Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-10-29
SPECIAL COMMITTEE TELLS
OFEFFORT MADE TO BLOCK
ITS WORK Of INVESTIGATION

Preparations were made at the
meeting of the Perth Amboy Council
OF Defense last night for laying be-
fore the senate committee appointed
to investigate the explosion at Nor
gan all the facts and evidence OBJ
tainable regarding the construction
and management of the plant The
report OF the special committee ap-
pointed to take up the matter and fur
ther the Investigation was received In
which II was brought out that the
council of Defense had ben accusd
by Oliver w. Ramsay with being un-
patriotic and attempting to embarrass
the government. Resolutions were
also adopted setting forth the pur-
poses of the Council of Defense and
expressing appreciation for the SER
vices of Senator Frelinghuysen, Con-
grssman Scully and all others who in
any wise assisted in bringing about
action in regard to an investigation Of
the shell loading plant and In safe
guarding the lives and property in this
I community.
The resolutions adopted were as
follows:
"Whereas, The Perth Amboy Coun-
ell of Defense is a patriotic organiza-
tion, affiliated with the State and Ma
tional Councils of Defense. for the
| purpose of aiding the government In
, the prosecution of the war and fur
thcr for the protection OF our home
4 communities.
"Whereas. This organization was
formed at the request OF the United
| States government and its activities
are conducted in conformity with the
instructions OF the National Council
OF Defense acting on behalf of the
government.
"Whereas.A resolution adopted by
| the Perth AmbOy Council of Defense,
| requesting congressional invcstiga-
ton of the construction and opera
tion of the Morgan shell loading plant
has been approved by many commun-
titles and organizations in this vicin-
| ity, and whereas this request has be-
come an accomplished fact through
i the passage OF a RESOLUTION introduced
| In the United States senate by our
senator, Joseph s. Frelinghuysen, and
unanimously passed by that body
! with an appropriation to make IL eff
fective.
Therefore be IL resolved, That
the Perth Amboy Council OF Defense
desire to express its appreciation to
Senator Frelinghuysen. Congressman
Scully, to all affiliated organizations,
communities. boards and individuals
who have aided I'm bringing about this
desired action.
"Be Il further resolved, That IL now
becomes the patriotic duty OF every
Individual having knowledge pertinent
to this congressional investigation, to
place same at the disposal of the ex-
ecutivc committee of the Perth AM
boy Council of Defense without de-
lay"
These resolutions. which were
| adopted unanimously, were introduced
| by w. II. Griswo1d, who stated that
there seemed to be an impression that
the main duty OF the Council OF De-
fense was TO organize and maintain a
military organization. In an effort to
correct that impression and place be-
fore the people some iden of the pur-
pose of the broad lines on which the
council is organized. he asked that tho
resolution be acted upon.
Special Committee Reports.
Following the adoption of the reso-
lutions the special committee appoint
ed to secure a congressional investisn
ton of the explosion at Morgan re-
ported the various steps taken and the
happenings at the meetings that had
been held.
Mr.. Griswold. as chairman. told OF
going before the directors of the
Board of Trade who had been con-
vened at the East Jersey Club for the
purpose of considering the action OF
The Council of Defense. He stated
that he and Fred ]. Cox had appeared
before the Board OF Trade directors