An act providing for city plan commissions passed N. J. Legislature and became a law March 30, 1911. On June 1, Mayor Haussling appointed the Newark City Plan Commission. For its investigations and work, $10,000 was annually appropriated until the adoption of Commission Government. Under this form of government there were no further appropriations for special boards and the City Plan Commission went out of existence, Dec. 31, 1917. Some of the subjects studied and reported on by the Commission aside from street arrangement, were Centre Market, Housing Problems, Municipal Recreation, Interurban Improvement and Harbor Development. The Commission issued "City Planning for Newark" and "A Comprehensive Plan". Both are valuable documents and rich in Newark facts. _Civil Service Reform_: The system by which public offices are filled and promotions made through competitive examinations held under federal, state or city government. It is known as the "merit system", since it looks toward the appointment of men to office because of their competency. It is a reaction from the "spoils system" or the practice of giving public offices to political favorites. The state measure was adopted, 1910, by Newark, by popular vote. _Coal Shortage_: 27,000 emergency coal cards, entitling each person to 1,000 pounds of coal, were issued by Bd. of Health during coal shortage in the winter of 1917-18. U. S. government instituted Workless Mondays to conserve coal, and boards of education closed school buildings for lack of fuel. _College of Technology_: See Technical School. _Comfort Stations_: First public comfort station, in Military Park, ready for use July, 1910. Cost $14,734. Maintained by Shade Tree Commission, now a division of Dept. of Parks and Public Property. _Commission Government_: Adopted Oct. 9, 1917, at a special referendum election. Vote 19,069 for, and 6,053 against. Present commissioners elected Nov. 13, 1917, to serve until May, 1921, are: Mayor Charles P. Gillen. Dept. of Public Affairs. Alexander Archibald. Dept. of Revenue and Finance. William J. Brennan. Dept. of Public Safety. Thomas L. Raymond. Dept. of Streets and Public Improvements. John F. Monahan. Dept. of Parks and Public Property. Change of government authorized under Walsh Act, passed by the N. J. Legislature April 25, 1911. 5 commissioners, elected by the people and responsible to them, replace a mayor, 32 common council members, numerous departments and boards. The commission names one of its members to be mayor. He becomes chief Commissioner, but has no veto power. _Contemporary, The_: Organized April 23, 1909, by representatives of Sesame, Philomathean, Irving, Saturday and Municipal Art Clubs. To meet need for single large organization of Newark women, working toward a better knowledge of civic conditions and for the development of good fellowship among women.