Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-10-31
Cuss Words and Lie Passed
at Special AIdermaniC Meet
ing on Fuel Situation

At a special meeting of the Board
Fuel Administrator Oliver w. Ramsay
attended, the lie was passed between
the administrator and Alderman John
]. Clark. Followed In rapid success
sion, a hot series of out and out cuss-
ing, and by the quick action of sew
eral others present. hsticuffs, which
were threatened, were averted. The
meeting developed into an xchange OF
personalities between the two and
when the threatened bout was averted.
1t simmered down into a battle OF
heated words.
All the elements of a ruffian's
squabble were present and when tho
alderman reached for q convenient
inkwell with the apparent intention
of heaving Ii at Ramsay, who had In
vited the alderman outside. the atmos-
phere was charged with excitement.
Tho meeting had been called by AL
derman at Large Grouse for the pur-
pose of discussing the session some Of
the aldermen had with State Fuel Ad-
ministrator Richard G. Jenkinson on
Monday. which centered about the ar
bitrary action of the fuel head here In
closing stores at 6 o'clock.
Ramsay had come In to the meeting
and said that he would not call a
meeting of the merchants of the city,
as requested. and as had been sug-
gested by his chief. Mr.. Jenkinson,
until after election day. as he did not
apparently wished to play them at
this time.
1t was here that Alderman Clark
jumped to his feet and attacked tho
administrator. In the free and easy
cussing match which followed, both
waxed wrath and yhen the s1dnr.
said that he would bgsT up hafnsay
and grabbed for an inkwell. the adj
ministrator said he was ready to meet
the alderman at any time and that
they could settle the matter. For n
time things looked rosy for a genuine
fist fight. but other aldermen inter-
vened and the argument subsided.
Alderman Grouse asked the fuel ad-
ministrator to call q meeting of the
merchants, aldermen and the fuel adj
ministrator for Friday night, at which
time the public would have a chance
to have matters explained and to lis
ten to the fuel administrator and al
dermen.
To this Mr. Ramsay replied that Ii
was only n matter of a few days be-
fore election and he did not purpose
to play politics for either Democrats
or Republicans and that he would
under no condition call meeting be-
fore the Wednesday after election. Tt
was finally decided bv him that this
meeting should be held on wednesday
night. November 6. at which time hc
will explain his attitude in the matter.
He again explained to the Aldermen
that he is not responsible to the Board
of Aldermen. city officials or citizens
of this city for his action, but to tho
state fuel administrator and that he
felt that he was doin ghis duty I'm
closing the stores at o'clock. four
, nights a week.
He said that he felt that he was
right and that If the Board of Alder.
men or any one else felt that he was
in the wrong. they certainly had the
chance to find out when they went to
Newark to talk to the state fuel ad-
ministrator.
He told about the different cities
that were closing at and 6 o'clock
and the saloons in all cases were al
lowed to remain open until IL and IL
Continued on page 81