Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1912-07-31
AUTHORIZE THE
SALE OF TRACT
Congressman SculIy Gets Bill
Through House Relating
to Local Site.
HIGH AND CENTRE STREETS
Was Originally Bought by.
the Government for q Post
Office Building.

Bill No. 21,S8s, introduced by
Congressman Thomas j. Scully, of
South Amboy, providing for the sale
OF the United States unused post
office site on the southwest corner
Of High and Center streets, Perth
Amboy, passed the House of Repre-
sentatives at s o'clock Monday after
noon. 1t Is not the first time that
congress has decided to sell this
tract. which was purchased years
ago for the purpose Of erecting a
postoffice and custom house building
thereon. The rapid growth of the
city frustrated such plans, however,
before bids were even received for
the work, and the specifications were
then drawn for the handsome federal
building which now stands in Maple
street, between Smith and Jefferson
streets.
The Bill as Passed.
The bill authorizing the sale of
the site, as introduced by Congress-
man Scully, was as follows:
"Be 1t enacted by the Senate and
House of representatives of the
United States of America in congress
assembled, that the secretary of the
treasury be, and he Is hereby, auth
orized and directed, in his discretion,
to sell and convey the United States
unused postoffice site at Perth AM
boy, New Jersey, at such time and
on such terms as he may deem to be
In the best interest of the United
States, and to deposit the proceeds
In the treasury as miscellaneous
receipt" The bill was introduced on
March IA, 1912, and referred to the
Committee~on Public Buildings and
Grounds, and ordered to be printed.
On June "a 1t was committed to the
Committee of the Whole House on
the state of the Union and ordered
to be printed.
Report Was Favorable.
Following was the favorable re-
port by the Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds:
"The Committee on Public Build
ings and Grounds, to which was re-
ferred the bill (H. R. 21,8S8) pro-
viding for the sale of the United
States unused postoffice site at Perth
Amboy, N. j., begs to report the
same with the recommendation that
the bill do pass.
Under the provisions of the bill
the secretary of the treasury is au-
thorized and directed in his discre-
tion to sell and convey the United
States unused postoff1ce site at Perth
Amboy, N. j., at such time and on
such terms as he may deem to be to
the best interest OF the United States
and to deposit the proceeds In the
treasury as a miscellaneous receipt.
"The views of the secretary of the
treasury are set forth in the follow
ing letter, dated June 10, 1912:
Views of Secretary of Treasury.
Treasury Department,
Washington, June 19, 1912.
Chairman Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds, House of
Representatives.
'Sir:-Referring to your request
of the 18th instant for a report IN
connection with H. r. 21,888, pro-
viding for the sale of the unused
postoffice at Perth Amboy, N. j., In
which you request certain informa-
tion as to the value of the site, ETC.,
l have the honor to inform you as
follows:
The value of the property above
referred to appears to be approxi-
mately $4,000, and the department
does not deem it wise to amend the
bill in question so as to fix an upset
price, as by SO doing the desired re-
suit might be defeated by narrow
margin.
: In connection with this matter,
your attention is respectfully invited
; to the fact that under an act of con-
!, gress approved March 2, 1867 ia
Stats, 467), the secretary of the
treasury was authorized to sell this
property, but no offers were received
which were considered as a reasona-
BILE value thereof. Said act requires
the property to be sold at public
auction and makes no provision for
accepting payment on any other
terms than cash. The present bill,
H. r. 21,888, authorizes the secre-
tary of the treasury to sell and con-
vey the property in question at such
. time and on such terms as he may
deem to be to the best interests OF
the United States, and II enacted In
to law will doubtless enable the de-
partment to dispose OF the property
to the best advantage possible.
Respectfully,
JAMES L. WILMETH,
Acting Secretary"
Been on Market Long Time.
The tract, which Is desirably locat'
ed for residential or Industrial pur-
poses, has been on the market foI
,, some time, but all offers were below
the price asked by. the secretary OF
I, the treasury. Under the new bill the
land may be sold ION such terms as
, the secretary may deem to be to the
best interest of the United States. y
The land ts occupied at present by a
tennis court, maintained by num-
Der of prominent young people. The
courts were constructed about four
years ago upon consent of the fed,
eral authorities.