William H. Heiser Sr.
William H. Heiser Sr.
William H. Heiser was born in Winchester, Virginia around 1883. He married the former Carrie Van Saun around 1905.
The Heiser family made its home in the 1920s and 1930s at 633 Linden Street in Camden’s old Second Ward. William Heiser worked as an accountant with the Pennsylvania Railroad. At home at the time of the 1930 Census were sons Albert, William, and Robert. Albert, then 21, worked as an engineer at the RCA-Victor radio factory.
Active in local politics, William H. Heiser served on the Camden County Board of Freeholders from Camden’s 2nd Ward in 1930 and 1931, and also in 1936. By 1947 he had moved to Parkside, where he and wife Carrie lived at 1403 Princess Avenue. Son Robert lived next door at 1401 Princess, and worked as a salesman for Western Auto Store, which was located at Broadway and Chestnut Street in those years.
The 1956 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory lists William Heiser at 631 Linden Street, and the 1959 Directory shows him at 623 Linden. The 1970 Directory also lists William Heiser at 125 North 3rd Street. William H. Heiser passed away on November 14, 1974, survived by his sons William H. Jr. and Robert L. Heiser.
Three-cornered Fights In Freeholder Contest
Camden Courier-Post —
Clementon and Delaware Township to Have Bitter Battles
38 TO BE ELECTED IN COUNTY, NOV. 3
6 Additional Offices Created by Law; Candidates Listed
Three-cornered battles in Clementon and Delaware township will mark freeholder contests at the November 3 election. Ballots will be casts for an entire new board of freeholders, with 38 to be elected.
Boroughs to have freeholders representation for the first time as a result of recent legislation are Clementon, Lindenwold, Oaklyn, Woodlynne, Mt. Ephraim and Runnemede.
Rivals in the three-cornered fight in Clementon are Theodore W. Gibbs, Republican Organization nominee; Frank C. Somers, running as a Republican Independent, and Herbert P. McAdams, the Democratic nominee.
The triangular race in Delaware township finds Frank N. Walton, Republican Organization; J. Watson Matlack, Republican Independent, and Augustus A. Cornet, Democrat, as the contestants.
Nine members of the present board of freeholders will not be on the ballot for re-election. All are Republicans. They are Benjamin W. Sykes, Eighth Ward; Joseph Tarpine, First Ward, Gloucester; Philip Stohlbergel, Audubon; Joseph H. Van Meter, Collingswood; William J. Dallas, Haddon Heights; James W. Davis, Clementon; Charles C. Durges, Haddon township; Theodore Schleinkofer, Waterford township, and William A. Robinson, Winslow.
Joseph Bennie, Third Ward, Camden, is the only Democratic member on the present board. He is seeking a re-election and is opposed by Daniel Auletto, Republican nominee.
Candidates listed on the ballots in the various wards and municipalities follow:
Camden Wards
First Ward—Samuel D. Payne, R.; Thomas J. Kittel, D.
Second—William H. Heiser, R.; William Kunitz, D.
Third—Daniel Auletto, R.; Joseph Bennie, D.
Fourth—William L. Roberts, R.; Nicholas A. La Marra, D.
Fifth—C. Leonard Brehm, R.; Leon Perozzi, D.
Sixth—Harry J. Burrichter, R.; A. W. Lazro, D.
Seventh—Mrs. Mary D. Guthridge, R.; Theodore Buczkowski, D.
Eighth—Walter Sekula, R.; George S. W. Spaide.
Ninth—Francis B. Bodine, R.; S. V. Waddy, D.
Tenth—Samuel J. Edwards, R.; Edward J. Fox, Sr., D.
Eleventh—Howard Firth, R.; Charles T. Johnston, D.
Twelfth—John T. Rodan, R.; Wilbert H. Joslin, D.
Thirteenth—William P. Cotter, R.; Frank E. Zimmerman, D.
Fourteenth—Charles H. Genther, R.; George E. Brunner, D.
Camden Freeholders — Group Photograph
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Courier-Post feature photograph spread of Camden County Freeholders and civic leaders, June 1, 1932. William H. Heiser is pictured among the group.
Named: Joshua C. Haines, Isabella C. Reinert, Elizabeth C. Verga, David Baird Jr., Walter Keown, Frank B. Hanna, Etta C. Pfrommer, Howard B. Dyer, William D. Sayrs Jr., Lottie B. Stinson, Anna G. Holl, Margaret Wermuth, Carlton M. “Cy” Harris, J.C. Remington, Charles A. Wolverton, Carl Kisselman, Edward Deibert, L. Scott Cherchesky, William E.A. King, J. Claud Simon, T. Phillips Brown, J.H. Reiners, Rocco Palese, Morris Praissman, George R. Pelouze, Albert S. Woodruff, Clay W. Reesman, William Wimer, Horace G. Githens, J. Wesley Sell, A.C. Middleton, Robert Brennan, Marie Mackintosh, William H. Heiser, Mary McCready, James Corea, Susie Marchiano, James E. Tatem, Mary A. Ivins, Martin A. McNulty, Madeline Salvatore, Howard B. Dyer, Mary S. Hartung, Edward A. Kemble, Mary D. Guthridge, Edmund A. Walsh, Mamie F. Piraine, Edward Holloway, Deborah Schuck, Henry I. Haines, Lillian M. Walker, Horace B. Beideman, Etta C. Pfrommer, Carlton M. Harris, Mary E. Hamel, Henry Knauer, Louella I. Whaland, Jesse M. Dnaghy, and Lottie B. Stinson.
Camden Votes to Pay Expert on Refunding of City Debts
Camden Courier-Post —
Applicants With Programs to Be Considered by Board Today
COMMISSIONERS AGREE ON KOBUS SUGGESTION
Chapter 60 and 77 Author Overruled in Plea to Disregard Proposal
Camden’s city commissioners yesterday agreed to select a paid financial adviser to guide the city out of its financial morass.
They said they expect to make the selection today.
A special gathering of the commissioners in Mayor Frederick von Nieda’s offices at noon today was arranged to hear applications of candidates for the job.
No candidate will be considered unless he has a plan to submit that looks attractive to the commissioners they said.
Decision to select the paid adviser came near the end of a hectic two and one-half hour conference of the commissioners with their citizens’ advisory committee, members of the Freeholders budget committee, various bond brokers, and bankers and attorneys for the city and the bond dealers.
Proposed by Mrs. Kobus
The commissioners decided to engage the adviser against the recommendation and despite an eloquent plea of their bond attorney—L. Arnold Frye, of Hawkins, Delafield and Longfellow, New York attorneys.
It was at the suggestion of Commissioner Mary W. Kobus that the decision to bring in paid help was taken.
The action was taken under such a way as to leave at least one bond house’s representatives under the impression the commission is actually, though not legally, committed to accepting whatever plan their paid counselor may suggest.
His questions on this line, however, brought no definite answer.
“Oh, we’ll agree,” Mrs. Kobus said. “I think by the time we select the man we will select the plan,” Commissioner Harold W. Bennett, director of revenue and finance, said.
Beyond that, the commissioners did not commit themselves.
Bennett, however, announced that the adviser’s tenure will be “for whatever period we decide to engage him.”
Names Confidential
Commissioner George E. Brunner suggested that the advisory committee submit the names of three prospects for the adviser’s job and that committee’s sub-committee on finance withdrew and returned to offer two names. They explained they could not suggest more than two.
The names were held confidential and no one knowing them would reveal their identity.
There was some speculation as to whether they were Melbourne F. Middleton, Jr., Philadelphia bond broker and former city director of revenue and finance, and Norman S. Tabor, noted New York adviser on municipal fiscal affairs.
Fall to Make Pick
The commissioners, as soon as they received the two names in secret, withdrew into the mayor’s private office for ten minutes to discuss the suggested helpers, but returned to announce that all applicants for the job will be heard at noon today.
This was accepted as tacit admission that no final agreement was reached on either name suggested.
Bennett announced:
“We are going to pick the man on a basis of his helpfulness to Camden. I want to say now that we will not necessarily select the man who offers to help us at the lowest cost.
“We want those applicants for the position who appear tomorrow to have a definite idea of what plan they expect the city to follow if they are engaged.
“Of course, we do not expect any minute detailed plan from any man not already acquainted with the situation, but we want it to be definite enough to enable us to know whether we will follow it.
“We want to keep the cost as low as possible, and we advise now that the cost of this help or advice must be low, but we will not pick the adviser on a cost basis purely.
‘No Private Talks’
“We will make no commitments in advance. We will talk to no applicant until the time comes tomorrow. My conception of how we will select the adviser is this:
“Ability will come first. Then contacts, experience, the cost to the city and, of course, the acceptability of the plan offered.”
The conference was called to discuss proposed refunding plans for Camden city, with most of the talk centering on the controversy over Chapter 60 as a refinancing basis.
Mrs. Kobus suggested appointment of the financial adviser at a meeting of the city commission to be held immediately.
“I have thought similarly during the last few days,” said Bennett. “I realize it would be a big expense, but the City is reaching a crisis and it might be money well spent.”
Brunner asked the advisory committee to submit three names for appointment as an adviser. The committee suggested two names which were not revealed.
Frye, in requesting the commission not to employ an adviser, revealed himself the principal author of New Jersey’s two refunding or bond issuing acts around which the commissions’ difference of opinion as to method has revolved—Chapters 60 and 77.
“You can finance your indebtedness entire,” Frye said, “under Chapter 77, or partly under Chapter 60 and partly under 77. I personally have no preference, as the principal author of both.
Frye Plan Refused
“As to your tax rate, set what you can set and what the taxpayers can stand. Don’t you think you could get together and settled this among yourselves? Don’t you think that would be better?”
Bennett passed off Frye’s suggestion thus:
“No, Mr. Frye, I think it can best be settled by use of an adviser. I am anxious to settle it quickly. We have been unable to agree thus far and I am on the uneasy seat for Camden faces a crisis and I want to get it past.”
Frye’s suggestion came after all of the bond brokers present, except Middleton, had advised the city to use the stringent budget-making restrictions of Chapter 60.
James W. Burnison, chairman of the citizens’ advisory committee, reiterated that group’s objections to Chapter 60, saying the same guarantees can be provided for bondholders under 77, without putting the city under such rigid state supervision for so long a period.
Every person present was invited to speak. Most of the freeholders viewed the matter as a city and not a county problem, but promised cooperation.
Burnison, Carl R. Evered, A. Lincoln Michener and James V. Moran form the sub-committee which selected the two names submitted to the commissioners for consideration as fiscal adviser.
The meeting started as a closed session, but after 25 minutes behind closed doors in the mayor’s office, Evered came to the door and admitted reporters.
The reporters, however, were given to understand that the only statements they were to use were those from Burnison, chairman of the committee; James V. Moran, a member, or Evered, and from other speakers only with their permission.
Attending were the five city commissioners, William H. Heiser, chairman of the Board of Freeholders’ budget committee; Freeholders James S. Caskey, Maurice Bart, William Myers, and James W. Wood; George D. Rothermel, assistant county solicitor; City Comptroller Sidney P. McCord; Meyer Sakin and John R. Di Mona, assistant city solicitors; Burnison, Evered, Moran, and Michener, of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee; E. Howard Broome, deputy director of finance; Middleton, John T. Trimble, counsel for Middleton; three representatives of Hawkins, Delafield & Longfellow, New York including Frye, Henry Russell and Alfred Gregory; Walter Shuman, representing Rollins & Sons, of Philadelphia and New York; C. C. Collings, of the C. C. Collings Company, Philadelphia; Russell McInes, representing Lehman Brothers, New York; J. M. G. Brown and Samuel S. Blackman, representing Analyses, Inc., Philadelphia, and Leon C. Guest and Herbert Glucksman, Camden bond brokers.
Camden Bears Brunt in Cut Of 4.1 Cents in County Rate
Camden Courier-Post —
By W. Oliver Kincannon
The four and one-tenth cents cut in the county tax rate, announced by the Board of Freeholders budget committee, is made possible through a $10,365,898 increase in Camden city’s net ratables for county taxing purposes.
This was revealed yesterday by William H. Heiser, chairman of the budget committee, and Morris Liebman, certified public accountant employed by the county, in announcing the figures on which the rate will be based.
Heiser said he figures on a net increase of $8,548,432 in county taxable valuation. That figure, he said, would allow for a big drop in net county ratables outside the city because of the city increase.
He said he expected a drop of $500,000 in ratables outside Camden city, but the figure he used would allow for a drop of more than three times that much.
The city’s net taxable ratables for county purposes last year were $137,342,962. This year they are $147,708,858.
The county’s entire taxable rat— (Continued on Page 10—Column 5)
Camden Freeholders — Group Photograph
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Courier-Post group photograph spread featuring Camden County officials and civic leaders, July 24, 1941. William H. Heiser is pictured among the group.
Baird Followers Make Bid To Regain Prestige in County
G.O.P. Old Guard Names ’Committee of 11’ Empowered to Promote Harmony in Party by Compromise with Any Faction
Camden County’s G.O.P. Old Guard, adherents of former U. S. Senator David Baird, made a bid last night to regain political prestige lost in last year’s Democratic landslide.
Baird did not attend the meeting.
Meeting in the Overbrook Villa at Lindenwold under leadership of former Freeholder James W. Wood, president of the Camden County Republican Club, the more than 100 in attendance voted to name a committee of 11 “with power to nominate and make compromises they see fit toward selection of candidates for sheriff, state senator, assemblymen and freeholders.”
With the date for filing petitions two weeks away representatives of the 36 county municipalities met with a professed keynote of “harmony,” as expressed by John R. [Continued on Page 6—Column 4]
Di Mona, former assistant Camden City solicitor.
“We have a better chance for harmony in Camden this year if we all rise above petty jealousies and work wholeheartedly for the party,” Di Mona declared.
’Beat Brunner’ Plea
“Beat Brunner in his control of the Freeholders,” was the plea offered by William Myers, former Voorhees township freeholder.
Inspirational talks were given also by former Assemblymen F. Stanley Bleakly and Edwin G. Scovel, both of whom were named to the steering committee.
Myers urged the group to forego further consideration of the recently adopted railroad tax compromise bill in the Legislature, which he asserted “is a state affair,” and urged the gathering to look to county questions.
Others named to the committee are former Freeholder Frank C. Schramm, of Atco; Benjamin H. Slemmer, of Haddon Heights; former Commissioner Frederick von Neida, of Camden.
Also Louis Bantivoglio, of Camden’s Fifth ward; William H. Heiser, Second ward; Samuel C. Berry, of Clementon, who offered the resolution; Mrs. May Rich, of Pennsauken; Mrs. Lillian Shoemaker, of Magnolia; Charles Wilhelm, of Gloucester, and Mrs. Laura B. Bilson of Laurel Springs.
May Effect Compromises
Indication the group plans a county-wide harmony effort was seen in specific declaration in the committee resolution that the group be authorized to effect compromises with the Camden County League for Good Government “or any other facion.”
Reservation was made, however, for the Old Guard to have its say. The resolution provided the committee must report back for approval of any contemplated compromise.
Albert E. Pugh, county committeeman of Lindenwold, who also is chairman of the county Republican group harmony committee, was asked by Wood for a report on the progress of that unit.
Pugh said the group had met twice, once in Gloucester and again at the home of George H. Walton, Camden county Republican chairman, in Haddonfield. He declared the group planned no further meetings.
Center on Freeholders
The consensus of the meeting was that the fight at this Fall’s polls should be centered on the choice of freeholders. A review was given of the recent court action on unseating freeholders Stanley Ciechanowski and Ventorino Francesconi, following a Republican inspired recount.
Removal of the two freeholders by Judge V. Claude Palmer was halted by a State Supreme Court ruling. However, two three-year-term freeholders are to be elected in November.
Among others attending the session were former Freeholder Raymond G. Price, of the Eleventh ward; James D. Kershaw, former Mt. Ephraim freeholder; Arthur H. Holl, former undersheriff, and Alfred and Elsie Geister, active in Republican circles of Pennsauken township.
Elks to Open Drive to Aid Youngsters
Camden Courier-Post —
The Elks Easter Shield fund drive will open officially Thursday with a luncheon in the Elks Home, 807 Cooper st., at 12.15 p. m.
William H. Heiser, president of the Elks’ Crippled Children’s Committee, Inc., of Camden Lodge of Elks 293, heads the fund raising committee.
“This year the Crippled Children’s Committee will conduct its own Easter Shield fund-raising drive,” said Heiser. “We are in no way connected with any other lodge or lodges and all returns will be used to aid crippled children in the area. The area which we service includes Camden County and parts of Burlington and Gloucester Counties.”
275 Children on List
According to Mrs. Florence A. Lovett, executive secretary, there are 275 crippled children on the committee’s active list. An average of more than 400 children are aided by the committee each year.
Through the fund drive the committee also buys approximately 150 pairs of orthopedic shoes annually for needy youngsters.
“No money is ever expended by the committee,” said Mrs. Lovett, “until all aspects of a case have been completely investigated.”
Sgt. Ray Smith, past president of the committee, is in charge of the luncheon assisted by John Robertson and Allie Barr.
Guests Pay for Lunch
“Each guest will pay for his own lunch,” explained Smith. “No money taken in on the drive will be used to buy food.”
The Shield will be in the mail next week. All contributions may be sent to the Elks Crippled Children’s Committee, BPOE, 293, 807 Cooper st., Camden.
W. Heiser, Former Freeholder
Camden Courier-Post —
William H. Heiser Sr., one time director of the Camden County Board of Freeholders, died Thursday in West Jersey Hospital’s Northern Division. He was 91.
First elected to the freeholder board in 1928, Mr. Heiser served until 1937. He was also chairman of the City Republican Committee and was the majority leader on the freeholder board.
Funeral services will be Monday at 11 a.m. at the John A. Healey Funeral Home, 9 White Horse Pike, Haddon Heights. Friends may call at the funeral home Sunday after 7 p.m. Camden Lodge of Elks, 293, will hold services Sunday at 8 p.m.
A lifelong resident of Camden County, Mr. Heiser was born in Winchester, Va. He was a chief clerk of the Pennsylvania Railroad for 55 years, and was past exalted ruler of the Camden Lodge of Elks, 293.
He is survived by two sons, William H. Heiser Jr., of Garden Grove, Calif. and Robert L. Heiser of Collingswood; and one grandchild.
On November 14, 1974, William H., Sr., husband of the late Mary (Carrie, nee Zondler), of Camden, N.J. Survived by two sons, William H. Heiser, Jr. of Garden Grove, Calif., Robert L. Heiser of Collingswood. One grandchild. Relatives and friends and all societies of which he was a member are invited to attend funeral service Monday, 11 a.m., Funeral Home of John A. Healey, 9 White Horse Pk., Haddon Hgts. (at Kings Hwy.) Interment Harleigh Cemetery, Camden. Camden Lodge of Elks #293 will hold services Sunday evening at 8 o’clock. Family invites friends to call Sunday after 7 p.m.