Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1910-10-21
PLATFORM OF
ADAM ECkERT
MADE PUBLIC
Independent Candidate for
Mayor Tells Where He
Stands on City issues.
IN LETTER TO NEWS
Is Against Political Ma
chimes and Creation Of
Unnecessary Offices.
TELLS Of HIS RECORD
Favors Careful Administrs-
tion of Municipal Affairs
--Makes Some Criticisms.
TELLS Of HIS RECORD

In letter to the EVENING NEWS
Adam Eckert, independent candidate
for mayor, this morning announced
his platform. He declares himself
as standing for progressive and
careful administration of the affairs
of the city, to keep pace with its
growth, and against the creation OF
unnecessary Offices for the building
OF political machines; and to teach
those holding Office that they are SER
wants, not masters, of the people, or
the representatives of any individual,
corporation or machine.
That practically constitutes his en-
tire platform. He refers to his past
record as alderman, alderman-at-
large, and acting mayor, going into
detail concerning past achievements.
Tells How He Stands.
Mr.. Eckerts communication, In
full, follows:
EDITOR EVENING NEWS:
Dear Sir
1t has been asked that I dectano
where ! stand on questions that eff
tect the interests of the citizens OF
Perth Amboy by coming before them
as an independent candidate for the
Office of mayor. That can be answer
ed best by showing where .JA.stood
and what 1 did in the past
My first entry into public ofIfce
was in 1890 as councilman. At that
time the question of sewers was one
of the most important ones. Tho
| records will show that l did all that
was possible to further and eneour-
age every petition and proposal to
construct sewers, that being the
most important thing to be done to
protect the health or the people OF
the city.
The next was the question OF the
water supply. The records will show
that at meeting after meeting OF the
council the committee on water
would report progress, until the time
had nearly expired, when under the
contract with the Perth Amboy
Water Company 1t was necessary to
give notice of the intention of the
city to purchase the plant of the
water company, or the contract
would be extended ten years longer
with the unsatisfactory supply and
service we were getting, or to estab-
lish new plant. 1t will be found
by examining the records that on my
motion Cat that time the name of
the member making the motion was
entered in the minutes of the coun-
cil) the city clerk was ordered to
notify the Perth Amboy Water Com
pany of the intention of the city to
acquire the water plant, as provided
in the contract.
Again, after repeated efforts to
reach an agreement with the water
company, / offered a resolution,
which was adopted, directing the city
clerk to issue notice for special
election to adopt the provisions of an
Act to supply cities with pure aad
wholesome water" was appealed
to and waited on by committee to 4
reconsider this action but refused to Z
do so. This was the beginning OF
our present water supply Did that
show lack of public spirit and pro-
gress?
In 1892 a resolution was adopted
to open Railroad avenue (now State
street,. My term then expired after
steps to that end were taken In
1899 was elected alderman-at-
large. Railroad avenue had not as
yet been opened. Mayor Compton
and myself then took the matter up
and after several conferences with
property-owners of the lands, Sc
cured the opening of the street,
which is now one Of the principal
thoroughfares out of the city Did
that show non-progressiye spirit2
would here say there were no
junketing trips at public expense,
but we paid our own expenses.
When the building of the bridge
over the Raritan river was undertake
en-, who was called to confer with Mr..
Courtlandt Parker to get the grant
for an approach and procured the
modification of the conditions of the
grant that was made which were very
necessary when the blunder was dis
covered that had been made as to the
point of landing? And again, when
the ordinance to grant the franchise
to the Raritan Traction Company to
cross the bridge, did anyone but my
self take any active interest to so
shape the ordinance to guard the in
terests of the city by compelling the
company to pay the city lump sum
as soon as they operated cars through
Sheridan street, or provide for the
payment of percentage of the gross
receipts, or that one fare (fiye centsl
only shall be charged, not only with
in the corporate limits of the city as
they were, but as they may hereafter
be extended. These conditions have
been used as campaign material
since by those who did nothing to
bring about their enactment. | alone
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