1935 October-December

The Great Depression as seen through the pages of the Daily Record (Morristown, NJ) 

October-December 1935

 

“WHIPPANY – The Veterans CCC Camp activities are now centered in Whippany at Hait’s bridge on Route 10.  The men are busily engaged in dredging the junction and courses of the Black Brook and Whippany River, cleaning out the silt, logs and stumps and other rubbish that has been washed down the course for the past centuries.  The stream beds have never been cleaned out before as far as is known.  The men have been working at this for the past several months, partly for the elimination of mosquito breeding places and partly for sanitary reasons.  The water had become so clogged up with old leaves, sticks, logs, tin cans, metal barrels and other rubbish that the course of the stream has been virtually dammed up and in several places the water backed up and became coated with scum and loaded with germs and produced a hazard to public health in the vicinity.”  (Oct. 3, 1935, p.2)

“The bullet that let the life out of Huey Long also deflated the most promising (or menacing, if you prefer) of the political movements based on the simple discontent of the man whose pockets are empty….But although he is gone and the movement he left is in a state of profound confusion, the urge to share the wealth—to cut slices off the cake on the rich man’s table and pass them around to those who have no cake—still exists, and needs to be reckoned with.  One of the sanest ways of reckoning with it is provided in the recently released report of the Brookings Institution, which has just finished a three-year study of the way wealth and distribution of income are related to economic progress or the lack of it.  If the masses are to be enriched, this report says, it must be done through increased production and lowered prices rather than through a division of the wealth already existing.  The productive capacity of America today, continues the report, is not in excess of our requirements for consumption.  On the contrary, it is behind them.  If we divide the wealth now, we shall be freezing our economic level at a point too low to satisfy us.  Before we talk of dividing it, we ought to get busy and increase it….” (editorial, Oct. 3, 1935)

“Some additional projects for Morris County were approved by President Roosevelt for  the WPA yesterday and included the following:  In Roxbury Township – Construct road, $5,499. 

Dover – Construct street, $3,678; repair schools, $2,084; construct community centre, $29,322.  Florham Park – construct sidewalk, $8,821.  Morris Plains – School Construction program, $1,534.  Morristown – Construct sanitary system, $829.  Parsippany – Construct pump house and lay water line, $17,958.  Rockaway – Construct storm sewer, $13,313….”  (Oct. 5, 1935, p.1)

“While four other WPA projects had been approved, the proposal to have special police for school work was disapproved, it was reported at the Board of Aldermen meeting last night and plenty of discussion on the situation of policing at dangerous corners near the various schools followed….John Guerin, Park custodian, had been working extra, doing police duty at the Alexander Hamilton School, and put in 15 ½ hours for which he had not been paid in two weeks.  The Park Committee brought up the question of paying him something extra.  Finally he was directed to continue his voluntary work for two days more until the matter is taken up with the Board of Education and the Police Committee was authorized to take up the application again with the WPA….”  (Oct. 5, 1935, p.1)

“TRENTON, (AP) – Harry L. Derby of Montclair, chairman of the New Jersey Social Security Commission, said today a social security program, exclusive of unemployment insurance, will cost New Jersey approximately $6,500,000 the first year.  At a public hearing in the Assembly Chamber at which the Commission sought views of the public on social legislation, Derby said liberalization of old age relief, broadening the state’s program for caring for dependent children and caring for the blind, crippled children and maternal and child health, would cost the state and counties about $6,500,000 and the Federal government $4,500,000.  “This is no light task”, Derby said.  “I say frankly that we are deeply concerned over this program….”  (Oct. 7, 1935, p.1)

“NEWARK—William H. J. Ely, State Works Progress Administrator for New Jersey, today authorized work to commence on 52 projects, providing employment for over 2000 persons and involving a total expenditure of $758,060.81….Morris County projects are:

Dover – ….Reconstruction of parts of 26 streets….  Denville Township – A 2 in. water line along Tomahawk Trail, Iroquois Trail, and Palmer road….  Roxbury – Reconstruction of road from Landing in Roxbury Township to the Borough line of Netcong…..  Rockaway – Clearing away rubbish, excavate, fill and surface for public playground….

Chester – Cleaning Crystal Lake for Public Swimming Pool….  Morristown – Grading and landscaping at Normandy Pump House….  Randolph Township – Reconstruct two miles of road….  Lincoln Park Borough – Filling and grading school grounds in rear of Public School….”  (Oct. 8, 1935, p.1)

“The problem of proper police protection at the various street crossings near the local schools is indeed a serious one….The Police Department, with a limited force of men, cannot be expected to detail men for all of these crossings and still lend protection to the main thoroughfares in the business center….the force here is small for the population of the town….For the school janitors to do the job…would mean either extra help or longer hours, which in turn means extra pay….The WPA proposition for employment of special men to do this work was a very good one, but for some reason was turned down, although plenty of unneeded jobs are being approved just so men could go to work.  This was the sort of a plan which would keep men working all winter when weather conditions would prevent pick and shovel jobs and it was also the sort of work that could be handled by a white collar class of men physically incapable of handling a pick or shovel….In the meantime, the P-T-A organizations, composed principally of parents of children who need the protection, might well do something.  There are dozens of idle men who would welcome the chance to work and these could be put on for about three hours a day at the maximum, for five days a week, for about $10 a week.  This $10 would be mighty welcome income to many and more than they receive off the relief rolls while the duties would not be too strenuous.  There are about 38 school weeks and this would mean $380 a man.  Surely a P-T-A by sponsoring a large card party or some other entertainment could raise this money, give a man a job and most important of all furnish protection to the children of the members….”  (editorial, Oct. 8, 1935)

“WHARTON—Councilman Frank J. Porter today requested form the Federal Government and the D. L. & W. Railroad assurance that a maximum of local labor be employed on the recently approved $93,000 grade crossing elimination at Dewey avenue, Wharton.  Porter argued that the Federal grant which will make the work possible is intended to provide useful employment and that the people of Wharton first, and adjacent municipalities, were entitled to first consideration on two counts.  He said it would be silly and unnecessary to bring in contract labor where so many people living on the job most concerned by it were in need of employment.  He also maintained that in as much as the Federal Government had “created unemployment by wholesale furloughing from Picatinny Arsenal” that it ought to give consideration to those local people whom it had put out of work.   “Care of the unemployed, whether with dole or work relief, is admittedly a difficult problem,” Porter declared, “and one of the major faults of the present setup is that a premium is placed upon poverty, regardless of how acquired.  I know a man in Wharton who owns a two-family house and nothing else.  Because he saved some money to buy the house and now owns it, he is not eligible for relief.  Yet the tenant, who is on relief, pays no rent, the relief people won’t pay it for him—and the owner is left without either a job or an income! How is he supposed to live if the Government won’t provide for him at Picatinny or by projects like that on Dewey avenue?  Furthermore, how is the Government going to continue if men who own property can’t make a living, let alone pay taxes?...Let’s remember today’s forgotten men—the taxpayer who foots the bill, the fellow who needs help and can’t get it because he worked and saved his money when he could.” ” (Oct. 9, 1935, p.2)

 “The Morristown Branch of the Needlework Guild of America is hoping for new friends to help carry on its work of supplying new garments for the needy.  Each member has been asked to give two new garments or a donation of money in November.  Last year 1525 garments were collected by the directors….Among the local charities which received garments from the Needlework Guild are:  All Souls’ Hospital, Central Bureau of Social Service, Children’s Home,

Market Street Mission, Memorial Hospital, Memorial Hospital Annex, Mount Carmel Guild, Old Ladies’ Home, Salvation Army, Sisters of Charity, Visiting Nurse Society and the Bonnie Brae Farm, Millington, the Tuberculosis Hospital, Shongum, and the Berkshire Industrial Farm at Canaan, Conn.  The Morristown Branch was founded in 1889 by Mrs. Buxton….”  (Oct. 10, 1935, p.6)

“Sam Verne, of Dover, organizer of the Morristown unit of the Workers Alliance of America, today made public a letter sent to the WPA director Maroney relative to the announcement of an approved project, with only 23 jobs, for Morristown, and inquiring the status of the hundreds of unemployed if relief should be stopped.  The men want to work, if possible, and if they can’t get jobs they want adequate cash relief, he wrote.  The availability of only 23 jobs with 500 men idle would be laughable if not so tragic, he declared.  Mr. Verne announced that Prosecutor Orville V. Meslar and Alderman Abe Gurevitz would address the next meeting of the Alliance at 13 Market street, second floor, on Tuesday night next.  His letter to Mr. Maroney is as follows:  “According to the Morristown Daily Record of Tuesday, October 8, only one project, which will provide for a scant 23 jobs, involving all in all, tools and materials apparently included, the ridiculously low figure of 2,782, has been procured for Morristown.  Approximately 500 family heads are on relief.  Conflicting reports as to the stoppage of relief compels us to inquire what the status of the few hundred who will remain unemployed after the distribution of the 23 available “jobs” will be?  Time and again, we—unemployed, part-time, and relief workers—are denounced as loafers, men who don’t want to work, who would rather receive the “dole.”  Can any of the denunciators point to incidents numerous enough to validate such a generalization?  At any rate, we, of the Workers Alliance, want work at decent wages—the prevailing wages, or better.  “In 1776 the cardinal principles of American government were forged in that immortal Independence.  It clearly makes it the function of the government to make secure for men their unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  Food, clothing, and shelter are the absolutely elementary essentials before we can even really begin to talk about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  While regretting the need for relief without work, in view of the lack of jobs, while condemning the horrible inadequacy of this relief, we commend the government for recognizing the principle of its responsibility in line with the ideals of the founders of our Republic.  “Give us jobs, with adequate pay!’ is our cry.  ‘Give us, otherwise, adequate cash relief.’  The Morristown project is an insult to the community.  Self-respecting citizens cannot help but support us in our struggle for existence.  We, organized unemployed, part-time and relief workers, and sympathetic employed, constituting a Morristown unit of the Workers’

Alliance of America, demand an explanation!  WHAT HAPPENS TO US WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DECIDES THE DEADLINE FOR STOPPING RELIEF HAS BEEN REACHED?....”  (Oct. 10, 1935, p.16)

“DENVILLE – …. Before the annual dinner of the Morris County Women’s Democratic Club at the Wayside Inn here last night….Vigorous defense of New Deal legislation and unsparing attack of its Republican critics featured [Senator Albert E.] Thomas’s [of Utah] remarks.  “While the administration’s acts are invaluable, they cannot be appreciated by little people with little minds,” he said.  “Little minds cannot see that these acts are for the good of many people rather than for the good of the few….While it has been charged we are moving too far left, we are moving only forward to a greater national achievement.”  The Social Security Act is not a creator of class distinctions, the Senator declared, but is rather a means to relieve young women and men of dependent parents during the 10 years when young people are at their greatest earning power….”  (Oct. 11, 1935, p.1)

“CHESTER – The federal government intervened today and put an apparent end to the proposed PWA water system.  President Roosevelt has ruled that work on all PWA projects must be under way by December 15, and it is probable that the certiorari writ appeal against the water system will not be decided by that time….”  (Oct. 11, 1935, p.1)

From the Daily Washington Letter by Rodney Dutcher, Oct. 11, 1935, p.20:  “Hardly anyone realizes it, but the U. S. Supreme Court in its term just begun may rule that spending legislation, such as that for the public works and work relief acts, is unconstitutional.  PWA lawyers recently warned Roosevelt of the possibility….”

“The results of the recent hearings of appeals by the County Tax Board were announced today by William B. McCracken, Secretary of the Board.  There were 437 appeals heard and 345 of these were granted in whole or in part.  More than half of the deductions ordered were in Morristown and Morris Township….Several reasons were assigned for the high reductions allowed in Morristown and Morris Township.  One was a threat by owners of large mansions to tear these down sooner than pay high taxes, such as was done with the Mellon and Willis houses in the past.  In some of these cases cuts were made in the valuations in the belief it was better to temporarily get taxes on a smaller assessment than to lose out entirely….One example of this was the Evans house on Madison avenue, assessed for $50,000.  The County Tax Board granted a cut of $15,000.  Some properties in the Township were found assessed too high, there being a case of the taxation value of one was in a figure in excess of what it was sold for.  Recently another sale has been reported of a house for about 35 percent of the assessed value and in the future the appraisal of this will have to be cut by two-thirds and even then the property will be assessed at 100 percent value—according to sales prices.  The general rule has been about 60 percent of the full valuation….”  (Oct. 15, 1935, p.1)

“MILLINGTON—At an adjourned meeting held last night, the Passaic Township Committee announced that it had received official notice that the PWA had approved the necessary funds of $127,222 and issue bonds of $70,000 to cover the balance.  These bonds will be for a term not to exceed 25 years at 4 per cent interest.  Work must be started by December 15.  David Barkman, Township Counsel, reported that he had drawn an ordinance covering the establishment of a sewer system and had submitted the ordinance to the PWA officials in Newark for their approval….It is planned to establish a sewer district for Stirling.  Sanitary conditions have been investigated by state health officials and declared to be deplorable….C.C. Vermeule, engineer…estimated the cost at about $125,000….At an informal discussion held after last night’s meeting, J. Winthrop Brown cautioned the committee about proceeding too quickly.  He said he doubted the project could be completed for the sum stated.  He spoke of the two new schools in Gillette and Millington and pointed out that the sums asked from PWA had been insufficient to build the schools according to original plans and that this caused the schools to be built without basements.  He said that some similar thing might occur in the sewer system with a resultant paring down of plans and an inadequate plant as a result.  William J. Wigg,

Committeeman, assured him that if the project could not be completed for the sum allotted, the work would not be done….”  (Oct. 16, 1935, p.1)

“   “When we were married three years ago John had a job in an office.  We found just the place we wanted to live in, part of an old house.  We were so happy when John, Jr. was born.  Then three months ago John lost his job.  Now he has part time work, but we just can’t get along.  John keeps telling me he has let me down, that he’s a failure, that he might as well get out!  Honestly I am so scared and discouraged I don’t know what to do.”  Young Mrs. Blair’s eyes filled with tears and she couldn’t go on.  The World War brought the tragic figure of the young man suffering from “shell shock.”  The depression has brought the man and woman suffering from “unemployment shock.”  Five years of unemployment have given convincing evidence of the blighting effect of loss of work upon personality, family life and health.  The Central Bureau of Social Service and the Morris County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children see every day what “unemployment shock” can do to families.  A discouraged, harassed man is not always a patient husband and father.  A woman deprived of the simple necessities and pleasures she has been accustomed to is often depressed and irritable.  This lack of security may bring marital unhappiness, desertion of the father, mental illness, or children in trouble.  People like Mrs. Blair need a place where they can go for advice and help.  The private agency, just as the public health nurse, the child guidance clinic and the recreational group have already done, enters the field of service to those above the poverty line….The Central Bureau of Social Service and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children are supported by the Morris Community Chest.  Recently Paul S. Benjamin, nationally known Community Chest Executive, wrote “For long years to come we shall be dealing with the social costs of unemployment—of stunted children, embittered and crushed men, women worn and aged before their time, seared and abraded personalities.  Social workers will need rare patience, skill and insight to help maimed human beings struggle back to respect and belief in themselves….”  ”  (Oct. 16, 1935, p.2)

“The first comprehensive summary of the WPA activity in Morris County, issued today, shows 15 projects now in operation employing 251 men and costing a total of $92,369.19.  Seven more projects employing 90 men have been approved and will be released to the field within a week….The most costly county jobs are the improving of Roxbury’s High School athletic field, the reconstruction of 27 streets in Dover, the rebuilding of two miles of the Ironia-Succasunna road, and the creation of a public parking space in Dover….”  A full list of the projects in Morris County is a sidebar to the main article.  (Oct. 17, 1935, p.1)

“NEWARK--….The Federal Works Progress Administration has approved 563 New Jersey projects to date, affording employment for approximately 27,000 persons.  Of this number the State Administrator had previously released 426 to the district offices.  With the release yesterday of sixty-seven new projects, involving an expenditure of $931,412.74, of which $738,616 are Federal funds and $192,795.74 contributed by sponsors, the number now under way totals 493, providing employment for about 22,000 workers….” (Oct. 17, 1935, p.1)

“FLORHAM PARK – John B. Strayer of the “National Consumers Cooperative Union,” New York City, was program speaker before Mrs. Frank Fobert’s Study group on cooperatives…at the Ridgedale road residence of Mrs. George S. Woodruff.  Mr. Strayer’s talk dealt with the rapid post war rise of the cooperative movement in the northwest, where it has reached an apex among the farmer consumers of the first, second and third generations of settlers.  He also pointed out the success of the gas and oil cooperatives of the mid-west since 1930 and the national scale of advancement since 1932 as represented by the “New Deal” program in the A.A.A., the F.C.A. and the supposedly defunct but still somewhat vigorous N.R.A. as reconstructed.  He told…of the powerful influence of collective bargaining, and the establishment of cooperative banking, under supervision, through the development of credit unions….”  (Oct. 17, 1935, p.13)

“WASHINGTON--About 6,500 writers, research workers, architects, geologists, photographers, map makers and clerical workers are to be enlisted from the relief rolls to compile and write the American Guide—a set of American “Baedekers” which will enable Americans “to discover America,” Harry L. Hopkins, W.P.A. administrator, announced….”  (Oct. 18, 1935, p.4)

“  “Moderate work never hurt anyone, and if the people of this country had indulged in this good, healthy means of livelihood for the last 15 years we should not have many millions of our people on the unemployment relief today.”  So declares Mrs. Edward B. Huling, chairman of the D.A.R’s Committee on National Defense Through Patriotic Education, in a speech before a New York state conference of the assembled Revolutionary daughters.  With the complete and irrefutable truth of this remark it is hard to quarrel.  It is like saying that if a sick man had only been able to avoid getting sick he would be perfectly healthy.  But it doesn’t seem to advance our understanding of our economic difficulties very much.  The vast majority of the millions on relief would like nothing better than a chance to find a “good, healthy means of livelihood.”  To speak as if all our troubles arose because people just willfully refused to work is to talk complete nonsense.”  (editorial, Oct. 18, 1935)

“WHARTON – Commissioner E. Donald Sterner and C. F. Bedwell, Construction Engineer, of the State Highway Department today assured Councilman Frank J. Porter that local labor will be used for the $93,000 grade crossing removal on Dewey avenue and prevailing wages will be paid….rights of way must be secured and considerable grading and filling done before the actual work of erecting the bridge is begun….Labor for the Dewey avenue project will be hired through the Reemployment Office in Morristown and the rates of pay are expected to be 50¢  per hour for unskilled labor, 65¢ for semi-skilled, and $1.20 for skilled.”  (Oct. 21, 1935, p.2)

“BERNARDSVILLE—The teachers in the Bernardsville school system were granted a partial return in their pay cut at a meeting of the Board of Education held here last night….The refund will amount to $3,740.28 and was made retroactive to September 1, salaries to be adjusted in the November payrolls.  The amount is equal to a 5 per cent restoration of salary for each teacher, the scale now being from 3 to 7 per cent less than the stipulated salary.  For the first two months of this year, the teachers had been taking a cut of from 6 to 10 per cent while the cut last year was from 7 to 11 per cent….”  (Oct. 22, 1935, p.1)

“WASHINGTON, D. C. – The Civilian Conservation Corps has postponed for six months the establishment of a CCC mosquito control camp near Rockaway River because it has no available camps to locate there, an official of the corps said today.  The request of the Morris County Mosquito Control Commission came too late for serious consideration under the CCC’s program of the fifth period or the next six months, it was explained.  All the New Jersey and surrounding camps had been placed on worthwhile projects and there was no valid reason for ordering a late change in their locations.  The CCC has eight mosquito control camps in New Jersey now, one two and three-fifths miles east of Whippany in Morris County.  While it appears that the camps have at least six months work in their present locations, a camp skilled in mosquito control work will be moved into the Rockaway River area if the original projects are completed before six months, it was said….”  (Oct. 22, 1935, p.1)

Herblock’s editorial cartoon on October 22, 1935, p.4, titled “RIGHT IN THE WELL-KNOWN BREADBOX”, depicts two boxers.  The big bruiser wears shorts that read “LIVING COSTS”, and he has just slugged his opponent in the midriff.  “FOUL!” cries the little guy as the breath is knocked out of him; the words “INCREASE IN BREAD PRICES” are sprayed out of the victim by the power of the punch.

“Someone once said that you can judge a civilization by the way in which it treats its children.  If that is true, what are we to say about the United States of America of the year 1935, in which an 11-year-old boy has just hanged himself so that a little of the weight of the depression might be lifted from the shoulders of his family?  That happened.  Unbelievable and tragic as it sounds, it actually happened; in the rich middle western section of the richest nation in the world—in the small city of Willard, O., to be exact.  The boy was Eugene Trushel.  At 11, he was the oldest of the five sons of John Trushel, a railway locomotive fireman who lost his job four years ago and has been unable to find work ever since.  For four years the family has been on relief.  Every two weeks they have been getting $5 worth of groceries from the local relief office.  That isn’t very much food for a man and his wife and five healthy children, but it did keep them alive.  But the other day the family was told that the local relief office would be closed, and that the grocery orders would cease altogether.  They had a family conference.  The parents talked of sending the children to the county orphanage.  Eugene begged them not to.  He had a pet rabbit, he pointed out; they could eat it, and thus postpone the arrival of actual starvation by at least one day.  You must imagine how his father and mother felt when he bravely made this offer.  The matter was left unsettled, and the children went off to school—all but Eugene, who went into the house and hanged himself, so that with one less mouth to feed, his parents might be able to have [sic] the other children from the orphanage.  His body was discovered, the coroner came, asked questions, and wrote, “Suicide: due to despondency,” after the child’s name in his record books; and the case was closed.  That’s all there is to the story—except for the fact that half an hour later the family learned that it was a false alarm about the relief station closing—and there is pitifully little that we can say about it that will do anyone any good.  There is a great deal that we might have done about it, as a society, perhaps, but no words will lessen the shock of the tragedy.  But we ought to keep it in mind.  It might keep us from saying insane things like, “People on relief don’t really want to work,” from clamoring for an end of the “dole” or from supposing innocently that children don’t suffer in their very souls from the effect of the depression.  It might help us to understand that simple, ordinary joblessness is the greatest curse of the age— and that if the richest country on earth cannot keep things like this from happening, it is perilously close to spiritual bankruptcy.”  (editorial, October 22, 1935)

TRENTON, (AP) – State Fiscal Officers, anticipating Sales Tax repeal, searched today for $12,000,000 for three-months relief financing, but were sure of only $7,000,000.  William H. Albright, State Treasurer, said success in the search depended largely upon continuation of Federal monthly grants of $1,500,000, which the government threatened to suspend entirely upon the assumption the WPA was about to absorb many persons on relief rolls.  Tax repealists….indicated they expected the governor to finance relief with other State funds until March 1, while the 1936 Legislature devised a new program.  Albright, however, in his survey of resources, contemplated financing only until the end of this year….”  (October, 23, 1935, p.1)

“A heated suggestion by Freeholder Howard F. Barrett of Madison that courthouse repairs be included in the list of WPA projects now being considered featured yesterday’s meeting of the Board of Freeholders which set a year-old record for brevity.  “We keep reading in the newspapers that there are not enough projects to go around,” Barrett said.  “Some time ago we suggested that this room here be painted and that the outside of the courthouse be painted.  And nothing has come of it.  I suggest that the Director of the Board consult with local WPA officials in an effort to have this work included in the current list of WPA projects.”  Director Stephen C. Griffith Jr. immediately announced he would confer with WPA officials here today….”  (Oct. 24, 1935, p.1)

”Young men and women whose families are on relief will be eligible for WPA jobs shortly, William H. J. Ely, State Administrator, announced today.  The ruling affects persons between the ages of 16 and 25.  Termed “junior employees,” these young people will not have primary responsibility for support of their families, but rather their earnings will be considered supplementary to relief monies already received by families.  Relief monies already received must be considered “insufficient” before “junior” may apply for WPA jobs.  Young men and women will be hired for one-third or part time work, their earnings in no case exceeding $25 per month.  They will not work more than eight hours in a day or 46 hours in a fortnight.  Jobs as junior foremen, junior timekeepers, first aid helpers, helpers in sewing rooms, tool checkers, etc., will be open.  Applicants in Morris County must first register with the United States Employment Service in the court house here.  The employment service will send the list of registrants to the local WPA office at 2 Park place, where interviews will be arranged.”  (Oct. 24, 1935, p.1)

“TRENTON, (AP) – New Jersey’s unpopular sales tax neared the end of a short career today, with the legislature convening to effect its repeal.  Popular opposition to the levy, enacted to finance relief, reached a crescendo in the September primary election, when the great majority of candidates of both major parties ran on repeal platforms….Repeal would become effective November 1….”  (Oct. 25, 1935, p.1)

“The three great collapses of the year seem to be those of Maxie Baer, the New York Giants and President Roosevelt’s work relief program….A fund of $4,000,000,000 was set up, if you remember.  With it the administration promised to give work to no fewer than 5,500,000 people by the first of November.  Shortly after the middle of October it was disclosed that 1,310,000 people had been given jobs under this program.  Bad enough in itself, this figure is even more discouraging when analyzed.  In the first place, that total includes some 580,000 CCC workers, and approximately 133,000 men working under other than federal agencies.  In the second place, far from a last minute rush as the deadline drew near, there was an actual let-down in the work of re-employment, only about 180,000 men having been taken off the relief rolls by the WPA during the first two weeks of October.  And of the 600,000 men actually given jobs by the WPA, a full third are in New York City….In spite of the proven executive ability of WPA Administrator Harry Hopkins, this collapse must be at least partly due to sheer fumbling and bungling.  The greater part of the blame, however, seems to have been caused by confusion in the administration’s mind as to the form which a work relief program ought to take.  The original idea was that it would be a vast public works program.  Bridges would be built, slums would be cleared away, roads would be paved, parks would be laid out, public buildings would go up, canals would be dug and a great number of highly useful, permanent works would be added to the country’s possession.  In such jobs, however, a great deal of money has to be spent for materials.  The administration decided that there would be too little direct re-employment that way.  So the plan was modified.  Projects for public works were scaled down ruthlessly, to make way for ventures in which most of the money would be paid out in actual wages.  The result was a revival of leaf-raking projects, and local enthusiasm ebbed.  It was easy to think of big jobs that needed doing; it was hard to cook up schemes for transferring topsoil from one side of the road to the other.  The original public works program would have picked up speed as it went along.  By stimulating business in the heavy industries, it would have created many jobs indirectly.  The work relief stunt has no momentum of its own.  An artificial thing from the start, it is bound to lag and wobble.  The present collapse is a natural result of the mistake that was made when the public works idea was shelved.”  (editorial, Oct. 25, 1935)

“TRENTON, (AP) – New Jersey’s Sales Tax was outlawed today and the public no longer required to hand over their pennies with their purchases to finance relief….Governor Hoffman bowed to popular demand, but, signing the repealer in red ink, he warned of “unbalanced budgets and maybe hungry people.”  He promised to divert State funds to relief until January when the 1936 Legislature was expected to devise a new program.  Agitation for repeal was fostered by proponents of “governmental economy before new taxation,” among them Dr. Lester H. Clee, House speaker and Essex senatorial candidate.  Dr. Clee told the House the public should be assured every governmental economy had been effected before more revenues were asked….Governor Hoffman…called repeal “a black spot upon New Jersey history.”  “In taking this action today, the governor said, “we are following a course of political expediency rather than of honesty and soundness in the management of our governmental affairs.  “We are following to a great degree the desire of a large number of our people who, having largely received all the services of state, county and local government at the expense of the property owners, are now unwilling to pay a few cents, or at most a few dollars, in order to provide food, clothing and shelter for their unfortunate neighbors in this period of calamity.”…. (Oct. 26, 1935, p.1)

From the Daily Washington Letter by Rodney Dutcher, Oct. 26, 1935, p.4:  “The old question whether it’s a good idea to dump, destroy, or suppress “surpluses” of food while millions of people are on the edge of starvation is again an issue in New Deal councils.  There has been some compromise in Roosevelt’s previous firm determination to abolish the Federal Surplus Relief Corporation, which has bought tens of thousands of tons of foodstuffs in the last two years for distribution to families on relief….The president…still has the theory that wages of the workrelief program and the turning of direct relief back to the states virtually end the necessity or desirability of free food for the unemployed.  And that is violently disputed within both the agricultural and relief organizations….The issue comes to a head through an amendment in which Congress recently appropriated 30 per cent of customs revenues….More than half that amount seems destined for paying the subsidy guarantee to cotton growers.  That would leave perhaps $45,000,000 to be spent for disposition of surpluses—through export or diversion to relief channels.  The big argument now is as to whether most or all of that sum will be spent to finance dumping foodstuffs abroad or whether most or all will be used for relief purchases.  Present tendency in AAA is to feed the surplus food to Americans rather than foreigners, but many congressmen and some farm groups would prefer to see it dumped….”

“DENVILLE – Civilian Conservation Corps Company 1256 arrived here Saturday afternoon to fight the Dutch Elm disease….Although the recently constructed camp buildings will accommodate 206 youths, only 125 came yesterday….Drawn principally from northern and central New Jersey and southern New York, the first contingent underwent a training period at Camp Dix….The boys were about town and through the lakes yesterday to acquaint themselves with their new surroundings.  Pending arrival of foresters who will direct the cutting down and burning up of disease-infected elms, the contingent went to work today on the improving of the camp grounds.  Carpenters and other mechanics will finish building of the facilities this week….Effects of the Dutch Elm disease are particularly acute and devastating in this area, laboratory experts say….” (Oct. 28, 1935, p.1)

“If the federal government shells out billions of dollars a year to take care of the unemployed, why should the private citizen continue to dig down for contributions to the Morris Community Chest?  The answer to that one is easy, but a lot of people may miss it if it isn’t called to their attention.  The government undertakes to keep people from starving.  It provides money for food and shelter.  Just now it is spending enormous sums to provide jobs.  Its one aim—the only aim it can possibly have, so vast is the task—is to ward off actual privation, hunger and cold and nakedness.  Its job stops there.  The country is so big, and things a jobless family needs are so many, that the government could not possibly go any farther than that.  Whatever else is done must be done by the local communities through private charity.  Through the Community Chest, in other words.  What are some of these other things that the depression’s victims need?  Well, for one thing, there is medical care.  The families of men who are out of work need that just as much as do the families of more fortunate people—more so, in fact, for insufficient diet and clothing can cause all kinds of physical troubles.  And medical care is expensive.  Operations, hospitals, sanitariums, visiting nurses—these things cost money.  If the Community Chest isn’t able to bring them to the unemployed, the unemployed will just have to go without them.  But that is only a starter.  There are the children whose parents are on relief.  These children need help.  Many of them need clothing so that they can go to school without being shamed before their schoolmates.  They need fresh milk, fresh air, a thousand and one things that their luckier fellow citizens will have to provide for them if they are to have them at all.  The older ones have their needs, too.  They need organized recreational facilities as much as the little ones do, if not more.  They need help in taking advantage of their spare time so that they can be fitted for good citizenship and can avoid the pitfall of dead, empty idleness.  They need to feel that society as a whole is anxious to give them a break.  This is the sort of thing the private agencies have to do, if it is to be done at all.  It is not “relief.”  That is Uncle Sam’s job.  But relief, as a matter of plain fact, is only a starter.  The rest of the job, equally important, is up to us.”  (editorial, Oct. 28, 1935)

“DENVILLE—Joseph G. Deck of Highland trail, Indian Lake, ended his life sometime yesterday by hanging from a small maple tree along Den Brook near Main street.  His family says despondency over financial troubles drove him to suicide….Yesterday afternoon three boys, William Flinton, Howard Ryan and Harold VanVeisen, seeking muskrat holes along the brook, discovered the body….Coroner Thomas A. Lewis of Boonton, having rendered a verdict of accidental suicide, ordered the body taken to Whitham’s Funeral Home at Rockaway.  Police visualized last night Deck’s acts leading to his death.  They said he had obtained a piece of clothesline from his store and an empty orange crate from a neighboring shop.  He placed the box under the tree, stood on it, tossed the rope over a limb, tied it about his neck, and kicked the box from underneath his feet….

When the boys discovered the body, the rope had stretched so that Deck’s feet touched the top of the box again.  The deceased conducted the cleaning and pressing business here with his son, Frederick J. Deck, for nine years.  Previously he had operated cleaning and dying, cider and vinegar, and liquor establishments in Newark.  Failing health caused him to come to Denville, where he lived with his son.  The deceased’s wife died 20 years ago.  He was born in AlsaceLorraine.” (Oct. 29, 1935, p.1)

“The largest single batch of Morris County WPA projects, ten in number, was released to the field today by William H. J. Ely of Newark, State Administrator….the ten jobs will employ approximately 250 men, it is expected….Including persons employed on a Federal WPA job at

Picatinny Arsenal, there are now over 900 workers in Morris. Simultaneously, Ely announced today the release of 352 projects throughout the state.  They will employ about 25,000 men and will bring the State total up to more than 50,000 workers.  WPA headquarters worked continuously for three days and nights to send the new work out to the field….”  (Oct. 29, 1935, p.1)

“The members of the Board of Aldermen will hold a conference with WPA officials tomorrow night on the question of building the airport at the Normandie Water Works property.  The Board tentatively approved the project some time ago and several questions as to costs and relief are to be thrashed out tomorrow night before a definite decision is made.  Under a works project two years ago hundreds of men were employed and many thousands of dollars spent on the airport, much grading being done.  The government now proposes to give approximately $100,000 more for completion of the job if the Town puts up $12,000.  While some members of the Board feel that the airport is not a necessity and there are several other plans which they would prefer to see put through first, the fact that the WPA will likely approve this particular project, which means considerable work for Morristown men, will come first.  One of the main questions, which it is expected will be difficult to solve, will be whether it is possible to cut down on the funds needed for ERA relief next year.  The Board believes that this can be done as many will be taken off relief rolls and so the amount needed for direct relief will be smaller.  Whether any assurance can be given the Aldermen on this question until the start of the new year is problematical. If the relief expenses are considerably cut this will make available the town’s share of the funds but to put up $12,000 in addition to the heavy amounts now needed for relief will be out of the question….”  (Oct. 29, 1935, p.1)

“Faced with a shortage of funds, the Street Department of the town will have to be closed down entirely except for emergency work provided for under a special note, it was revealed today.  It was reported that the Mayor would issue an order today to the Superintendent of the Department to cease work while official action is expected at the regular meeting of the Aldermen tomorrow night.  The matter came to a head last night during a board conference on other subjects when it was reported that the appropriation for the Street Department had been used up.  Some months ago there was reported a shortage in this and an emergency was decreed with $10,000 being raised on a note for specific street work.  There is about one-fourth of this sum remaining but it can only be used for the repair and rebuilding of streets designated.  Part of the superintendent’s salary has been paid from this, because he was supervising the work, during the past couple of months.  According to one member of the Board this morning, it means there is no money left to take care of the superintendent’s salary, of the pay of other street employees, for street cleaning, sweeping and for other odd jobs while if there is a snowfall during the last couple of months of the year there will be nothing available for its removal.  The situation is such that it is likely that many old employees of the town will have to be laid off….” (Oct. 31, 1935, p.1)

“Morristown, Dover and Boonton local ERA offices have been closed down and have been merged with county headquarters here, Justus P. Nesbitt, county director, announced today.  Reduction in allocation of Federal funds for emergency relief was held by Nesbitt as giving rise to the policy of economy whereby local offices were disbanded.  In Boonton, however, the relief case load had decreased so sharply that no local office was considered necessary at the time of retrenchment.  Staffs of local offices moved to Morristown, so that there was no appreciable cut in the number of relief executives.  Contact offices, where executives may be reached at certain hours, are being maintained in municipalities throughout the county.  Meanwhile, the case load in Morris has decreased roughly threefold in approximately the past six months.  In March, 3,400 persons were drawing relief checks, whereas the total is now only 1,000.  The WPA now employs roughly 1,000 men, and slightly improved business conditions have absorbed other hundreds.  The county office will continue to operate indefinitely, Nesbitt predicted this morning.  He said many technical unemployables, or persons skilled in only one highly specialized trade, continue unable to find work.”  (October 31, 1935, p.11)

“Dover—Harold Otto, 39, of 137 East Blackwell street, who attempted suicide last Friday at his home by shooting himself in the right temple, will probably live according to physicians attending him.  He will, however, be totally blind due to the fact the bullet severed both optic nerves and it was necessary to remove both of his eyes during the operation to remove the bullet.  It is expected that Otto will be removed to the Veterans’ Hospital, Millington, as soon as he is able to make the trip.  He is a World War veteran.  Otto committed the act in a fit of despondence over not being able to secure work to support his wife and two children.”  (Nov. 1, 1935, p.1)

“Lack of funds to completely do all of the work necessary, coupled with an unusual combination of circumstances at one period were put as the causes for some of the swarms of mosquitoes that infested this area during the past summer.  The one big influx of mosquitoes was in late July, the annoyance continuing for 40 days, and this was due to flooded conditions of the upper Passaic Valley….Six types of mosquitoes were collected with the aedes vexaus prevailing….The culex pipias was of major importance….The mansonia perturbance came late in June and early July….The anopheles quadrimaculatus and punctipennis prevailed in late July and August….This type transmits the malaria parasite….There were 5,920 breeding areas, of which 21 percent were found breeding, inspected; 32,730 gallons of larvacide were used; ditches were maintained but no new work undertaken due to lack of funds although under ERA projects there were 26,592 lineal feet in new ditches opened and the CCC worked at clearing the channels of the Passaic and Whippany Rivers….” (Nov. 1, 1935, p. 1 & 3)

“The sales tax has been repealed.  Now we are back where we started.  There is enough money available to finance emergency relief until February 1.  But where do we go from there?  What, in the first place, are the relief needs for 1936?  Emergency Relief Administration says they are between $25,000,000 and $30,000,000.  This is based on the optimistic assumption that the PWA will take the employables off the relief rolls.  It includes the cost of old age pensions and the care of dependent children….The people are most interested in what the ERA thinks it will need to care for those who will be left on its hands after the federal government withdraws from the direct relief field, a withdrawal now scheduled for December 1.  The ERA estimates that, with WPA fully effective, there will remain 20,000 cases in which no member of the family is employable, and 17,000 cases in which the head of the family is not employable, although other members may be.  In the first group ERA insists $45 a month for each family will be needed, and in the second group it plans to expend $30 a month for each family.  In 1933 the average monthly family allowance was $20,87.  In 1934 it was $22.35.  Up to August this year it was $30.59.  But the ERA figures put the 1936 average monthly allowance at $38.10.  Why should next year’s cost be $7.51 more than 1935, and $15.75 more than 1934?  It is clear that the ERA estimates cannot be accepted until there is further evidence of their accuracy and reasonableness.  Debating sales tax repeal in the House on Friday night, Assemblyman Bowers of Somerset expressed the opinion that people living on relief seem to be doing pretty well for themselves— “some of them are living better than I am”—and that many beneficiaries of the dole won’t work when work is offered, an old charge but one which has never been satisfactorily answered.  Significant of an ominous public sentiment, those words drew vigorous applause from the crowded galleries.  A considerable number of Jersey citizens, themselves struggling desperately to keep their heads above water, are becoming increasingly skeptical of the actual need of all of the hundreds of thousands on relief….”  (editorial from the Newark Sunday Call, published in the Daily Record Nov. 2, 1935, p.4)

“LINCOLN PARK—Under joint auspices of the two local Republican clubs a big rally was held last night with Congressman Charles A. Eaton as the main speaker….Congressman Eaton devoted his talk to national issues, delivering a strong attack on the New Deal and the Roosevelt administration.  Eaton pictured the country on the verge of bankruptcy, under a debt of “between $35,000,000,000 and $40,000,000,000 if spending remains unchecked, and declared that the country skirts the abyss of Communism, under the guidance of Felix Frankfurter, “the professor from Harvard” whom Eaton characterized as the “real boss” of the country.  The clergyman representative depicted the country on the way out of the depression in July, 1932, and declared that it began to sink back when Roosevelt was elected and by the time he was inaugurated, it had reached the lowest point in history.  Eaton said that the last two years have witnessed the federal payroll increase to 160,000 people.  He declared the New Deal as “the most damnable curse the small business man ever had,” and defended the Supreme Court decisions.  In his attack on Roosevelt, he charged that the administration sought three objectives, governmental control of industry, control of the finances of the country, and abolishment of the Supreme Court.  Eaton spoke scornfully of the American adult for what he called his stupidity in allowing himself to be “hoodwinked” by Roosevelt, declaring “I don’t know whether America should be saved, but I know the Constitution should be….”  (Nov. 2, 1935, p.9)

“The Community School for Adult Education sponsored by the Board of Education and theSuperintendent of Schools, J. B. Wiley, with the cooperation of the Y. M. C. A., will open Monday night….These classes are made possible by the WPA….”  (Nov. 2, 1935, p.9)

“Transferral of government relief projects in Morris county from the Emergency Relief Administration to the Works Progress Administration is at its height.  The process has been confusing to most persons only because it has not been sufficiently publicized.  Designed principally to administer direct relief, the ERA was attacked a year ago as an enervating “dole” on the contention that little work was done for relief received.  At that time the Federal government decided to set up an administration wherein all persons not unemployed would be obliged to work for emergency funds.  The WPA resulted.  Although the basic function of the ERA has been to distribute direct relief, it acquired three additional functions, each one of which was carried out by separate branches and staffs.  Thus ERA county headquarters in Morristown was augmented by a works projects division, a service projects division, and a leisure time division.  All were designed to supply useful work for the receipt of relief checks.  The works projects division concerned itself with jobs for manual labor; the service projects division conducted non-manual projects, such as completing tax maps, revising municipal and county records, and other clerical work; while the leisure time division put persons to work on all forms of recreation.  When the Federal government appropriated the almost five billions creating the WPA, it was decided that the new administration would take over all functions of the ERA not connected with direct relief.  So in Morristown the ERA works project division was transferred to become the organ of the principal function of the WPA in September, since which time manual projects have been handed over to the agency.  The ERA service projects division is transferring its projects to the Works Progress Administration at the present time, and the dissolution of the ERA leisure time division in favor of its assumption by the WPA is scheduled to occur within a fortnight.  Meanwhile, curtailed Federal allotments have forced the ERA to close down its local agencies in Morristown, Dover and Boonton.  These agencies have been taken over by county headquarters here, and their staffs have been transferred to the county seat.  When the Emergency Relief Administration is finally stripped of all functions except the distribution of direct relief, it will continue operation under the State Emergency Relief Act until January 1.  By that time, all Federal funds will have been cut off from the ERA and given to the WPA, and when the State relief act becomes inoperative, the ERA will either be continued under a new State act, with State monies, or its organization will be dispersed.  The first mentioned procedure appears now to be the more likely, since there are many unemployables, which the WPA, with its works projects, cannot absorb.  These persons are either physically or mentally incapable of work or else they are skilled workers in highly specialized trades.  For them, some relief agency must be set up.  It is not improbably, therefore, that the ERA will be continued after the first of the year in a somewhat modified form.  Last March the ERA was handling 3,200 cases in Morris county.  Now the total has dropped to slightly over 1,100.  Slight business recovery and the assumption of about 1,200 workers by the WPA up until this writing are seen as responsible for the great decrease.  When the complete adjustment is made, the WPA will be hiring employable workers, and the ERA will be easing the plight of the unemployables.”  (Nov. 5, 1935, p.3)

“DENVILLE – Slightly over 44 percent of Denville’s taxes for this year were collected by October 1, Auditor John W. Wehman reported to the township committee last night.  Of a total of $173,786 levied, only $77,188 had been realized on that date, he said.  Reminding the committee that next year’s budget will be on a cash basis, Wehman warned it will be cut considerably and the tax rate will be higher unless collections for the current year are improved.  The committee threatened a week ago to hold late in November a tax sale affecting all properties on which levies due previous to January 1 of this year are unpaid.  About $40,000 is now owed for taxes levied in 1934 and previous years.  Over 500 properties would be involved in the sale, which was not discussed last night.  Acting to meet the contingency of trouble, the committee decided to allow a discount for 1936 taxes paid in advance.  The discount will be at the rate of one-half of one percent for every month before the due date.  The total township indebtedness stood at $636,000 on October 1, Wehman reported.  He said $70,491 in outstanding taxes was due January 1 last, and that $31,251 of this amount had been realized by October 1.  Of $71,999 in outstanding tax title liens due January 1 last, $22,722 had been collected by October 1, he reported….”  (Nov. 7, 1935, p.2)

“DENVILLE—Captain Charles M. Cormack assumes command of Civilian Conservation Corps Camp P-65 here today.  Captain Emil Fichter is leaving to become commanding officer of Camp MC-64, the mosquito control unit on the Morristown – Whippany road.

…Field work on blighted elms will begin next week….Among the 135 men already assigned to Camp P-65, 13 are from Morris County.  From Denville are Edgar Armstrong, William Lyons, Harvey Lookingbill, Robert and Claude Lash, Vincent Vogel, Albert H. Crane, Frank Phillips, and George Robinson.  Charles Ferry, George Smith, and Wellington J. Berge are recruits from Dover.  Other workers from nearby towns are Guy Turner of Morris Plains, and Newton F. Millen of Pompton Lakes….”  (Nov. 9, 1935, p.1)

“MENDHAM—The Board of Education, at its monthly meeting last night, decided to furnish milk for 20 children for one month, beginning November 15 and then determine whether to continue the plan.  Mrs. Dean Sage and Miss Mary Gardner, school nurse, and both members of the Somerset Hills Visiting Nurse Association, attended the meeting, seeking an arrangement with the Board relative to the furnishing of this milk for those in need of extra nourishment.  Mrs. Sage is endeavoring to raise sufficient funds to supply cod liver oil and other necessities for some of the children….”  (Nov. 9, 1935, p.1)

“A list of 30 new Works Progress Administration projects in the county were announced approved today by J. Francis Moroney, district supervisor.  They will bring $206,279 in Federal funds into the county and will employ in the neighborhood of 500 additional men.  Approval of the WPA project to create the Morristown municipal airport below Normandie Heights appeared imminent today.  The Board of Aldermen will meet tonight to decide whether or not it wants the aeroplane facility.  Yesterday it was announced that the airport proposal was included in a list of New Jersey projects for which Federal funds have been granted….Morristown and Greystone Park figure heavily in the list released today.  The WPA spend in the town $18,299 for resetting stone curbs, relaying flagstone sidewalks, and cobblestone gutters; the sum of $10,887 for trimming trees throughout the municipality, removing dead trees, and replanting; the sum of $8,795 for improvements to Silver Lake Brook and its tributaries, including cleaning of shore line, draining the stream to ease flow and installing of lateral ditches; the sum of $8,376 for cleaning and grading the channel of the Whippany River; the sum of $1,721 for malarial mosquito control, and the sum of $829 for construction of sanitary sewer and man-hole with connections on Rosemill place….” (Nov. 12, 1935, p.1)

“HANOVER – The work to be done by the PWA workers on the school grounds will start immediately, according to a report of the House and Grounds Committee of the East Hanover Board of Education at their meeting Monday evening…” (Nov. 12, 1935, p.7)

“Following the advice of J. Francis Maroney, WPA Administrator District No. 6, and several speakers who have addressed the Morristown Workers Alliance during the past weeks, the executive and Membership Committees plan an extensive program to achieve “100%

Organization” of the unemployed, part-time, and relief workers, and employed sympathizers of Morristown and eventually, it is hoped, Morris County….An extensive campaign will also be conducted to achieve the metropolitan $55 monthly rate on WPA projects as against the rural $44 monthly now being paid.  Public support will be especially solicited in this extremely important drive which means much for the future of Morristown.  A statement to be issued points out to the citizens and merchants of Morristown that such a raise would mean approximately $1000 more spent weekly in Morristown than at the present rate, and would generally tend to maintain the local standard of living which has been assailed so viciously….”  (Nov. 12, 1935, p.7)

“Approval to four projects which will give work to 111 local men at very small cost to the town was given by the Board of Aldermen in a conference last night.  Three of the jobs had been announced in the list of 30 new WPA projects approved by J. Francis Moroney, district supervisor, yesterday.  Practically all of the jobs would have to be done anyhow with town funds if the WPA approval hadn’t been given so there is a saving to the town in having them listed as WPA projects.  The largest of the jobs, which has yet to have WPA approval, is for rebuilding the sand filters at the sewer plant.  This will employ 30 men and the federal appropriation will be $19,655….The job employing the most men will be the straightening of sidewalks and curbs and resetting of gutters in all sections of the town.  This will use 39 men and the federal share is $18,299….A third big job is for the trimming of shade trees and the planting of about 100 new trees at a cost to the government of $10,897 and employing 32 men…..The WPA is willing to give over $100,000 for completion of the Normandie property for airport purposes.  The town is supposed to put up $12,500 but the Aldermen question the need of this amount and whether it will prove a real benefit to the town….”  (Nov. 13, 1935, p.1)

TRENTON (AP) – New Jersey reached the end of federal relief today, with Governor Hoffman protesting Washington had promised to forward funds as long as employables in the state were idle.  An allotment of $1,500,000 came to the state treasurer yesterday and with it the information it was the last New Jersey could expect from federal sources.  The grant brought the total allotted for November to $2,750,000 which was $650,000 less than the state had asked….State WPA officials sought to absorb employables from relief rolls by December 1 but the Governor did not expect the transfer would be complete then.  He estimated that 37,000 families would still need aid, in addition to old age pensioners and child wards of the state.  The Governor estimated relief costs next year at more than $25,000,000 and the incoming legislature will be confronted with a problem of financing to replace the repealed Sales Tax.  The Sales Tax Repeal Association…today urged the Governor to consider curtailment of relief expenditures.  “There is talk that men and women are drawing relief benefits who are gainfully employed.  There is in some quarters the feeling that our relief bill will never come down unless there is concerted and drastic effort to scale it down by eliminating chiselers and unworthy persons….” (Nov. 13, 1935, p.1)

“The growing requests for old age pensions will cause the County Welfare Board’s budget to be exceeded this year, it informed the Freeholders yesterday.  Transfers from various items to others within the welfare budget were ordered to make up for the shortages.  At the present rate the old age relief will amount to $105,000 for the year and this will make a $15,000 deficit, of which $3,250 will be charged against the county, the report stated.  The number on relief is increasing rapidly and the statistical report showed 33 new grants with seven discontinued, leaving a total of 606 on old age relief.  There were also 326 on general welfare, 99 in the welfare house and 292 children….The Welfare Board….was about breaking even on welfare board equipment, repairs for Welfare House and County Farm and crippled children, if no more were added to the latter list.  The board had had the services of two investigators and six clerks, whose salaries totaling $108 a week had been paid by the ERA.  The WPA had been asked to continue this but had not yet approved it.  If there was a hiatus, the Board must retain these at its own expense and this would mean an additional transfer….The Board report said that the applications for old age relief had been estimated at 338 against 273 in 1934, but there were 606 now on the rolls.  This was all reflected in mileage, telephones, postage, stationery and other office costs.”  (Nov. 14, 1935, p.7)

“DENVILLE – Citizens here are aroused by a situation growing out of transferral of Federal activity from the ERA to the WPA.  Yesterday, two Denville WPA projects were announced approved.  They involve construction of a water supply line along Morris avenue and repairs to Main street and to the Main Street School, and the expenditure of almost $20,000 in Federal funds.  Local unemployed not on relief are anxious to get work on the two projects.  Yesterday they were represented by a prominent Denville Democratic leader, who went to the Morristown WPA offices to speak for them.  He was informed at the county seat, it is reported, that the jobseekers will be obliged to go on ERA relief rolls before they can be placed on the WPA projects.  It is feared here, therefore, that persons from other municipalities who are unemployed and on relief will get the work….Local unemployed not on relief consider it a matter of personal pride not to register on the ERA rolls, but they want the WPA jobs….”  (Nov. 14, 1935, p.7)

“TRENTON, (AP) – Members of the 1935 Legislature, in the closing weeks of their terms, may be required to decide the difficult political and economic question of diverting highway construction money to emergency relief….Financing of relief, with the federal government announcing an end of its aid this month, has become a major problem of state officials and Legislators….Opposed to diversion, the Governor said he felt the 1935 Legislators, who approved the highway appropriations bill…should make the decision….

“…It is not up to me to say to a county, ‘you can’t have your road’.”….The Governor predicted diversion would put highway workers on relief, curtail federal road grants and interrupt improvements beneficial to the state….Some relief officials have hinted that municipalities might have to shoulder a much larger share of the relief cost next year….the Governor…opposed any immediate increase in municipal donations.  “Such action would invite confusion and widespread municipal bankruptcy,” he said.  “The local governments have been called upon to pay $3,000,000 a year.  It has been proposed that this amount be increased to ten millions.  I do not believe that it is wise to add this additional burden at this time….”  (Nov. 15, 1935, p.1)

“Completion has just been made by the ERA of the tabulation of employable persons in New Jersey who have been on relief.  The tabulation was of a detailed character and 165 separate classifications were made as of the April rolls which included 185,620 in the state.  Morris County had 3,022 cases with 2,654 employables and 1,807 listed as first priority.  On the list are:  31 professional, 40 proprietors, 69 office workers, 77 salesmen, 272 skilled in building, 179 skilled in manufacturing, 162 semi-skilled in building, 527 semi-skilled in manufacturing, 542 unskilled, 420 domestic, 78 farm, and 166 no experience.”  (Nov. 18, 1935, p.1)

“CHATHAM – Franz Robert Bock, 58, took his life by inhaling monoxide poisoning from the exhaust of his automobile at his home, 200 Passaic avenue, yesterday afternoon.  An accountant, Mr. Bock had been out of work for some time, and was despondent over financial difficulties.  He was facing the loss of his house….”  (Nov. 19, 1935, p.1)

“Morris County municipalities today began preparations for assuming increased charge of their own welfare cases after a County Welfare Board conference last night had stressed the need for supplanting aid that will end when the State Emergency Relief Administration ceases to function on December 1….Mrs. Thomas W. Streeter, president of the Welfare Board and chairman of last night’s conference of municipal representatives, explained that the County Board is charged with actual administration of County relief and is instructed to charge back to the municipality the amount of relief granted its own residents….At the present time, the highest wage scale for unskilled labor is $44 a month, a sum which county welfare officials feel may be sufficient to maintain a small family of three or four persons but which will prove totally inadequate in the case of larger families.  Ninety-eight per cent of the welfare board relief clients are unskilled laborers, Mrs. Streeter said….” (Nov. 21, 1935, p.1)

“The Morris County Citizens Republican Club at its meeting in Elks Hall last night appointed Harold Pierson and Willis H. Dutton of Morristown and Jacob J. Vreeland of Dover as a committee on Employment and Grievance to sit at various times to meet people who are in dire need of employment or relief, and , after thorough investigation of the cases to make proper contracts and do everything possible to secure either relief or employment for these persons, irrespective of policies, race or creed.  This action followed adoption of a resolution in which it was pointed out that many people in Morris County who are out of employment apparently are not eligible for a job under the Works Progress Administration and cannot get relief or be put back on relief.  The resolution further charges that there has been alleged discrimination in the allotment of jobs in various cases and many persons who are very much in need of work or relief cannot obtain either.”  (Nov. 21, 1935, p.1)

“The Works Progress Administration has almost completed its avowed aim of taking all Morris County employables off relief by next Monday.  Of an estimated total of 1,800 unemployed heads of families on relief at Summer’s end, the WPA has absorbed 1,593 and put them to work on useful projects.  Over 1,000 workers now unemployable for a variety of individual reasons remain in the County.  It appears this group will remain on ERA relief rolls for an indefinite period of time.  Meanwhile, there exists a large sector of the unemployed who, in hopes of getting a job, have never gone on relief.  Republican factions in towns throughout the county have recently revolted against the fact that these employables not on relief cannot qualify for WPA jobs….J. Francis Moroney, WPA district director, pointed out today that persons who were on relief May 30 last are being given the preference in qualifying for work on projects, and that second preference is going to those who went on relief between May 30 and November 1.  Moroney announced from his Morristown offices this morning that the some 200 more persons on relief and not yet absorbed in works projects will have employment by Monday, when all the WPA jobs will be in actual operation.  Then the total of 1,800 workers will have been approximately reached, Moroney said.  He indicated that when all employables on relief are absorbed by the WPA, no more projects will be put into operation.  Only 29 municipal projects are operating today out of a total of 76 applied for and approved.  It appears, therefore, that many approved jobs will never be put into action.  These 28 municipal projects are hiring 498 men, are costing the sponsors or municipalities a total of $33,700, and are costing the Federal government a total of $146,768.  Meanwhile, the Federal government is sponsoring, directly through its own departments, three large WPA projects in the county.  They are improvement of Picatinny Arsenal and of the Lake Denmark Naval Depot, and eradication of the Dutch Elm disease.  Together, these three projects employ 1,095 men and are costing the Federal government a total of $557,000….”  (Nov. 22, 1935, p.1)

“General employment of county relief recipients drew closer to realization today when the WPA announced it had put 143 additional men to work on ten projects just thrown into operation.  The total number of men and women now employed is 1,736.  The total of county relief recipients to be absorbed by the WPA has been estimated unofficially at about 1,800.  However, it may be found this figure is somewhat low, and the opening of new projects may continue for a short period of time….New jobs announced operating today included three in Morristown, one for resetting curbs, another for trimming trees, and the third for constructing a sewer in Rowe street. 

Other projects call for a sewing room at Boonton, street improvement in Dover, rebuilding of the Shongum Hospital reservoir, resetting of sidewalks at Butler, road improvements at Cedar Knolls, mosquito control in Roxbury Township, and school improvement at Mount Hope.  The ten new jobs represent $70,162 in Federal funds and $14,526 in sponsors’ contributions….”  (Nov. 25, 1935, p.1)

Herblock’s editorial cartoon comment on taxing the rich, November 26, 1935, p.4, “LET’S NOT TAKE IT TOO HARD”, depicts a working class couple in their kitchen crying over the fate of J.P. Morgan.  The husband clutches a newspaper with the headline, “J.P. MORGAN

STATEMENTS ON TAX BURDEN”, while the wife sobs over “the mean old government trying to collect t-taxes from him---”.  “There, There, Honey” consoles the husband.

“Repeal of the sales tax left the State of New Jersey with the problem of financing relief which the tax had successfully solved, Governor Harold G. Hoffman told members of the Morristown Rotary and Kiwanis clubs at their annual joint meeting at Day’s Restaurant this noon….the Governor said that the income from the tax would have totaled between $20,000,000 and $30,000,000 and would have provided for future relief needs three years away.  “Repeal of that tax proved that P. T. Barnum was right,” the Governor asserted.  “The public is a sucker when it comes to taxes.  It doesn’t want an honest tax but it’s willing to pay an indirect tax although it may be two or three times as large just because it comes to them all wrapped up and disguised in some other form.”….when he…launched into the inevitable discussion of current political affairs, it was with a vengeance and bitterness against opponents of the sales tax which brought signs of approbation from large numbers of persons in the smoke filled room.  “We’ve got to meet the cost of today’s problems today,” the Governor shouted.  “Otherwise we’re going to come smack face to face with them in the future.”  With direct reference to present spending on the part of the Federal administration the Governor declared:  “It is unfair to force the burden of payment on the shoulders of our children and upon those of other children yet unborn.”  Governor Hoffman scoffed at the idea economies could be effected to replace the funds which would have been derived from the sales tax.  “If we cut…every function of the State administration down to the bone, if we eliminated here and pared there, we’d still be unable to pay for our relief next year.”….He made light of social security legislation…. ”There’s something wrong about that attitude that many young persons and some old ones seem to feel right now.  They feel that the government owes them a living…  It’s all wrong….”  (Nov. 27, 1935, p.1)

“Notwithstanding the addition of 12,921 cases to the relief rolls during October the load on the state ERA, according to headquarters report, was reduced during the month by 5,344 affecting 26,173 persons.  In the same period, applications for help were rejected in 3,992 cases.  Morris County figures for October were 6,867, a decline of 755 from the 7,622 figures for September and from 8,895 in October, 1934.”  (Nov. 29, 1935, p.1)

“The approach of the new year brought a letter in similar tones to those of the past from James V. Loughlin, president of the Morris County Taxpayers Association, to the Board of Freeholders at its Wednesday meeting.  This expressed the hope that the association would learn of what economies the Freeholders intend to make in the 1936 budget, the desire of members to attend evening sessions on the matter, the willingness to help in any way and declaration of the belief that the time now was to make drastic reductions and not continue the $6,000 and $7,000 salaries with $3,000 for part time jobs.  It was time, said Loughlin, to bring the county rates down so they compared with other counties.  The letter was filed without comment.”  (Nov. 29, 1935, p.1)

“County tax receipts are improved over the same period in 1934, Treasurer Fletcher Fritts reported to the Board of Freeholders Wednesday.  There are 22 of the 38 municipalities paid their 1935 county taxes in full and 13 others have paid substantial amounts on account.  Jefferson, Mine Hill and Netcong were the only ones that have made no 1935 payment.  Several had paid court and library taxes in full, 15 have paid the state school tax and 18 the state bonus tax in full.  Most municipalities that had been billed for interest for failure to pay promptly have acknowledged the charge, if they haven’t paid promptly, but there were two or three exceptions that seemed to be disregarding this interest charge…. (Nov. 29, 1935, p.1)

“…Governor Hoffman has been busy touring the country conducting a campaign for his party’s presidential nomination next year….Should the governor find time to devote to the affairs of his own state…we recommend the suggestion of the New Jersey Sales Tax Repeal association that he promote an exhaustive survey of relief conditions in New Jersey with a view toward eliminating abuses, waste, and duplication.  Apparently Mr. Hoffman sympathizes with the need for such a study, for he has repeatedly criticized the national administration for excessive relief expenditures and laxity with public monies.  Economy, like charity, should begin at home….As the Sales Tax Repeal association points out, there is a unanimous conviction that “those who need food, shelter and clothing during the remaining days of the depression must not suffer or go hungry.”  But there is a similarly widespread belief that relief in many quarters is conducted on a racket basis with checks going to those who neither need nor deserve relief….an investigation looking toward the elimination of abuses and the perfection of New Jersey’s relief system is in order….”

(editorial from the Asbury Park Press, published in the Daily Record Nov. 29, 1935, p.4)

“TRENTON—The appointment of “an adequately paid” administrator or business executive of national reputation from outside New Jersey and cloaking him with authority to take “supreme command” over the relief situation in this State for the period of the emergency was proposed by the New Jersey Sales Tax Repeal association today as the only practical means by which the cost of relief in New Jersey could be revised downward and a “humane relief administration maintained.”….Its proposed relief “czar or dictator” the association declared, must come from outside New Jersey because a man without New Jersey background “will be less harassed by local political pressure….Make him indepdendent completely of politicians and local bigwigs, who want to continue paying off their personal henchmen at the expense of the taxpayers with other people’s money and then let us see what happens to the cost of relief in the State.  New Jersey would enjoy a sane, economical and humane relief administration instead of an administration honeycombed with political influences as is now the case.”…. ”  (Nov. 30, 1935, p.1)

“With gradual cessation of Federal funds for direct relief purposes, the local ERA office today dropped 26 persons from its staff.  When the cut had been made, the office continued work with a force only one-third as large as that of last Summer.  It is now manned by only 38 relief administrators….As the local ERA continues…to supervise direct relief, it is confronted with the problem of curtailed finances….While apparently the ERA will be able to survive the month of December on a considerably reduced budget, no monies are available for the new year….”  (Nov. 30, 1935, p.1)

“WASHINGTON, D. C.—Thirty men will be employed on construction of the new Madison postoffice, it was learned from the procurement division of the treasury today.  A hundred and twenty men will be indirectly employed in production of materials to be used in construction of the building….a post-office of the size of the one planned for Madison, to cost $89,000, would require 30 men during the course of construction on the major and minor contracts.  These men will be selected primarily from the ranks of unionized labor in Madison.  The contractor will call upon the unions for the men…and if they are not furnished within 48 hours, will endeavor to seek the necessary skilled and unskilled labor from the rolls of United States employment agencies in Madison.  These men will be selected locally, the contractors on these postoffice jobs being permitted to bring only their engineers, business manager and a foreman or two to the job.”  (Nov. 30, 1935, p.1)

“When a gentleman who eats as regularly as J. P. Morgan starts moaning low, it must be time for ordinary citizens to begin looking for a ring around the moon or some other sign of bad weather.  Mr. Morgan, returning from Europe, tells reporters that things have been bad, but that they are going to be a great deal worse.  All private fortunes in the United States, says he, will be wiped out within 30 years unless taxes and government expenditures are cut.  Then, coming to his climax, Mr. Morgan delivers himself of the following:  “Why, even now anybody who makes any money in the United States is  actually working eight months of the year for the government—and who is going to be able or willing to do that indefinitely?”….And yet it does seem to be true that even if he is working for Uncle Sam eight months out of every 12, Mr. Morgan after all is doing fairly well by himself these days.  He still gets over to Scotland to shoot grouse, and the public prints have not yet announced the sale or decommissioning of his yacht, the Corsair, which is one of the finest yachts in all the world and does not run on small change.  If he has given up his Long Island estate or his London town house, the news hasn’t leaked out.  The ruddy flush of health that goes with regular meals and plenty of sleep still appears on his cheeks….A new deal which fails to leave the world a safer place for multi-millionaires is to him not merely a new deal, but a game of seven-card stud with the deuces and one-eyed jacks wild….”  (editorial, Nov. 30, 1935)

“To The Editor:  The Need of Small Apartments  There seems to be a great demand today for small—one to four room kitchenette apartments, and that demand comes from all classes of people…who either cannot afford the rental of a whole house or do not require so much space.  Requests…have been received from people who ten years ago would not have considered smaller living quarters, being financially able to maintain their large homes but times are different….Some property owners have altered their large houses and by wise planning they have been able to still occupy their home and at the same time rent the surplus area as a small kitchenette apartment and are realizing a nice income which goes a long way in paying the annual expenses attached to owning real estate….I have in my office today a waiting list of 27 prospective tenants, desiring small kitchenette apartments, at prices from $20.00 up to $45.00.  The Federal Housing Administration is a great assistance in private credit financing for those who feel unable to finance the remodeling of their properties themselves….Respectfully, A. R. GRISWOLD, 17 Pine Street, Morristown”  (Nov. 30, 1935, p.11)

“Lot Owners - - No Cash Needed

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Complete with sheet rock and trim.  Build a room BUNGALOW, a fascinating LOG CABIN or a beautiful COTTAGE on your own lots.  Build BETTER, build CHEAPER, build NOW, while Federal Housing Administration credit financing is still available.

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 $595 Community  Home  Builders

10 PARK PLACE, MORRISTOWN Phone Mo. 4-0323, ROOM 339” 

(Nov. 30, 1935, p.12)

“The time has apparently come when the man who wants to work is denied the chance, instead, he’s put on a dole.  We refer to the Federal ruling under which persons who failed to go on relief before November 1 are now powerless to apply for PWA jobs.  Such persons, in the hour of their need, may indeed only apply for ERA relief.  But you have to figure pride into the picture.  Several millions have refused to go on relief because they’re too proud.  They want to fight this business of unemployment out to the very last ditch before they accept the dole….For these courageous individuals, the WPA must make some arrangement.  The Morris County Citizens’ Republican Club…is battling to find WPA labor for the people who refused to take relief before November 1.  The club realizes this crisis to be so important that it completely transcends party lines, party issues.  A Democratic or Socialist group might just as well be waging the fight.  Denville and Parsippany-Troy Hills are mouthpieces of resentment against the government in the matter:  in those townships, there are many persons who want to work on WPA projects but who nevertheless refuse to go on relief.  While certification for ERA relief is defensible in that it tends to eliminate unworthy, unneedy applicants, at the same time social stigma of “going on relief” should be eradicated.  The WPA should devise a simpler method of certification in order that persons might apply for work directly and without embarrassing red tape.”  (editorial, December 3, 1935)

“How the Federal Housing Administration single mortgage system places the key to home ownership within the reach of every properly qualified citizen will be explained Tuesday night at a mass meeting to be held in the Aldermanic Chamber, Municipal Building.  This meeting will be followed by a two-day FHA “mortgage clinic” to take place in the Maple Avenue School Wednesday and Thursday….John M. Dobbs, financial field representative, FHA, will deliver the principal address of the evening, pointing out what the FHA is accomplishing toward the stimulus of the building trades, making mortgage money available, creating a liquid mortgage structure, and increasing better housing construction.…”  (Dec. 4, 1935, p.1)

“One of the oddest things about the present employment in business conditions is the fact that employment is reviving faster than the relief rolls are shrinking.  In the city of Cleveland, for instance, unemployment dropped from 76,000 on October 1 to 58,600 on November 1, making the number of unemployed smaller than it has been at any time since 1930. Yet the relief rolls are showing no corresponding shrinkage.  Counting WPA employes as relief clients, Cleveland had a reduction of only 3,400 in its relief lists during the period when the number of unemployed was reduced by more than 17,000.  This seems to indicate that our relief problem will lag with us for some time after our industrial conditions have got nearly back to normal.  We shall still be caring for the casualties of the depression after the depression has been finally defeated.”  (editorial, Dec. 4, 1935)

“DENVILLE – Functioning of the pay-as-you-go plan was explained to the Denville Township Committee by its auditor, John W. Wehman of Morris Plains….The pay-as-you-go scheme requires that the township may never spend more money than it is taking in….

All papers, documents, facts, and figures to be used in preparation of the 1936 budget must, by law be submitted for approval to State Auditor Walter R. Darby before February 9 next.  The budget hearing will follow Darby’s approval….”  (Dec. 5, 1935, p.1)

“Ten sewing rooms already employing 203 needy women in useful activities are bustling with industry in Morris, Warren, Somerset and Hunterdon counties, comprising District No. 6 of the Works Progress Administration, according to a statement by Miss Katherine M. Donaldson, Supervisor of Women’s Activities at headquarters here.  Miss Donaldson, well balanced in this type of work from years of welfare and social service activities as an executive and organizer, is highly enthused over the esprit de corps of her groups of workers, all deserving women, many with children and other dependents to support, who have shown a remarkable attitude toward their new work.  “…my enthusiasm…is merely a reflection of the optimistic and genuinely eager atmosphere of the sewing rooms themselves.  I find all of these women diligently working, not only to solve their own financial worries and to buy food and clothing and maintain homes for their families, but to make clothing, blankets and other necessities for the needy,” Miss Donaldson told the Record.  “Most of these women were ill-fitted because of physical condition, age and other factors, to secure regular employment.  Many of them are heroically coming to the rescue of ill or incapacitated husbands and are proving breadwinners in every sense of the word. ….Every bit of material is put to good use.  Not a scrap is wasted…”  Sewing rooms are established in ten communities so far.  They are:  Morristown, Madison, Dover, Boonton, Phillipsburg, Rockaway, Gillette, West New Brunswick, Somerville and Bound Brook.” (Dec. 6, 1935, p.1)

“A limit to the amount of blood donated by members of CCC Camp 241 may be made necessary in the near future, Commander Lieutenant Samuel Straus intimated yesterday.  Strauss indicated he believed that the willingness of his men to submit to transfusions was being taken advantage of in some cases and that in the future donations may be made only in the case of approved charity patients.  Most of the men were willing to act as blood donors chiefly “for the adventure of the thing,” the lieutenant said.”  (Dec. 6, 1935, p.1)

Sign of the times:  “Six more implicated in wire thefts in the upper section of Morris County were arraigned in Special Sessions Court this morning and one was sent to the state prison, another to the Rahway Reformatory and others were given jail sentences.  Michael Donkonics, of Wharton, charged with burglary, was given 1 to 3 years in the State Prison.  He had been out on parole from a state reformatory when arrested for alleged participation in theft of copper wire from the Seguine-Bogart Company of Kenvil….15 consecutive cases in the county courts were for wire stealing….”  (Dec. 6, 1935, p.1)

“BOONTON—A large assemblage of Morris County residents heard how the FHA single mortgage system may be put to practical use by home owners and prospective home owners, when an FHA “mortgage clinic” was launched with a public mass meeting in the Elks’ auditorium, last night.  The “clinic” itself, being held in the Boonton Better Housing Headquarters, 1009 Main street…has been visited by many inquiring on the procedure necessary to obtain FHA loans.  Mayor Oscar P. Meyers, chairman of the Boonton better housing program committee, delivered the address of welcome at the meeting, which contractors, realtors, household supply dealers, material men, bankers, building and loan representatives and other Morris County residents attended….”  (Dec. 6, 1935, p.7)

“MOUNTAIN LAKES—Tax collections by the Borough of Mountain Lakes, which for the first eleven months of 1935 present a marked increase over a similar period during 1934, show a seven per cent increase during November over the same month last year, according to the report made by Tax Collector Herman C. Martens to the Borough Council at its regular meeting.  $20,063.71 was collected in taxes and liens last month as compared to $18,753.28 in November, 1934.  Although last month’s increase falls far below that of the entire year to date, namely 29 per cent, it must be realized that this is undoubtedly due to the fact that many of the residents were out of town over the Thanksgiving week-end which came at the end of the month, the time when a goodly percentage of the returns usually are received….The council authorized Mr. Martens to pay off the state taxes amounting to about $11,800 before December 15 when they fall due.  The collector was confident that he would have enough funds available by that time to pay them in full.  The council also authorized Mr. Martens to pay the Board of Education the sum of $4,000 for bond interest on the new high school….”  (Dec. 6, 1935, p.17)

“An about face by the Board of Aldermen that may mean the killing of the airport project entirely took place at the meeting last night when by a vote of six to three it was decided to accept the original WPA project with the proviso that the town will not carry out its part of the obligation unless the government does its share fully.  The original plan was for the government to put up about $159,000 for labor and the Town to furnish $12,000 for material.  Of this latter sum, about $10,000 was for the hangar and it was to this particular point that members of the Board objected.  After some long and stormy sessions, at the last meeting it was decided to resubmit the project with the hangar eliminated and that just the field itself be prepared.  For this the Town would have to put up less than $2,000….Last night, after plenty more discussion, the resolution as adopted obligated the town to build the hangar when the government finished the field.  Proponents of the original project claimed this was only a subterfuge to kill the plan entirely as the government would not consider it with these strings attached….”  (Dec. 7, 1935, p.1)

“WHARTON—The borough council decided last night to postpone the repairing of Baker avenue with gravel until after the water department has completed its job of lowering the water pipes on that street.  There are only twelve men who can qualify for the job according to the restrictions provided, which stated that only men on relief since May 1 could take jobs and all others must accept direct relief.  Because of the release of 12 Wharton men by the Alan Wood Mining Company, of Mine Hill, the Wharton relief roll has increased by ten families since the last meeting.  A communication from the ERA outlined tentative plans for the future and suggested each municipality appoint a “contact officer” who will act with the Welfare Board in investigating and reporting cases for relief.  Councilman Frank J. Porter suggested the local ERA committee of three could serve….”   (Dec. 7, 1935, p.1)

“EAST HANOVER-Two resolutions were passed at the regular meeting of the East Hanover Township Committee….The second resolution was to issue a letter to all taxpayers, informing them of the waiving of interest on all delinquent taxes up to and including the year 1934, if paid before December 27.  All taxes not paid by that date to be advertised for sale the latter part of January.  At the present time only fifty percent of the taxes are coming in.  In the past year the indebtedness of the township has been reduced $5,569….With $275 needed to help the thirteen families, or forty-six persons, now on the relief it was decided to apply to the state for more assistance.  The state appropriation of $149 and the municipality of $101 will not be enough to cover the necessary amount….” (Dec. 7, 1935, p.1)

“High Spots In The News Of The Week…By Devon Francis…Amid Manhattan’s towering spires…there met this week more than a thousand men whose corporate connections symbolized big business.  Known as the Congress of American industry, their meetings were shot through with declarations that the economic emergency is passing, that the Government must stop “interfering” with business, that the Government must stop living beyond its income, and that industry wants more than the “breathing spell” promised by President Roosevelt.  They called for abolition of the Rooseveltian “new economic order.”  The big utilities lined up solidly against part of the New Deal program by letting the deadline for compliance with the Public Utility Act pass without filing notices of registration….” (Dec. 7, 1935, p.11)

“….A letter to the editor last week showed how the supply in small apartments is plainly incommensurate with the demand….The writer said yesterday she now has 50 applicants, all of whom she has been obliged to turn back.  If one agency represents 50 dissatisfied clients, it is not dangerous to assume that at least one hundred apartment seekers are running about with no assurance they can locate a place they can eventually call home….  government agencies have had the effect of increasing Morristown’s general population by some hundreds of people.  The Dutch Elm disease laboratory and the Morristown National Historical Park are employing permanent staffs of skilled workers, many of them with small families.  Officers of the Civilian Conservation Corps, and employees of the Works Progress Administration recruited from the neighboring Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties contribute to the general increase.  At the Lafayette House in the rear of Washington’s headquarters is located a sizeable staff of artists busy on the construction of displays for the local and other national parks.  Such professional workers, paid moderate salaries, have besieged local apartment agencies demanding, for the most part, living quarters of between two to four rooms, and costing between 30 to $45 a month.  Very few are able to pay beyond $50….there are numerous large one-family dwellings the greater parts of which have fallen into pitiful decay.  Second and third floors may be, at a reasonable outlay, converted into tremendously attractive small apartments.”  (Dec. 7, 1935, p. 12)

“DOVER—Teachers here want the 10 and 5 percent pay cuts they voluntarily accepted during the depression to be restored to them.  Four years ago, they volunteered to 10 percent slashed in their salaries, and later the smaller cut was accepted.  They have petitioned the Board ofEducation.  The teachers believe conditions warrant a restoration of part of their original salaries.  The committee pointed to the fact that teachers are assisting needy families.  The request has been referred to the teachers’ committee for a report at the January meeting….”  (Dec. 12, 1935, p.1)

“A luncheon meeting of state and county officials of unusual interest was held at the Women’s Community Club here as the first in a series of get-togethers of the Sewing Room personnel of Morris, Warren, Somerset and Hunterdon counties, comprising District No. 6 of the Works Progress Administration….Reports of the forewomen of the various sewing rooms revealed many examples of human interest stories.  In one room a one-time French governess taught women to speak French during the noon hour.  In the Morristown sewing room where there are 28 colored workers, they hum old negro songs, handed down for generations from the old days of the plantation and cotton fields.  One brave woman works in a sewing room, washes clothes over the week-end and manages to send her son to junior college.  One sewing room has received a Victrola with several hundred records which are played to create a jolly atmosphere.  Several have hot-pot ranges for making coffee and hot drinks during lunch hour.  Still others contemplate pooling funds to buy small radio sets so they can listen to lectures and music as they work.  There are at present a total of 203 women working in sewing rooms in the four counties of District No. 6.  The primary objective is to make clothes for the needy.”  (Dec. 12, 1935, p.7)

“DOVER—WPA wages are insufficient for large families, Mrs. Thomas W. Streeter of Morristown told the Republican Women’s Good Government Club of Morris County at Moose Hall here yesterday afternoon.  She is president of the Morris County Welfare Board.  Mrs. Streeter declared the $44 monthly pay is too small to meet ordinary needs, and added the next legislature will be hard put to it to supply probably supplementary relief.  She indicated municipalities may be forced to shoulder some welfare burdens….” (Dec. 13, 1935, p.1)

“ROCKAWAY – Federal handling of local relief isn’t at all to the liking of the borough councilmen, and they mean to do something about it.  When a group of relief workers meet here next Tuesday afternoon, Mayor John Crane and other members of the council are going to appear to check up on local welfare problems.  For one thing, the borough government is puzzled about the supposed number of persons on relief.  Meeting last night, councilmen said the number had been so differently reported by the county welfare board, the ERA, and the WPA that it is impossible to know the facts.  Mayor Crane declared he believed there are far too many relief heads or administrators, and added the handling relief should be simplified to become understandable….”  (Dec. 13, 1935, p.1)

“Details on the organization and functioning of headquarters of the Works Progress Administration here, were made public today in order that the average person might learn of the various departments and procedures of the center of activities for Morris, Warren, Somerset and Hunterdon counties….the Works Progress Administration merely serves as an administrative agency and in no manner creates or submits projects. This rests entirely with the local municipalities and governing bodies.  [District Director] Moroney maintains an intimate liaison with the PWA federal projects and planning boards, etc….The labor relations man, Clarence Meslar, of Morristown, contacts workers and labor leaders and keeps the closest watch of labor, seeing that men work required hours, in turn are not overworked, that pay scales are equitable and so forth.  A labor inventory is made, using many thousands of carefully-indexed cards.  Large tables are filled with slots in which an elaborate card-index system is kept in order by a staff of trained employees, making it possible for a man’s name, experience, relief status, etc., to be located in an instant for immediate reference….In the Morristown office there are 67 employees, comprising district No. 6 of the Works Progress Administration.  So busy has the routine become that frequently many staff volunteer to work overtime at no additional pay to expedite movement of new projects.”  (Dec. 13, 1935, p. 1 and 6)

“DENVILLE—After two Winters of darkness, the business center may again be lighted at night, if pressure being exerted by the Chamber of Commerce becomes effective.  The township saved $8,000 per year by darkening all streets the last day of 1933.  The chamber voted last night to ask the township committee to relight the trading stretches of Broadway, Main street, Diamond Spring road, and Bloomfield avenue.  Light standards are still in their original positions, and only some rewiring would be necessary.  Illumination of the business center would cost about $1,500 per year, the township still saving about $6,500…New Jersey Power and Light…told the chamber….”  (Dec. 14, 1935, p.1)

“….The ordinary citizen expects his state to do certain things for him – build roads, maintain prisons and asylums, regulate public service corporations, supervise the liquor traffic, and so on; and so far he has accepted the fact that all these things cost money, and had paid and paid and paid without a whimper.  Suppose, now, that he finally decides he has had enough, and tells his legislators:  “Here—enough is plenty.  I am being taxed tom death and I am through.  Knock about one-third off this state’s budget, somehow, anyhow—I don’t know how you’re going to do it and I don’t care.  But do it, and do it now, because I’m sick to death of you and your taxes.”  The legislators might have to stop playing politics and go to an efficiency expert for a change.”  (editorial, Dec. 14, 1935)

“DENVILLE—Like a posse of men fighting the onset of a huge forest fire, Civilian Conservation Corps boys here are struggling with the threatening conflagration called the Dutch Elm disease….Dig a ditch around its periphery and you may be able to stop the advance of a forest fire.  The C.C.C. boys are using identical defensive methods against the Dutch Elm disease….The camp here is cutting down and burning every egg-infected tree in the east-county area.  Every tree, because the boys were preceded by Department of Agriculture  experts who scoured the entire area and marked all diseased elms.”  (Dec. 16, 1935, p.1)

“ “We must move,” says Alfred P. Sloan, Jr., president of General Motors, “toward a soundly based and widely distributed economic well-being.  This is the ‘theory of plenty,’ as distinguished from the ‘theory of scarcity’ which has dominated our recent economic thinking policies.”….If American industry is really going to take Mr. Sloan’s advice and proceed on the theory of plenty, this is the biggest news that has broken in this country since Paul Revere got off his horse.  For this theory is one that we have never yet followed.  Our industrialists, by and large, are about the most completely able set of men at their respective jobs that the business world has ever seen….Why, then, do we have occasional periods in which a great many people do not have enough to eat or enough to wear or enough things like autos and refrigerators and bridge lamps.  It isn’t because our industry cannot make enough of these things.  It can flood us with them, and the men who run it would like nothing better than the chance to do so….No sensible American can want to see his country follow policies under which production is restricted.  We all want more of everything—more food, more houses, more clothing, more this, that and the other thing.  But saying that we want this doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re going to get it—for these things have to be paid for in hard cash, and the men who produce them have to produce them at a profit.  That is what makes Mr. Sloan’s declaration so important.  He bids industry follow the theory of abundance and produce bountifully.  Industry has solved the problem of production; now, it would seem, he summons it to solve the problem of distribution….”  (editorial, Dec. 16, 1935, p.6)

“Most of us can remember a time when $12,000,000 looked like a great deal of money…. But with the federal government, things being as they are, it is hardly more than enough to leave under the saucer for the waitress.  Anyway, $12,000,000 is going to be spent on an investigation by Uncle Sam; and the only surprising thing about it is the fact that the investigation might actually be worth what it will cost.  Some 24,000 jobless men will be put to work under direction of Relief Administrator Harry L. Hopkins, trying to determine “the effects of recent changes in the techniques of production upon the volume of employment and production.”  Boiled down, this means that they are going to try to find out just what the prospects are for re-employment in private industry of the 3,500,000 men now working under the $4,000,000,000 work relief fund.  Sooner or later these men must go back to private industry for their jobs.  Uncle Sam, who is so used to giving until it hurts that he is practically numb by now, can’t carry them forever.  But before he can put them down, he has to have some idea what their chances are for supporting themselves without his help.  We have heard a great deal of talk about “technological unemployment” in the last few years.  Gloomy prophets have tucked their beards inside their vest and assured us that even if production bounced back to the 1929 level, there would still be a great army of workers for whom industry would have no place.  But nobody has any very definite, hard, fast facts to present….it is only by getting this kind of knowledge that we can lay down any sensible relief program for the future….”  (editorial, Dec. 17, 1935)

“BOONTON—The Teachers’ Organization of Boonton in a letter to the Board of Education last night asked a restoration of pay cuts.  The letter…quoted six reasons for the request.  The summary of these is:  “Marked increase in living costs;” second, “the relatively low salary scale in Boonton;” third, “the increased teaching load of each teacher caused by increased enrollment and added subjects;” fourth, “added courses in health, safety, citizenship and character training required;” fifth, “improved tax returns resulting in increased funds for school expenditures;” and sixth, “it has been mutually understood between Board members and teachers that there would be a restoration of refunds as soon as conditions warranted it.”….The Board agreed that its final decision will be based on the increase of tax revenues locally and the possibility of further increases in receipts next year.  The fact finding committee….report….pointed out that Montville, Dover Township, Rockaway Township, Parsippany and Madison have already made a complete or partial restoration while the Town of Dover has the problem under advisement….A 24 per cent increase in living expenses since 1932 was quoted from the Bureau of labor statistics by the report….”  (Dec. 18, 1935, p.1)

“MORRIS PLAINS—A request was received by the Board of Education at a meeting,,, from the faculty of the school…asking that their pay cuts be restored by January 1….

There was much discussion by the members of the Board and it was decided to advise the signers that there was no provision in the present budget for present operation which would provide for the restoration of the cut but that the Board would consider the question when the new budget was drawn up….”  (Dec. 18, 1935, p.1)

“CHESTER – Everything is over as far as PWA water is concerned, and this time no skeletons can be dragged from the borough closet to perpetuate the unfortunate scheme.   As a fact, everything was over a couple of weeks ago, when Mayor Harry W. Cyphers was informed by Federal PWA officials that they had unconditionally rescinded the loan and grant to Chester.  But the mayor must have carried the informing letter dated December 5 around in his pocket for a couple of weeks, because the borough council wasn’t officially notified until last night….No strings are attached to the Federal decision to drop PWA finance.  The government was apparently tired of two long years of wrangling, and seemingly figured it best to put an end to everything.  The borough is now obliged to face $7,500 in preliminary engineering and extra legal expenses.  By State law, the amount must be tacked on to the 1936 budget and raised by direct taxation.  Next year’s budget, therefore, will be about doubled.  It is impossible to bond the $7,500….Knight and Bauer, construction engineers, are owed $4,000.  If previous arguments with Knight and Bauer are indications, councilmen will balk at some of the engineers’ charges, and will attempt to pare them off whenever possible.  About $2,200 is owed in legal expenses for the certiorari hearings and already $750 has been spent in sinking of a test well, resulting in discovery of an adequate water supply.  The successful test well remains as the only actual accomplishment since PWA water was first suggested in September 1933….”  (Dec. 19, 1935, p.1)

“Morris County’s WPA recreation program will be in full operation by the beginning  of next week, it was announced following a meeting of workers at the district office here yesterday.  The workers, besides assuming functions of the dismantled ERA recreation department, plan to add several innovations….the program includes playground work, instruction in swimming and other athletics, classes in applied education, and organization of community centers.  Mrs. Edwin Bebout, of the Mount Freedom road, retained from the ERA, is the new County WPA supervisor of recreation.  She will be assisted by 21 workers throughout Morris.  Charles F. Halsted, of Somerville, is recreation director for this district, including Morris, Somerset, Warren and Hunterdon Counties.”  (Dec. 20, 1935, p.1)

“The kings and nobles of merrie, medieval England have nothing on the enrollees of company 241, CCC, in the way of culinary delicacies.  The traditional boar’s head, nuts, fruits, a crackling fire, the singing minstrels—all were present at a Christmas dinner and party given last evening by the company for the forestry personnel and the enrollees in the company mess hall.  Because of the fact that the majority of the men will be on leave Christmas day, Lieutenant Straus, commanding officer, held his party last evening at the camp so that the boys could put their feet under mother’s table at home on Christmas day, and also have a company party.  After a delicious dinner of fruit cup, celery, stuffed olives, roast suckling pig, sweet potatoes, snow flake potatoes, dressing, apple sauce, asparagus, English plum pudding with hard sauce, layer cake, ice cream, nuts, candies, fruits in season, coffee, cigars and cigarettes, the members of the company provided a varied and highly entertaining show, including a spoon player, mandolin and guitar player, a hill-billy quartette, Italian and Irish songs, ala “barber shop” trio, and community caroling, with music furnished by a six-piece WPA orchestra….”  (Dec. 20, 1935, p.10)

“The WPA District Office here has settled down to routine operations….While it is not the intention of J. Francis Moroney, district director, to add a substantial number of new projects, all employable unemployed who registered for ERA relief before November 1 will have jobs for, roughly, the next ten months.  Fluctuations in Morris County’s relief load are to be taken care of by adding or taking men away from projects, rather than by creating new or dropping existing projects in large numbers….during November, there were 5,031 persons on relief in this county, ERA State headquarters reported today.  The figures compares with 6,867 persons on relief in October and with 9,137 in November, 1934.  Substantial improvement of November over October is to be accounted for by heavy WPA hiring at the time….”  (Dec. 23, 1935, p.1)

“Announcement of the Morristown Clearing House Association Conforming with State and Federal regulations providing, in effect, that no bank, trust company, or savings bank shall pay interest accruing after January 1st, 1936, on any time, thrift, or saving deposit at a rate in excess of 2% per annum, the member banks of Morristown Clearing House Association announce that beginning January 1st, 1936, interest on savings accounts will be paid at the rate of 2% per annum….

Morristown Trust Company

First National Bank

American Trust Company

The National Iron Bank”  (advertisement Dec. 23, 1935, p.6)

“DOVER – Criticism of the set-up of the County Welfare Board as outlined in a communication from Mrs. Thomas W. Streeter, board president, was voiced here last night by Mayor John Roach jr.  At the mayor’s suggestion, the recommendation of Alderman Parker to agree to the proposal to contribute $1,097 for January relief work was laid over until the meeting January 1.  The mayor said he did not like the suggestion that unless the board went along with the proposal the town might be forced to care for its own needy out of budget appropriations….”  (Dec. 24, 1935, p.1)

“DOVER—A sewing room employing 30 women will be opened here before the end of January, Lieutenant-Commander Samuel Chiles, U. S. N. retired, director of emergency relief for the northern section of Morris County, announced yesterday.  Under joint sponsorship of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen and Dover Kiwanis Club, the sewing room will be the second organized here in the past six weeks.  The Works Progress Administration opened such an establishment November 15, when 26 women were given work on a project costing the Federal government $17,856 and the town $2,400.  Chiles said he also hopes to operate a children’s nursery for women employes on the proposed project.  President Frank W. Hamilton has assured the director of co-operation in the movement by the local Board of Education, which operated a day nursery with ERA funds until December 20, when the room was closed because the appropriation had been exhausted.  Chiles announced yesterday that $200 will be required to provide heat, light and power for the sewing machines.  He said this amount has been pledged by Mayor John Roach Jr. and the officers of the Kiwanis Club.  The material will be supplied by the Federal government and the sponsors will have the privilege of designating where the finished articles are to be distributed.”  (Dec. 27, 1935, p.1)

“RAINBOW LAKES—The WPA project to bring an abundant water supply to homes here depends on when the Works Progress Administration can locate unoccupied men to do the work. 

Washington has approved the job, funds are available, and only men are lacking…. Under current regulations, the new works administration can hire only persons who were accepted for ERA relief before November 1.  Such persons have all been absorbed….as soon as some are free for the work here, the job will begin.  Men from as far away as Morristown will be eligible….Parsippany-Troy Hills Township will wait “only a reasonable length of time for the WPA to act,” Clerk William P. Stephenson of Mt. Tabor told the Record this morning.  If the project fails of realization after such time, the township will do the work with its own funds, Stephenson asserted….Under the WPA project, 800 feet of main, now lacking, would be laid from the standpipe to the newer and larger township reservoir….”  (Dec. 28, 1935, p.1)

“Efficiency will be stressed in a nation-wide reorganization of the Works Progress Administration by Harry L. Hopkins, Relief Administrator, according to Washington releases yesterday.  All officials from State administrators to job supervisors are to be subject to summary discharge if they permit any loafing on jobs or inefficiency in operation, it was said.  The 310 WPA district offices in the country, one of which is located at 2 Park place here, will be reorganized immediately along uniform and simplified lines, the responsibility for this task being in the hands of field officers….All personnel officers are to be discharged immediately….Mr. Hopkins’ primary concern in the next six months is to see that projects are completed economically.  In view of this, field officers received authority to hire and discharge at will without regard to political considerations.

…Another innovation is planned by the treasury…in putting staffs in WPA offices all over the country to make sure that persons on work relief jobs will be paid within seventy-two hours of the time checks are ordered.  Local WPA offices are to cooperate in seeing that payrolls are met when due….”  (Dec. 30, 1935, p.1)

“A total of 359 workers were placed in jobs during November by the local office of the National Reemployment Service, according to a release from State headquarters today.  The majority of the men hired were absorbed by WPA projects….The Morristown Reemployment Service office acts as a job agency for the WPA as well as for private concerns….”  (Dec. 30, 1935, p.1)

“Justus P. Nesbitt, County ERA director, had something to show all comers this morning.  It was $18 in cash, clipped to a piece of note paper reading: “This money belongs to the State.”  There was no signature, no clew other than that the envelope was postmarked Morristown.  Mr. Nesbitt said he thought the $18 was bothering someone’s conscience--someone who had been on relief and had later gotten a job.”  (Dec. 30, 1935, p.1)

“….Apparently, the relief situation is much less crucial now than on the first day of 1935.  The County is responsible for only half as many persons and cases.  However, 1936 and future years remain unprovided for at this date….Already some County municipalities are probing conditions with a view to financing the unemployment problem locally.  Other communities in Morris are so washed up with the depression that they will be unequal to the job of handling relief through local taxes.  It is more than a probability that New Jersey will be obliged, in the last analysis, to step in and play all-year-around Santa Claus to some of the more unfortunate municipalities….The public agrees generally that continued technological unemployment will keep Federal and State governments in the relief business permanently….The shifting of jobless from ERA relief to WPA pay checks for actual work done has been applauded throughout the United States.  In the face of tales of languid leaf-raking and uninspired pick and shovel work, municipalities here and all over the country are getting certain jobs done that had been hanging fire for years….Almost every community in Morris is sharing in such benefits….In total, all WPA projects in the County will cost the Federal government and sponsoring municipalities about $1,300,000 of which the towns are to pay $50,000….”  (Dec. 31, 1935, p.11)