Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1905-03-31
Public Hearing in the City Hall
Last Might Was Largely At
tended ManyUrged the Ad-
mission Of the Company.
BUT FEW OPPOSED IT.
Cornelius COnvery and Officials
Of the New York and New
Jersey Telephone Company
Argue in Opposition.
OPPOSED TO ALL ADVENTURES
Evidence as Presented by the Public
Last Night Decidedly in Favor of
the Hudson & Middlesex.
OPPOSED TO ALL ADVENTURES

Public sentiment, in SO far as it was
revealed at the hearing last night be-
fore the mayor and Board of Aid er-
men, is overwhelmingly in favor OF
granting to the Hudson & Middlesex
Telephone 81 Telegraph Company the
franchise for which they have fought
50 long.
A large crowd of citizens attended
the.hearing, which commenced shortly
after 8 O'Clock. Mayor Brace and all
of the aldermen but one were present
Alderman-at-large Pfeiffer stated
that they were gathered there to hear
anyone who had any sentiments to ex-
press in connection with the granting
Of the franchise.
If the city fathers decide according
to the evidence presented at the
hearing, as one Of the speakers put it,
they will grant the franchise at an
early date by an unanimous vote.
Those who spoke in favor of grant
ing the franchise were: South r.
Harrington, Lawyers James Parker
and j. ". Beekman, II. +. ComeRys,
Emil Frey, W. B. Pratt, B. NJ. Gan
non, Supt. W. J. Lansley. S. G. Car
retson and V. P. Christopherson.
a letter was read from the Central
Labor Union, representing 1000 work.
ingmen of this city, stating that, at Il
meeting held Tuesday night, they un-
animously voted to endorse the grant
ing of the franchise. There was also
n favorable letter from Frank Neer,
who was unable to be present.
The only citizen of the city who ex:
pressed sentiment not in line with
the other speakers was Cornelius 2.
Convery. While Mr.. Convery did not
came out fat-footed against the grant
ing OF the franchise, he did say that
he did not want to see the city
buncoed by the giving of franchises to
every adventurep--who comes along.
and that the aldermen, who ''are
elected to safe guard the peoples in
tercsts," should see that the city was
properly protected in case they see
fit to grant the franchise.
Mr. Lansley, superintendent of the
II. g. NJ. company, took exception to
Mr.. Convery's remarks. He said that
he himself was no adventurer, and
that Malcolm MacLear, president of
the company. is one of the city at
torncys of Newark and also bank
president.
Mr.. Convery retorted, and said that
he did not mean to say that Mr.. Lans
ley or any member OF the company is
an adventurer, but that the city ought
not be buncoed by any outside COM
pany which enlists few men Of the
city. to give the project Il local flavor.
II. G. McCully, superintendent OF
the New Jersey & Staten Island divi-
sion of the New York 4 New Jersey
Telephone Company, spoke against the
granting of the franchise. He said
that the N. y. g. N. j. service is
being improved continually, and that
they have but recently lowered their
rates.
He declared that the addition OF an
other company would not be Il benefit
because ''you can't get two servants
as cheaply as one.
Other speakers, above mentioned,
contradicted this argument, and said
that you can have both telephones, if
the franchise is granted, cheaper
than have been the rates of the n. Y.
q N. J. company.
Several speakers spoke against the
monopoly of the telephone business