Interviewed

There was a rumor in circulation yesterday that quite a number of Camden saloonkeepers had been “interviewed” by certain politicians on the Sunday sale situation.

“You don’t want to sell beer on Sunday, do you?” is the question that is said to have been put to them. And it was put in such a way that a negative answer was expected, the rumor has it.

This report apparently is borne out by the attitude of Mayor Stewart. The mayor’s statement came as a surprise particularly in view of the fact that Camden saloonkeepers recently contributed to a fund for the purpose of having the ban on bars removed and also to bring about Sunday sales.

Camden saloon and restaurant keepers have been complaining because the roadhouses in the suburban districts were permitted to sell beer on Sunday and that they also were allowed to remain open later that the closing time specified for similar places operated in the city limits.

These same Camden saloonkeepers also have complained about the political clubs within the city being permitted to remain open after the regular closing hours and also that they have been allowed to remain open on Sundays.

New Licenses Granted

Meanwhile, City Clerk Frank S. Albright yesterday announced approval of 19 new applications for retail beer licenses, bringing the total in the city to 239. Three new wholesale licenses also were sanctioned.

Following are the retail permits:

John Pennington, 818 Broadway; Salvatore Spitalore, 201 Royden Street; Samuel Friedenberg, 575 Van Hook Street; Fred Steubing, 318 Market Street; Frank Markiewicz, 673 Ferry Avenue; Matthew Orland, 3, 5, 7 and 9 Ferry Walk; Anthony Laskowski, 1200 Everett Street; Albert Ross, 1425 Mt. Ephraim Avenue; Samuel Hurwitz, 703 Chestnut Street; Clito Viviano, 522-524 Walnut Street; Harry Adams, 406 North Seventh Street; Daniel Cirucci, 305 Benson Street; Charles A. Bieri, 318 Kaighn Avenue; Max Kleinfeld, 101 Chestnut Street; John MacDougall, 839 Market Street; Alexander Wrightson, Southwest corner Ninth and Chestnut Streets; David Plasky, 2362 Broadway; Luigi Corda, 702 South Second Street, and Irving Cartin, 201 Mechanic Street.

Wholesalers: Camden County Beer Distributors, 1203 Chestnut Street; William Grams, 2101 Federal Street, and Justin Peterson, 511 Chelton Avenue.

Commissioners Deny Knowing Which Will Sponsor Ordinance

The Camden City Commission may consider a Sunday beer sale ordinance today.

That was admitted last night by several members of the commission, although all claimed they had no idea who would advance the ordinance.

A conference of the commission is scheduled for noon, prior to today’s regular meeting at 2:30 PM. It is believed that if an ordinance is to come up it will first be considered in caucus.

Request for Sunday beer was made in a resolution adopted unanimously by the Camden County Division of the New Jersey Licensed Beverage Association.

Proprietors of more than 60 of the city’s leading establishments voted in favor of Sunday beer at the time the resolution was adopted, a week ago.

Copies of the resolution were sent to each member of the city commission. They pointed out that “several communities bordering Camden permit the sale of beer in Sundays.”

Commissioners Frank B. Hanna and Dr. David S. Rhone are known to favor Sunday beer sales. Mayor Roy R. Stewart and Harold W. Bennett, director of finance, have expressed disapproval of it. Commissioner Clay W. Reesman has been straddling the issue.

To the Editor:

Sir—At least, we are getting somewhere. Harold Bennett made the remark recently that the New Deal Commissioners haven’t got the “guts” to remove him. I say, let them call his bluff.

If you will recall, I wrote to the Mail Bag under date of November 29, 1935, and suggested this particular move. The same transfer that Baird had performed on Hanna. Mr. Bennett as far as I know is a perfect gentleman outside of political circles, but when he capitulates to Dave Baird, when it’s time to oust him. And this statement also holds good for Fred von Nieda, one-time Socialist and so-called independent. It’s rumored that Baird promised Bennett a judgeship. What did he promise poor Fred?

I have been a life-long Republican but rather than continue under Baird’s leadership, I would prefer casting my future with the present New Deal Commissioners. And if the courts should not uphold the New Dealers in their efforts to remove those in “key-positions” I say, “prefer charges” and get rid of them. How else can we hold the New Dealers liable? Are they receiving 100 percent co-operation from their subordinates? The latter were placed there by Baird. To whom are they obligated? Baird or to the taxpayers?

DISGUSTED REPUBLICAN TAXPAYER.

Fergie McGrath’s Popeye club, members of the Rhone Twilight League, easily defeated the Independent Umpires’ Association in their annual contest last evening at Civic Center by the score of 8 to 4.

At times, the game turned into a clownish affair, with both clubs attempting to excel each other in fun-making for the fans. Commissioner Frank B. Hanna, in addition to officiating, acted as a pinch-hitter for the “blindmen,” while Samuel E. Fulton, president of the Board of Education and also prexy of the Rhone Twilight circuit, officiated and pinch hit for the same outfit, getting a single in his lone trip to the plate, while Hanna walked and also scored.

Pat Heppard worked on the hill for the “umps” and was touched for 11 hits. The winners bunching these in the third inning when they scored five runs. Nicktern twirled for Popeye and gave up seven blows, two of which were made by Leo Pusey, while Vandy [VanderStraaten], Tully, Ackerman and Nicktern each collected a brace of blows for the winners.

Corporation Fails to Tell About Drop in Florida Rate, Charge

BENEFITS TO TAXPAYERS POINTED OUT BY MAYOR

“In presenting figures to influence the voters of Camden on the light plant referendum, Public Service Corporation has cooked its own goose in an electric roaster.”

That was the declaration of Mayor Frederick von Nieda last night in a statement urging the voters at the November 5 election not to be deceived by “fallacious chart advertising.”

“The biggest mistake in the corporation’s campaign of advertising,” von Nieda said, “is when they cite Jacksonville, Fla., where there is a city-owned plant in a municipality comparable in size to Camden.

“Here’s what Public Service says so glibly in its advertisement: ‘Residential service electric rates were substantially reduced in Camden last year and are now lower than the residential rates charged in Jacksonville, Fla.’

“Then it cites the monthly cost of electricity for the average family in Camden now, on the basis of a consumption of 45 kilowatt hours, at $2.80, or at the rate of 6.23 cents per kilowatt hour. In Jacksonville the basic residential rate has been 7 cents.

Big Drop in Rate

“But what Public Service failed to tell the public is that in Jacksonville the rate is established for ordinary use of lighting, but when another appliance is added in the home, say a radio, the rate automatically drops to 3 cents, more than 100 percent below the Camden rate.

“There is scarcely a home using electricity in Camden that has no electrical appliance, if it’s only an iron or a hair curler.

“Neither has the Public Service Corporation told the public in its paid advertisements that in Jacksonville the city owned plant contributed in 1933 to the city treasury $1,720,000 and in 1934, despite certain supply contracts, $1,300,000.

“I have in my possession a letter from Jacksonville’s utility engineer in which he states that in another three or four years the city will be tax free.

“Public Service in its fallacious charts seeks to uphold its slogan that ‘Cost of Government Increases as Cost of Electricity Decreases.’

“The answer to that is easy: ‘The income of government, where there is a city-owned plant, increases as the consumption of electricity increases because of lower rates.’

3 Ways to Run Plant

“There are three ways in which public-owned plants may be run. First, for the benefit of the taxpayers only, as in Jacksonville. Second, as in Seattle, for the taxpayers and consumers by low rates. Third, as in Tacoma for low rate only.

“While I was fighting for light plant legislation in Trenton a Tacoma man visiting the state capital showed me a receipted tax bill for the previous month for $2.80 which covered the lighting of every room in his house every night because his wife in his absence couldn’t bear to be alone in the darkness, covered also operation of an electrical refrigerator, air conditioner, radio, cooking and other appliances and heating of the whole house and that was in a cold month. It was amazing, but it was true.

“And yet with the lowest rate in the country, the Tacoma plant turned over to the city $854,381 in one year. Tacoma has more than 14,000 electric ranges. Our entire state of New Jersey has less than 1000.

Huge Profits

“Electricity is the only commodity that is sold to the majority of consumers at 18 to 20 times its cost. Since its manufacturing and distribution are in at least 90 percent of our American communities controlled by private corporations, the public finds itself virtually at their mercy.

“It goes without saying that a private corporation is certainly loath to relinquish its enormous profits—hidden behind a capital set-up, huge salaries and other devices—and will go to any length of trouble and expense to eliminate a competition that might compel them to meet lower rates.

“But what of taxes? Private companies pay taxes. City-owned plants do not. Taxes are involuntary contributions for cost of city government. Taxes paid by private companies are rarely more than 10 to 12 percent of their gross receipts not their net profits.

“All the net profits of city-owned plants go into the city treasury and become voluntary contributions to the amount to be raised for the cost of government and take the place of taxes that would have been placed on all taxpayers for just that purpose.

Benefit of Competition

“Again comes the plea of the private company, that a competitor of this type would destroy private investment. A low rate can only benefit the private company, for it will bring mass consumption and send their stock, not downward, but soaring because of increased business.

“In Montreal where the Montreal Light and Power Company is in competition with the plant of the City of Westmont just across the river, what was once upon a time a rate of 12% is now 3% but the use was made so manifold that the stock of the private company rose from $94 to $1167.”

Public Service Corporation was accused yesterday by Commissioner Frank J. Hartmann, Jr., of “flooding Camden with foreign language newspapers in which half-baked truths and distortions of fact appear.”

Hartmann, chairman of the municipal light plant committee, predicted the vote in favor of the project at the November 5 election would be “at least 8 to 1 instead of 4 to 1 because of such tactics.”

Hartmann announced he and other commissioners will “take the stump” in an effort to bring about an overwhelming majority in favor of the project.

“We’re going to talk on street corners, over Station WCAM, through mobile sound-trucks and at meetings,” Hartmann said. “We hope to stage a huge mass meeting the night before election at Convention Hall. I agree with Surrogate Hanna that an even more convincing vote in favor of the project than two years ago would be a real blow to Public Service’s efforts to defeat the will of the people.”

A total of 22,730 votes were cast in favor of a city-owned plant in the 1933 referendum, against 9160 negative votes.

Statement By Hartmann

Hartmann’s statement follows:

“The Public Service Electric & Gas Company is stooping to unfair tactics in an effort to defeat the will of the people in declaring for a municipal light plant at the election on Nov. 5.

“I am reliably informed that the city is now being flooded with foreign language newspapers in which advertisements containing half-baked truths and distortions of fact appear.

“One of these newspapers, a weekly, has been imported from Newark. Probably, if these same advertisements should appear in an English language newspaper, they would have the effect of defeating the Public Service arguments. They would not dare to hand to persons of English speech the lies which they can pass on to those of foreign extraction in Camden city who cannot speak the English language.

“It is tactics of these kinds which will so arouse the voters that the vote will be at least eight to one as compared to the four to one vote of two years ago in favor of the light plant.

“As has been said many times before, the people of the City of Camden are being taxed twice, once by the city and once by the utility company in the form of exorbitant rates.

“If has been said that Camden has low electric rates. Such statements are not true. Camden rates, according to Congressional investigation, are the fourth highest in the country and by Camden’s rates we mean the rates of any city or any customer in the Public Service system.

“It has been recently proven that the City of Camden can buy power cheaper retail than it can wholesale. The advertising manager of the public Service Company says ‘if we would use more of it we can get it for less money,’ a humorous statement when you consider if you read such statements regarding the various costs in different parts of the city in the water department, the same electricity costs as high as 1 cent in one place and perhaps 6/10 of a cent somewhere else, but no matter where it is consumed the same basic cost still exists and I am convinced that the Public Service can manufacture electricity as cheap as anyone else, especially those that they claim in poorly operated municipal plants who can manufacture current for 4/10 of a cent per kilowatt hour.

“No thinking voter will be fooled by either the statements or the number of advertisements appearing in the paper. For, after all, money is no object in this battle as far as the people’s rights are concerned.

“At the present time the City of Camden is very poorly lighted because we can afford only $126,000 for street lighting. If Camden had its own municipal power plant we would get much more light for far less money. Likewise in the water department we would not be charging 17 cents to ourselves for one kilowatt of electricity, on the face of the earth controlled by monopoly that sells from two to twenty times the cost of its production.

“The present City Commission, of which I am a member, takes cognizance of the fact that one of the reasons we are in office at the present time is because we have pledged our support for a municipal power plant.

“We are now planning a short and intensive campaign which will consist of holding meetings in the various civic and social clubs throughout Camden, speaking to the entire city from loud-speaking wagons, and we intend planning a mass meeting to climax our effort, and we sincerely hope that the voting this time is at least twice as decisive as it was two years ago.

“Because of the fact that Camden did not own its municipal power plant we find ourselves struggling along in the same way and manner that we have for the last six years.

“Incidentally, every commissioner will speak at very frequent intervals over Camden’s municipal station, privately owned.

“The commissioners, in endeavoring to reach the people, of course, will utilize the press and right here may we say that Camden’s newspaper, the Courier-Post, deserves credit for suggesting that the question be placed on the ballot without petition. The citizens and the commissioners offer to these newspapers sincere thanks and sincerely hope that they will continue in the future as they have in the past, in telling the citizens of Camden what is best for them.

“We urge that every citizen go to the polls and vote yes for a municipal light plant. This is your salvation. The relief from the tax burden and the beginning of a new day. The people must be served.”

Six Grandchildren, Two Nephews and Friend Named By Mt. Ephraim Woman

An inventory filed yesterday with Surrogate Frank B. Hanna sets the value of the estate of Mrs. Pauline H. Friedrich, late of Mt. Ephraim, at $50,842.62.

The inventory was prepared by the Camden Safe Deposit & Trust Co., executors of Mrs. Friedrich’s will. Mrs. Friedrich died last June 12.

Under provisions of the will, two nephews, Henry F. and Frank Burnett, of Philadelphia, will each received $200; Anna Buckingham, a friend, will get $400, and the remainder will be divided equally among six grandchildren. They are Edna, Freda, Ida, Helen, Louis and Frank Bader, of Lawndale, Pa. Edna Bader also inherits the Friedrich property at Kings Highway and Black Horse pike, Mt. Ephraim.

Mrs. Edna C. Wasserman, Camden, a daughter, inherits the residue of the $2900 estate of Mrs. Laura Boone who died January 27. Although the husband, George Boone, is not mentioned in the will, Walter S. Keown, executor of the estate, said he will get his share as allowed by law.

Two sons and a daughter will share the $1500 estate of Mrs. Mary E. Cattell who died February 16. They are Amos H., executor of the estate, of 20 Matthes Avenue, Wilmington, Delaware, Lewis N., Keen Valley, New York, and Mrs. Rena Morris, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.

Mrs. Helen R. Carr, a daughter, of this city, gets $500 of the estate left by Frank Riggins who died February 1. Mrs. Mary Riggins, the widow, of 303 Warren Avenue, is named executrix and gets the residue.

Former Camden Jobholders at Trenton Trying to Line Up Votes to Retain Ex-Leader on Bridge Board; Hoffman Hinted Back of ‘Deal’

By MERCURY

With both sides at a stalemate over the Delaware River Joint Commission appointment, local political circles today were agog over a state house report that all 17 Democratic Assemblymen are pledged to vote for David Baird.

Baird, a one-time Republican leader here, is holding an ad interim appointment given him by the outgoing Governor Hoffman while the Legislature was not in session. However, regular appointments to the bridge commission must be made by both branches at the Legislature and not by the governor.

State Senator Albert E. Burling and Assemblyman Rocco Palese were reported prepared to submit former State Senator Albert S. Woodruff’s name Monday night. Assemblymen Lawrence Ellis and Millard Allen, on the other hand, had been reported ready to submit Baird’s name.

Neither side made a move toward introducing the necessary resolution, but both factions were busily engaged in lining up votes.

Woodruff Seen Confident

Woodruff supporters claimed they have enough votes—all Republican—to elect the attorney. They said there are 23 Republican Assemblymen who will refuse positively to vote for Baird even should Baird’s name be the only one submitted.

It was the well-circulated report that Baird would get unanimous help from the Democrats, however, that had the State House corridors buzzing last night. Some greeted the report with an I-don’t-believe-it-because-Baird-never-deals-with-Democrats expression, while others laughingly dismissed the rumor with a I-knew-it-all-the-time attitude.

The report started when one of the lobbyists asked Traffic Judge Lewis Paladeau, of Jersey City, a Hague spokesman, whether the Democratic Assemblymen would take sides in the contest. Judge Paladeau replied:

“The 17 Democratic votes are pledged.” He declined to say to which candidate.

But several Democrats who had the judge’s ear told the wide world that Judge Paladeau had confided that all 17 votes were for Baird.

Hoffman’s Hand Seen

Some onlookers who heard reports that this pledge was the result of some footwork by the same ex-Governor Hoffman who was able, when he was chief executive, to find no end of help from the Hague Democrats when he needed it for his friends.

Another report was that the Camden Democrats had asked Jersey City to “keep Baird in the picture” for obvious reasons.

Assemblymen Ellis and Allen surprised their associates by joining the Baird button-holers in trying to enlist votes. Both Allen and Ellis had told Surrogate Frank B. Hanna, state committeeman, that they were for Baird only because they had pledged him their votes before Woodruff’s name was proposed, and that they didn’t wish to break their word to Baird. They didn’t tell Hanna that they had pledged themselves to get other votes for Baird.

Ellis’ Statement

Ellis stated this afternoon:

“I was approached after Mr. Baird’s name was announced by Hoffman for the ad interim appointment. No one, from the county committee or anyone else, has ever mentioned any other name to me. I was asked by Mr. Baird how I felt about his appointment, and I replied ‘All right, Mr. Baird. As far as I know you’ve always been a Republican. Since I’ve been approached by no one else, it’s all right with me.’

“As far as approaching other Assemblymen last night is concerned, it was to this extent: A number of Assemblymen from other counties asked me how the Camden county delegation stood, and I told them it was two against one.

“As far as I am concerned, unless we can get 31 Republican votes I won’t put in Mr. Baird’s name. But if the others get help from the Democrats, and bring up Mr. Woodruff’s name in the House, it would be no more than fair that Mr. Baird’s name be brought up and find out exactly how the vote stood.”

Among the vote-for-Baird lobbyists in the State House corridors were present and former jobholders. These included Mrs. Florence Baker, State committeewoman; City Commissioner Frederick von Nieda, former Mayor Roy R. Stewart, former Assemblyman Edwin G. Scovel, and William Lehman, who is a candidate for appointment to William A. E. King’s job on the county board of elections.

Von Nieda Explains

Von Nieda declared he was in Trenton because he is “interested in the light plant bill and some fish and game measures.” Yesterday, he reiterated this, but also said:

“I didn’t go to Trenton primarily on the Baird matter, although Baird is a fine chap, it is a matter of principle. He was appointed by Hoffman probably without his knowledge, now someone is challenging his ability to fill the job.”

Scovel was asked whether he and von Nieda had tried to get votes for Baird last night.

“We did what we could for Baird,” replied Scovel. “I am for him. There was a lot of button-holing on both sides. You’d think it’s a $10,000 job.”

Mrs. Baker was the first on the scene and tried her luck with the Essex delegation; including Senator Clee. The latter listened to her exhortation that he had always received help from the Camden Republicans and then smilingly averred:

“It looks like you’re trying to sell me an applecart.” Mrs. Baker said she wasn’t; she was trying to sell him a diamond.

Hanna, Alfred Driscoll, Haddonfield commissioner, and Assistant City Solicitor Edward V. Martino were among those who lined up votes for Woodruff.

Runnemede G.O.P. Aide to Back Woodruff, Erase Name From Petition

Mrs. Katherine Petzold, Republican county committeewoman from Runnemede, yesterday announced she had bolted the candidacy of David Baird Jr., for election to the bridge commission, to support former Senator Albert S. Woodruff.

Mrs. Petzold repudiated her original action in signing the Baird petition, for which she and her colleague, former Mayor Robert F. Sheppard, have been asked to resign from the county committee by the executive committee of the Runnemede Republican organization.

Mrs. Petzold and Sheppard have been summoned before the Runnemede committee on Monday night to explain their action in signing the petition. Mrs. Petzold said she would attend the meeting, but Sheppard has refused to make any comment on his action in signing the Baird document or on the summons to appear before the Republican organization.

In announcing her break from the Baird to the Woodruff camp, Mrs. Petzold disclosed that William Lehman, in charge of the Republican county headquarters at Broadway and Stevens street, Camden; Mrs. Anna G. Holl, county committee woman from Haddonfield, and Mrs. Mary H. Tegge, county committee woman from Haddon Heights, were the missionaries who persuaded her to sign.

Wants Name Removed

“I signed the petition as they requested,” said Mrs. Petzold, “not thinking that I was doing anything against the wishes of our Republican organization or to embarrass our executive committee.”

In leaving the Baird cause yesterday, Mrs. Petzold made the following statement:

“I am going to ask tomorrow that my name be removed from the petition supporting David Baird for appointment to the bridge commission. I intend to support the appointment of Senator Albert S. Woodruff.

“I have learned that my signing the petition of Mr. Baird has met with disfavor of the Runnemede Republican Club and its executive committee. I wish it known to the committee and to my friends that I regret my action.

“The petition was brought to me by Mr. Lehman, Mrs. Holl and Mrs. Tegge, for me to sign. Through my friendship for them I signed the petition as they requested, not thinking I was doing anything against the wishes of the Republican organization or to embarrass our executive committee.

“After reading in the newspaper, of the executive committee at which I was criticized for my action I realized then what I had done.

Grateful for Support

“I want it known that I am grateful to the Republican organization and the executive committee of Runnemede for their support in electing me to the Camden County Republican Committee.

“I would do nothing to cause them embarrassment.

“I am heartily in accord with the movement of state Committeeman Frank Hanna, Dr. Warren E. Pinner, our freeholder; Mayor Harry A. Fluharty and other Young Republican leaders to rebuild the Republican party in Camden County. I am always ready to co-operate with them and abide by their wishes.

“I am sending letters to the three Republican assemblymen from Camden County and to Senator Burling to have my name removed from the Baird petition and to endorse Senator Albert S. Woodruff for the appointment to the bridge commission.”

When the names of Sheppard and Mrs. Petzold were found to have been signed to the Baird petition, the names having been revealed following the parley last Saturday with state legislators, the Runnemede Republicans became indignant.

A meeting was held by the executive committee Sunday and a resolution was passed at the meeting urging the appointment of Woodruff and criticizing Sheppard and Mrs. Petzold for supporting Baird.

The county committee representatives were held to have been acting without authority when they signed the petition.

Reappointment of Clark and King Unlikely After Expiration of Terms March; Republican Leaders Scan Possibilities

By MERCURY

There will be two new faces on the Camden County Board of Elections after March 1.

The terms of Charles J. Clark, Democrat, and William A. E. King, Republican, expire and Mercury has learned that neither will be reappointed.

The names of the appointees must be in the hands of the Governor by the first of the month, for confirmation, by the Senate. The names are submitted to Governor Moore by the respective State Committee chairmen who in turn usually accepts them from the State Committee members and county chairmen.

State Republican Chairman Clayton Freeman will send the Republican nomination to the Governor. Surrogate Frank B. Hanna, state committeeman, has a letter from Freeman asking for the name of the Republican member to be appointed. It is likely that Freeman will send to the governor whatever name is given him by the Camden County members.

Thumbs Down on King

Hanna, Mrs. Florence Baker, state committeewoman and herself a member of the county election board, and Dr. Leslie H. Ewing, county G.O.P. chairman, have been holding numerous conferences on the subject.

Dr. Ewing has definitely turned thumbs down on King, Mrs. Baker, too, has refused to recommend King and it was said that Hanna will not recommend him.

As a matter of fact, Mercury learns, Dr. Ewing has a list of prospective candidates. The origin of the list is unknown but it includes a number of city and county candidates. Among these are William Lehman, manager at the Republican headquarters; George Tarter and Meyer Sakin, attorneys; Charles S. Wright, of East Camden; Jack Weinberg; George Roberts, of Collingswood; Curtis Walter, Pennsauken tax collector, and Harry Willson, Pennsauken assessor.

Mrs. Baker for Sakin

Mrs. Baker is reported to be for Sakin.

It wasn’t known who Hanna is for, but reports have it that he may recommend George Walton, of Haddonfield. If Hanna does recommend Walton, who is from out in the county, it would leave the way open for appointment of a city member in the event Mrs. Baker, who accepted the membership temporarily, resigns.

Who the Democratic appointee will be is conjectural but it won’t be Clark, who has been at odds with the city-county Democratic organization.

A number of names have come in for consideration, among them being John Morrissey, chairman of the excise board; Bart Sheehan, former assemblyman; Robert Wren, Pennsauken committeeman; John Crean, of Haddonfield; John Trainor, of Haddon Township, and Sidney Kaplan.

Gertrude L. Higgins Leaves Numerous Bequests to Religious Groups

The major portion of a $10,000 and upwards estate is left to religious organizations in the will of Miss Gertrude L. Higgins, of 718 Market Street, which was filed for probate in the office of Surrogate Frank B. Hanna yesterday.

Miss Higgins died in Cooper Hospital on January 24. She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Higgins. After making bequests to relatives, friends and the church organizations, Miss Higgins directed that the residue be given to the Church of The Immaculate Conception. The Camden Safe Deposit And Trust Company is named executor.

The bequests listed in the will follow:

Bridie Lucy Richter, cousin, Camden, all personal effects, including household goods, books, silverware and jewelry and $1000; Rose Faigan Lodge, aunt, Philadelphia, $1000; Agnes Evans Huber, cousin, Woodlynne, $200; Mrs. Sarah Ostertag, friend, Camden, $200; Margaret Higgins Webb, Albany, N. Y., $20; Rose Higgins, Albany, $20; Eugene Higgins, cousin, Albany, $20; Joseph Higgins, cousin, Albany, $20.

Many Religious Bequests

Property 718 Market Street, to be sold and the proceeds distributed as follows: one-third to Rev. Sylvester Eisermann, in trust for St. Paul’s Indian Mission, Marty, South Dakota; one-third to Rev. Edward Berheide, in trust for The Little Flower Indian school, St. Michael, North Dakota; one-third to Rev. Joseph Maguire, in trust for The Society for the Protection of Destitute Roman Catholic Children, Buffalo, N. Y.

The Catholic Home for Orphans at Hopewell, $500; property 218 North Brown street, Gloucester, New Jersey, to be sold and the proceeds distributed as follows: one-third to The Society of The Divine Word of Techno, Illinois, to be used for the education of young men for the priesthood; one-third to the school sisters of Notre Dame Motherhouse, Baltimore, to be used to educate young ladies to become school sisters of Notre Dame; one-third to Mother M. Teresa, in trust for Mt. St. Mary’s, Plainfield.

Property 806 Birch Street, to be sold and the proceeds to be distributed as follows: one-third to Mother M. Evangelista, in trust for St. Joseph’s Home for the Blind; one-third to Mother Regina, in trust for St. Joseph’s Home for Girls, Seventh and Spruce streets, Philadelphia; one-third to Father Superior, Detroit, in trust for Mariannhill Mission, to be used for the education of young men for the priesthood.

Edna Lodge, cousin, Philadelphia, $20; Lewis Lodge, cousin, Philadelphia, $20; Dominican Sisters of The Perpetual Rosary, Haddon Avenue, $1000; Catholic Home for the Aged, Beverly, $500; the Commissariat of the Holy Land, Franciscan Monastery, Washington, $1000; the Sulpician Fathers of Washington, $500; Father Louis Pastorelli, Baltimore, $500 to be used to educate young men for the priesthood.

The Capuchin Fathers, Yonkers, N. Y., to spread the faith among the Negro and Indian Missions, $500; Benedictine Sister of Perpetual Adoration, Clyde, Mo., to educate young women to become nuns, $300; Jesuit Martyr’s Shrine, Auriesville, N. Y., $100; Father Patrick O’Boyle, of St. Joseph’s Union, New York, to feed and clothe orphans, $100; The Church of The Immaculate Conception, Camden, residue.

Elizabeth Mary Brain, who died January 2, left an estate of $14,000 to Elvie E. Colmer, a daughter, of Beach Haven, and Alton I. Gilman, a son, of 312 Mechanic Street.

Ethel Horner Garwood, of Salem, and Maurice W. Horner, of Medford, were left the $14,000 estate of their father, William M. Horner. He died November 23, 1937.

The will of Almeda G. Lippincott, who died January 17, bequeaths an estate of $19,500 to Charlotte E. Lippincott, a daughter, and Jacob Lippincott, a son, both of Stratford. Wearing apparel, furniture and jewelry were left to Mayor Royden K. Lippincott, her husband who was named executor.

Burleigh B. Draper, former vice president of the First Camden National Bank and Trust Company, is named sole heir to the $6000 estate of his wife, Mrs. Ruby MacDonald Draper, who died January 22.

James M. Gardner, who died January 19 leaves a $2100 estate to his wife, Anna M. Gardner, of 619 State Street.

Tall Cedars to Entertain National Head at Fete Here Saturday

Charles Siegel, Supreme Tall Cedar of the United States, and his official Camden Forest No. 5 staff will be honored at a dinner and at the second annual charity ball of the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, at the Walt Whitman Hotel Saturday night.

Among the guests will be City Commissioner Frederick von Nieda and Mrs. von Nieda; City Commissioner Frank J. Hartmann and Mrs. Hartmann, Surrogate F. B. Hanna and Mrs. Hanna, Sheriff Joseph Van Meter and Mrs. Van Meter, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Pearson, Mr. and Mrs. August Romelle, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Hicks, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Cook, Mr. and Mrs. James Knox, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Brown.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Forsythe, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Giffins, Mr. and Mrs. William Del Baugh, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Reeves, Mr. and Mrs. William E. Strouse, Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Peters, William G. Rohrer, Miss Flora Tulk, Mr. and Mrs. George Murray, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Dahl, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Ireton, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Mattison, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Burgess, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Miles, Lieutenant Albert Eckenroth and Mrs. Eckenroth.

Music will be furnished by the Famous Sonny James Orchestra.

Camden Officials to Attend Barbers’ and Beauticians’ Fete Monday

Dinner Speakers Predict Camden Man Will Get Association Post – N. J. Officers Attend

Robert Wonsetler, of the Camden Fire Department, was hailed as the next state president of the Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association at the 41st anniversary dinner of Camden Local, No. 5, last night. It was held in Kenney’s Cafe, with 150 members and their women folks attending.

The Camden man is now first vice president of the state association and state representative of the local. James Delaney, of Elizabeth, state president, and other state officers who were among the speakers predicted that when the local has its 42nd anniversary next year, it will have occasion to celebrate the election of Wonsetler as 1939 state president.

Other speakers were Mayor George E. Brunner, City Commissioners Mary W. Kobus and Frank J. Hartmann, Assemblyman Rocco Palese, Fire Chief John H. Lennox, Carlton W. Rowand, Bruce A. Wallace and Freeholder Edward J. Quinlan.

State officers attending, besides Delaney and Wonsetler, were Fred Bailey, Weehawken, second vice president; George Steele, Union City, recording secretary; Joseph Burke, Newark, financial secretary, and Jack Reed, Kearny, treasurer.

Surrogate Frank B. Hanna, who was toastmaster, referred to the three city commissioners present as “candidates for re-election without opposition.”

Commissioner Kobus, head of the city fire department, was applauded when she announced wash-stands and showers are being installed in local firehouses and that windbreakers and new fire nets have been ordered.

“The firehouses in Camden are in better condition than ever before,” Commissioner Hartmann said.

Officers of the Camden Local are Chester Andrus, president; W. Samuel Mountney, vice president; Nelson Andrews, recording secretary; Harrison Pike, financial secretary; Henry Zook, treasurer; Ralph Bingemann, sergeant-at-arms; William H. Harrison, chaplain, and Wonsetler, state representative.

Russell J. Anderson was chairman of the dinner committee, which included Harry Wagner, Arthur Batten, Harry Wilkers, David Humphries and Pike.

Haddonfield G.O.P. Heads Accept Hanna Choice for County Board

George H. Walton, Republican county committeeman of Haddonfield, and Camden attorney, last night was endorsed by the governors of the Haddonfield Republican Club for appointment to the Camden County Board of Elections.

The endorsement was given by 14 of the 18 members of the board.

Surrogate Frank B. Hanna, Republican State committeeman, said he previously had offered Walton as a compromise candidate for the job, succeeding William A. E. King, whose term expires March 1.

When advised at midnight of the Haddonfield club’s action, Hanna made known he had suggested to County Clerk Leslie H. Ewing, chairman of the county committee, and Mrs. Florence Baker, State committee member, that Walton be named as a compromise.

According to Hanna, his candidate was rejected by Dr. Ewing and Mrs. Baker. Hanna declared both favor appointment of Meyer L. Sakin, a Camden attorney, who also is the choice of former U. S. Senator David Baird.

Hanna said: “The endorsement of Mr. Walton is pleasing to me. He is a real Republican, an outstanding lawyer and bears an excellent reputation in his own community and in other parts of the county.

“I am sure if Mr. Walton is named to the board we will not have any such election scandals as those in Hudson county.”

“Mr. Sakin is Baird’s candidate. He wants him to have the job so he can oust Harry Ecky from his job as a permanent registrar. Mr. Ecky is one of the most efficient men in the court house. He has done a fine job, and I don’t intend to be a party to a plot to punish him because he saw fit to be an efficient employee.”

Charles T. Wright, of the Twelfth ward, Nathan Blank, of Oaklyn, and Robert Derowski, of the Seventh ward, also were recommended by Hanna, who stated last night all three were rejected by the Baird-Ewing-Baker clique.

Hanna said Sakin, the Baird candidate, could not obtain the endorsement of the Thirteenth Ward Republican Club or the two county committee members, E. Howard Broome and Mrs. Anna Saunders.

Hanna also stated Sakin never had approached him for the position, and he did not know Sakin was in the field other than having Baird support.

Committee Goes in Huddle on King Successor — Comes Out With Headache

By MERCURY

There isn’t a whole lot of patronage available for the Camden county Republicans these days, but they’re fighting like cats about it, anyway.

Wednesday was Headache Day for the G. O. P. patronage committee. The committee met for the purpose of picking a successor to William A. E. King on the county elections board. The net result was plenty of names, plenty of arguments, no successor.

Among those there at various times were David Baird, County Clerk Leslie H. Ewing, Mrs. Florence Baker, Louis Bantivoglio, Frank Middleton, Mrs. Margaret Wermuth, Mrs. Mary Tegge, Mrs. Anna Holl, Assemblymen Lawrence Ellis and Millard Allen. Other members of the committee, such as Congressman Charles A. Wolverton, Senator Albert E. Burling and Assemblyman Rocco Palese, could not get there. Surrogate Frank B. Hanna could get there and did at 3 p.m., when the meeting was supposed to start. But he left at 3:35 p.m. before the session had got under way.

A Baird Order

It was reported that the meeting broke up with the general idea that Meyer L. Sakin, local attorney, would be recommended for the job. This, however, was decidedly not a unanimous opinion and, according to some quarters, not even a majority decision. It would be more proper to characterize it as a Baird order.

It was rumored that Mrs. Tegge, Mrs. Wermuth and Mrs. Holl opened the hostilities by suggesting that King be allowed to succeed himself. But Dr. Ewing and Mrs. Baker vetoed this—rather enthusiastically.

Then Mrs. Holl, it is understood, was asked whether she would support George Walton, a fellow townsman from Haddonfield, but she refused. It is reported that Hanna has suggested Walton for the post and that Dr. Ewing and Mrs. Baker are willing to support Walton.

The real fireworks began when William Lehman, manager of the county Republican headquarters, declared that Baird had promised him that none other than William Lehman was going to get the job. It appears that Lehman will soon be in need of the job, as the county committee is now voting on whether to discontinue maintaining the headquarters and Lehman.

Lehman Let Down?

But it appears that Baird didn’t put up much of a fight Wednesday in Lehman’s behalf. So another net result of the meeting is that Baird and Lehman were walking on opposite sides of the street yesterday.

Hanna was asked yesterday whether Sakin had been recommended.

“Yes, I understand they went on record for Sakin, but I don’t know that officially,” asserted the state committeeman. “I got there at 3 o’clock, but nobody wanted to start things. It looked like they were just waiting for Dave Baird to come and tell them what to do. I had some legal papers to get out so I had to leave.”

Another report being circulated yesterday was that Baird wants to put Lehman in the job held by Harry F. Ecky, First ward Republican. Ecky is a registrar for the county election board. His was one of the most popular appointments made in recent years by the Republicans. Both he and Victor Scharle, Democratic registrar, are not only popular but their work has been universally recognized as extremely efficient.

100 Little Folks to Be Guests on Sgt. Ray Smith’s Birthday

More than 100 crippled children from this vicinity will be entertained at the seventh annual Sgt. Ray Smith’s crippled children’s day and birthday party, next Monday.

The party, an annual affair, is staged by the Elks’ crippled childrens committee and the Sgt. Ray’s birthday party committee.

The youngsters will meet at the Elks Home, 808 Market street, and will be taken to Clementon Park in buses where Theodore Gibbs, manager of the park will throw open the entire facilities of the park for the crippled children, staging a special show in the afternoon. A luncheon will be served at the park by the committee.

At four o’clock the youngsters will be taken to the Silver Lake Inn where a special amateur show will be staged on the lawn by the crippled children themselves. A sports entertainment will be staged by Otto O’Keefe, of the Veteran Boxers Association of Philadelphia, then dinner arranged by John E. Weber, proprietor of the Silver Lake Inn. During the dinner hour the youngsters will be entertained by talent from Philadelphia and nearby night clubs, with Otto O’Keefe presenting the acts.

After the children’s party, a dinner will be served in honor of Sgt. Ray Smith, on his 46th birthday.

Officers of the Crippled Childrens Committee headed by Smith include Homer H. Lotier, treasurer, and A. Lincoln Michener, secretary. Mrs. Florence A. Lovett is executive secretary.

The party committee is headed by Carlton W. Rowand and Charles W. Anderson. Surrogate Frank B. Hanna is the treasurer.

Those who have been invited to attend are Mayor George E. Brunner, Congressman Charles A. Wolverton, Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando, Firmin Michel, Albert E. Burling, Albert Austermuhl, secretary of the Board of Education, George I. Shaw, Mary W. Kobus, director of Public Safety; Dr. Henry J. Schireson, Camden county freeholders Robert Worrell, Mrs. Alice Predmore, S. Norcross 3rd, members of Veterans of Foreign Wars of Camden County Council and many business men and civic leaders.

Ladies of the Elks’ Auxiliary who will assist with the children throughout the day are: Mrs. Alice Heck, president; Mrs. Sarah Austermuhl, Mrs. Reba Crawford, Mrs. Emma Vandergrift, Mrs. Tillie Weber, Mrs. Helene Sauerhoff, Mrs. Anna Rose, Miss Emma Lee, Mrs. Sallie Moore, Mrs. Marion Holdcraft, Mrs. Etta Preisendanz, Mrs. Eva Poland, Mrs. Lena Jantzen, Mrs. May Talman and Mrs. Irene Berg.