Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-06-04

ment, has been started none to e
= =
Following presentation Of the city's
case for the elimination of certain
railroad grade crossings, the hearing
before the Board of Public Utility
commissioners was yesterday ad-
journed for two weeks, until II
o'clock In the morning of June IT,
Before such a status was reached the
Central Railroad Company of New
Jersey made vain attempts to have
the petition dismissed. James S.
Wight, appearing in behalf of bust
ness operators along the line of the
Central railroad, wanted to know the
exact manner of eliminating the
grade crossings He declared his
clients would oppose any method of
furnishing relief at the crossings
which would tend to either cripple
or destroy their present method of
operation. AS a result the chairman
suggested that the city furnish de-
tail drawings showing just what it
was suggested to do to eliminate the
grade crossings. He said this was
not necessary, but would be very
helpful to the board. City Attorney
G. c. Hommann agreed. The city
will probably proceed to prepare
such plans for presentation on June
| IT.
George Holmes, chief counsel al
the hearing in behalf of the Central
railroad, declared the course of pro-
cedure as taken to be irregular and
asked for a dismissal of the city's
petition early In the case. He ques-
toned the jurisdiction of the utility
commissioners to hear the case under
the petition filed, stating the action
in question should be brought by
force rather than in the form of a
request. The commissioners noted
his remarks and continued the case.
City Surveyor S. ]. Mason, DR.. Will
liam e. Ramsay, Police Officers Will
liam Clooney, Lawrence Long, John
Martin and John F. Murray, City
Electrician Jay B. FRANKIE, Alder
man F. William Hilker and Mayor
Ferd Garretson were called In the
order given to testify in behalf OF the
city
So large was the Perth Amboy
delegation that the regular meeting
room of the commission was not suf-
| ficiently large. Consequently the
| hearing WAS adjourned to the assem-
bly, chamber In the state house. 1t
was opened at 2.15 O'Clock in the
afternoon.
Chairman Ralph w E. Donges and
Winthrop More Daniels, of the com
! mission, were present. Commission
7
I the beginning the commission called
| for representations. The following
| responded: City of Perth Amboy, G..
C. Hommann; Perth Amboy Board of
| Trade, Daniel p Olmstead; Central
| Railroad Company of New Jersey,
George Holmes and William A. Bar
! keloW; Pennsylvania Railroad Com
! pany, Alan II. Strong; Lehigh Valley
Railroad Company, E. II. Boles;
/ Public Service railway and electric
companies, l.. d. II. Gilmour; Chris
| tian Figenspan Brewery, n II. Port
| er; c. NJ Peterson Herman Ellis and
others operating business along the
| line of the Central railroad, James
S. Wight
| A. M MetZendorf was present in his
own behalf and Charles Polensky re-
presented the Perth Amboy Coal &
| Ice Company. About score OF in
! dividuals and firms, which might be
affected by any change IN the grade
| OF the Central and Lehigh Valley
railroads were Lot represented. Their
names were read and the fact noted.
Mr. Hommann in behalf of the city
proceeded to prove the legality of the
| ot In M
fered the charter OF the city and re-
ferred to law in 1890 to prove the
Council the governing body and
board having charge of finances OF
the city. Under the law, the board
having charge of the finances Of a
municipality must make the applica-
| tion for the elimination of crossings.
| The city attorney also presented GER
| titled copies of resolutions passed by
the Council concerning the authorize
| ton Of the action taken, and he pre-
sented maps and pictures to show
reasons why relief was sought.
City Surveyor S. J. Mason was the
| first witness called. He substantial
! ted the layout OF crossings as pre-
pared by himself on maps before the
commission. He testified to making
q map OF the city showing the cross
ings and preparing other maps show
ing the crossings with more detail, as
referred to in the city's petition.
After a close examination he was
closely grilled by the railroad coun-
sci. Mr.. Holmes for the Central rail
road, particularly wanted to know
about all the witness had to do the
! preparation of the petition and what
he knew concerning anv suggestions