Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1910-12-14
PERTH AMBOY ENTERS
STATE SCHOOL PROBE
Better Fire Protection Needed in Build
ings and More Attention to Health
of Question Board.
SENATORIAL COMMITTEE HERE
interest to the boards account.
r. A. Seaman Talks.

interest to the boards account.
f. A. Seaman Talks.
Alderman F. A. Seaman stated in
reply to the boards questioning that
he was a member of the school board
In 1908 and 1909. When asked
what part he played, he said that 1t
was the part of the Kicker" partic-
ularly in reference to the new gram
mar school. Cross examined on this
point, Mr. Seaman said that he
thought that there were plans before
the board at that time better than
the one selected. When asked ii 1t
was true that he had heard that the
architect whose plans were selected
was to be awarded the job no matter
what the relative merits of other
plans might be, Mr.. Seaman answer
ed "yes." When asked who gave
him his information Mr.. Seaman said
that the whole affair was a thing OF
the past and it would do no good to
bring the whole matter up again.
Senator Frelinghuysen then told
Mr.. Seaman that the probing body
had the power to compel him to an
swer but that it would not in this
case, although it would like Mr.
Seaman to tell the incident in full
for the benefit of Perth Amboy, the
State of New Jersey, and all present
and future boards of education in the
commonwealth.
( Mr.. Seaman then said that his in
formation came to him in such way
that while he felt confident of Its
truth he had no absolute proof of It's
worth. The man who informed him
he said, had had dealings with the
Board of Education but was not in
the room at that time.
Grammar School Trouble.
Mr.. Seaman said that his objection
to the plans for the grammar school
were from the fact that the plans OF
another architect would save rs per
cent. over the plans adopted. The
adopted plans he said provided less
school room and cost more money
than the plans he favored
The Board of Education is not the
same now. All the old members are
gone. At the time when Mr.. Sea-
man was member of the board he
and his associates were elected. They
partly served out their terms, sue
cessors being appointed by the mayor
later, beginning with the present
year. These tncumbents have all
been reelected for the ensuing year
Mr.. Seaman added that the reason
why the former members of the
, board were criticised was that they
did not use their powers to the best
interests of the city. Speaking of the
plans which he favored for the new
school building, Mr.. Seaman said
that the majority members of the
board would not let him open the
plans and discuss them at a public
meeting in the board room. When
asked IL the members Of the board
were interested In the plans adopted,
Mr.. Seaman said that he declined to
state what he could not prove and
that no good could be accomplished
by any information that he could
give out at this time.
Purchase of Supplies.
Other things that he objected to
he said was the practice of purchas-
ing supplies in small quantities from
local stores and the making of re-
pairs to the schools without competi-
tive bids. When asked If any other
member of the board was with him
| in the stand which he took on differ
ent school matters he said that For
mer Commissioner Richard Stack
was his associate. When asked what
he had charge of he said nothing" /"
When asked If any buildings were
under construction while he was on
the board he said "two." At times
he said there had been some trouble
in keeping the contractors up to their
specifications.
Mr.. Seaman said that a building
committee of three had full charge
of all repair work without consulta-
tion with the other members of the
board. This board, Mr.. Seaman ex-
planned, had practice of dividing
big Jobs into many small ones when
the big Jobs should have been let by
contract. When asked If he would
favor law giving the mayor or gov
ernor power to recall undesirable
members of boards of education, Mr..
Seaman declared that he knew of
members of the building committees
that would have been good off the
board and perhaps for the benefit of
possible like situations In the future.
some such law might be desirable.
Business Should be Public.
Regarding sessions of the Board of
Education Mr.. Seaman believes that
in reference to matters other than
school discipline their business should
be public. Regarding the insurance
of school buildings Mr.. Seaman be-
lieves that the payment of insurance
ON an eighty per cent. loss is too
CContinued on page I'D