Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-01-16
Sustain [. C. Dalton as Acting Nav,
Or--DeCide Not 10 Pay ]. S. Wight
as Special Counsel
ONE POINT SCORED BY SEAMAN
Makes Lengthy Address About QuGs
ton and His Position; Fig Aud enCe
Packs the Counc'I Chamber.

Place work, Mr.. Wight had been en-
gagged to hurry matters along and
he could not see Why Mr.. Wight
should be discharged. Mr.. Calvin
concluded discussions on the sub
ject, saying he could not see how he
could vote for Mr.. Wight,s dis
charge because he thought It out OF
order. He said the man had not
been employed Thereupon vote
was taken on Mr.. Seaman's motion.
Messrs Seaman, Hornsby and GAR
retson voted for ii and Messrs.
Calvin. Kutcher, Dalton and Sand
beck against it.
Vote Not to Pay Wight.
While vote was being taken on
this, Mr.. Seaman. not to be outwit-
ted. hastily drew another motion
on paper with lead pencil that,
James s. Wight not be paid by the
city for services rendered. The mo-
ton was seconded by Mr.. Hornsby.
All voted in favor Of It. after Mr..
Dalton had demanded roll CALI In
calling the roll, City Clerk La Roe
started with Mr. Hornsby. then pro-
ceeded to Mr.. Seaman ana when II
came to Mr.. Galvin's turn, he hesi-
tated for several minutes, handled
his pencil nervously, frowned and
said 81" The other "regulars" fol-
lowed with similar votes In rapid
order
Refuse to Gust Dalton.
With this matter out of the way,
the road seemed paved for the men
who stuck with the Democratic or
ganizaiion. Everything seemed Ia
have been arranged beforehand ana
all action TO oust Mr. Dalton trom
the vice prsaA dsnxs snI11
VAS q 4
sdosisly n became xSSslI
s''ss' haaaa ss6 : :, ssiliiii lad :. NJ
ternpon shat ls5e lx1xA VI III q SI1 Il
rfed In his p00k4f Ii fifkIB sfs,sszl "a 81
from the city attorney. that woUld
uphold him and the other sre9If~
lars in keeping Mr.. Dalton In htS'
position. 1t came and was made
public after Mr.. Seaman had offered
6 motion that Nj. Ca;tous visesivs.
be reconsidered
1t was reported about the same
time that he. Mr.. Gaiviu, would
cause the naming OF Morris Shean
and perhaps Louis Smith as police
men but no such action was taken
last night. with This information
came deelarptinn thas the Demo-
cratic organization would endeavor
to force payment for Mr.. Wtght's
services for the city In the matter
of street assessments and Convery
Place extension. upon Messr5 Carr
retson and Seaman. A confirmation
of this declaration could not be OBJ
tanned last night
Opinion of City Attorney
Mr. Seaman's motion THAT the
vote by which Lawrence G. Dalton
was elected to the office Of vice pres
ident OF this council be reconsider
ed'' was seconded by Mr.. Hornsby.
1t failed In passage because the OF
ganization men voted mo-" leaving
but Messrs. Hornsby. Seaman and
Garretson voting ssyes. Before
vote was taken on this motion Mr..
Calvin arose and said 1t led him into
q rather peculiar position He de-
clared he had heard differences OF
opinion on the subject and as final
resort had gone to City Attorney
Hommann for an opinion. With
that he walked over to the city clerk
and handed him q letter signed by
Mfr. Hommann. as city attorney.
which read as follows:
sJan. Is. 1912
Richard r. Calvin. Esq,
Alderman of the
City OF Perth Amboy, City.
"My dear SIR:
"In answer to your inquiry as to
the legal status OF Lawrence G.
Dalton to act as mayor during the
absence and disability OF the former
mayor, having been elected vice
president of the council. my opinion
is this: The general statute Law at.
the present time provides only for
the successor. to the mayor in the
case of his death, and does not pro-
vide for any succession In the event
OF his removal or disability. The
charter, which Is still the organic
law of the city and by which our
government subsists, provides that
the council should elect vice presiz
dent and that in the absence OF dis
ability of the mayor. the duties Of
the mayor shall deyolye upon the
yice president The act pertaining
10 sheriffs provides that when
sheriff has qualified for office by the
acceptance Of the office OF sheriff his
commission for any other civil office
shall be null and void The result
was that when the sheriff qualified
he was no longer mayor OF the city
There being no general statute Law
to provide for his succession In this
event. the only recourse was to the
charter. For that reason Alderman
Lawrence Dalton was elected yice
president of the council. and bg
fContfnued on mage