Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1903-12-08
ORDINANCE TO PAVE
RECTOR ST. DOWNED.
Warm Debate in Council Chamber Last Night
When the Matter Was Taken up-.PersonaI
Tiffs Between Two tizens--0pposed on Ground
of no Competition.

Not since the public hearing in the
trolley franchise fight for the right of
way to the new bridge has there been
so much excitement in the council
chamber as occurred last night when
the ordinance to pave Rectorl street
with the Warren Bitullthic pavement
was being discussed. The debate, in
which both aldermen and citizens
Joined, lasted for about an hour and
half and the ordinance was finally de-
feated, Aldermen Runyon, Smith and
Donovan voting in the negative.
The excitement was at its height
when f. A. Seaman and S. G. Garrett
son had little personal tiff which
furnished plenty of amusement for
the audience. When the debate was
open and after one or two aldermen
had spoken, Mr. Seaman told the story
of investigating the Warren pavement
from the beginning. During his re-
marks he referred to the action Of the
Barber Asphalt Com pany as coming
here and asking where he could find a
man who could beat the Warren pave
, ment.
"They found one,' continued Mr..
Seaman, whether he is good enongh
to beat it, don't know
Mr.. Seaman made other remarks not
highly complimentary to the action
taken by some who were opposed TO
the Warren pavement. When he had
finished, Mr.. Garretson spoke. He
seemed to think that Mr.. Seaman
meant him in his remarks and be de-
clared with much earnestnses that he
would challenge Mr.. Seaman or any
other man TO prove that ne had accent
ed penny in the Rector street paving
matter. Raising his voice to a high
pitch and waving folded paper over
his head, Mr.. Garretson said:
1.-THE only man that has approached
me with dollar in this matter, was
Mr.. Fl. A. Seaman, who came and offer
ed me s25 if would get the people
on the block between Market and
Smith streets to sign the petition for
the Warren pavement. Isn't that
so?' and Mr.. Garretson pointed at
Mr.. Seaman and awaited his answer.
Mr.. Seaman was on his feet in an
instant.
is that fair thing to say?" he
asked, addressing Mr.. Garretson, sis
there any justice in that?" Mr.. Sea-
man was white with rage. He walk
ed rapidly to the front of the chamber
and stood in front of the iron railing
on the opposite side Of the room from
Mr.. Garretson. He demanded an
opportunity to reply to Mr.. Garret-
sons statement. Both gentlemen
started to talk at once and Alderman
Cannon asked that the boxing gloves
be brought out.
"I'll put on the gloves, said Mr..
Seaman, "I'll put on the gloves.
He was highly agitated. He began
to explain when Nj. Garretson asked
who had the floor. Mr.. Seaman was
asked to wait until Mr.. Garretson had
finished and he took his seat Mr.
Garretson then repeated his statement,
whereupon Mayor Seaman, who sat
on the platform beside the Alderman
at Large, asked Mr.. Garretson if he
had refused the $25 Mr.. Garretson
said that he made no reply to Mr..
Seaman's = offer.
Later Mr.. Seaman explained that
his offer TO Mr.. Garretson was purely
a personal one and that he was will
ing to pay the S25 out of his own
pocket for the sake of seeing the work
accomplished. The audience was
made to understand that so sure was
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