Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1913-10-07

Animosity between Alderman F. A.
Seaman and the Democratic organi-
zation of the city, which is apparently
represented in the Board of Alder
men by Alderman Clark, broke out
anew at last nights meeting OF the
aldermen when a majority voted to
have all sidewalks along Water street
brought down to the established
grade. Alderman Seaman was in
clined to be lenient with st. Peter s
Episcopal church and other property
owners directly affected by the deci
sion because 1t means the erection of
a stone retaining wall along the
Water street side of the church pro-
perty and many changes for others.
Mr.. Seaman would compromise some
what and, while having the sidewalk
cut down below Its present grade,
permit 1t to still remain some dis
tance above the established grade of
the street. Alderman Clark, how
ever, would not have 1t SO and insist
ed that the sidewalk go down all the
way. In spite of Mr. Seaman's pro-
test Mr.. Clark's motion prevailed.
whereupon Mr.. Seaman moved that
the sidewalk on Market street, be-
tween Rector and Water streets, be
cut down to the established grade
also 1t SO happened that Richard
F. White, Democratic city chairman,
and leader of the Democratic organ
ization in the city, lives at Is Market
street, where the sidewalk will have
its greatest cut in order to comply.
Mr.. Clark. in insisting that the
Water street property owners comply
with the ordinance, declared that all
property owners should be treated
alike. But when Mr.. Seaman at
tempted to apply this treatment to
Market street, Mr.. Clark balkAd and
put up g great howl, ter1lihg 1T
spite legislation The ..scident
furnished great amusement for the
audience, particularly the Republi-
cans present.
Because of the unequal conditions
of Water street, one side being much
higher than the other, there was a
disposition to permit some Water
street property owners, principally
the St. Peters church corporation, to
violate the ordinance and establish
their own grades on sidewalks. AL
dermen Seaman and Wilson were In
favor OF granting the people the con-
cessions. Alderman Hilker, Repub-
lican, and Aldermen Kutcher, Clark
and Sandbeck, Democrats, claimed
that the letter OF an ordinance adopt
ed to establish the grade should be
lived up to. When 1t came to action,
all of the aldermen, with the excep-
tion of Clark, consistently stood their
ground. His battle cry OF fair play,
a square deal to all and special priyi-
Iege to none," went to smash with
his action on Seaman's motion re-
garding Market street. Clark voted
to force Water street property own
ers to do what he would not force
Market street residents to do. Just
previously, In discussion Of the Water
street proposition, Clark stated that
all property owners all over the city
should be treated alike. At the same
time he claimed this council could
not stand responsible for what other
boards had done.
1t was made evident by Clarks
opening address in introducing the
subject that he did so because OF the
inability to end discussion and reach
an agreement at private committee
session. He declared 1t was unfair
that some people like "Lockhurst'
should obey an ordinance, bring his
sidewalk down to the established
grade and property owners adjoining
should let their walks be four feet
higher. Concluding he offered a
motion that the clerk be instructed
to notify the Water street property
owners to bring their sidewalks to
grade. He said, Treat all alike and
grant no special privileges to any
one"
Mr.. Seaman then arose and said
that subject had been threshed over
and over again. There were three
trees on the sidewalk which had
never been ordered down. The sub
1ect has been open for discussion for
some time, said the alderman, and
tho very people who have complained
have not complied with the grade
ordinance.
Clark insisted that all Water
street property owners should be IN
structed to live up to the letter or
the law. His insinuations ala not
please Seaman and the latter lndle-
nantly said that II the street commit
tee had not done what was fair In
the matter, If he had not rendered
good service and It's work didn't suit,
II was ready to resign, at least It's
chairman was ready to quit on fiye
minutes notice. Clark replied that
he did not blame the street depart
ment. but held the entire council re-
sponsible. Mr.. Seaman arose again
and declared tic peculiar inequali-
ties on Water street made 1t almost
impossible to bring the sidewalks
down to grade without enormous ex-
pense. He said that when the paw
ing subject was first talked over with