Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1918-12-10
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INVESTIGATION
Total of $3.50 Presented at
Meeting of Council of De-
fense Last Night

At q meeting of the executive COM
mittee of the Perth Amboy Council OF
Defense last night bills presented by
those engaged in the recent investiga-
tion into ~the Morgan explosion were
read. The bills totaled $3.50 Sher-
iff Elmer Geran, who assisted Former
Judge Lyon on behalf of the Council
of Defense. asked $1,000 for his sery-
ices and 500 for expenses. Charles
Rose, of South Amboy. who had
charge of securing affidavits and max
ing investigations. asked $500 for his
services. and Charles F. Mckenna, the
explosive expert, asked $3.50.
1t is expected that the latter bill will
be paid by the senate committee out OF
its appropriation. Mr.. McKenna Is
recognized as one of the greatest au-
thorities on explosives In the country
and commands big prices for his time.
He made a thorough investigation OF
the Morgan plant and as he was pres
ent several days at the hearings, al
though not called until the last day.
his bill covers-all the time that he put
in in connection with the whole mat
ter.
The bills of both Sheriff Geran and
Mr.. Rose We're considered excessive.
Both these men, 1t was argued, were
as much interested In the welfare and
safety of the community as any men,
ber of the Council of Defense. 1t was
brought out that Sheriff Geran Is a
resident of Matawan, which is about
as much exposed to future explosions
at Morgan as the Amboys. AS for Mr..
Rose, 1t was declared that he lives
within a short distance of the Gillespie
plant and not only suffered greatly
from the explosion that took place.
but had much at stake regarding the
reconstruction of the plant
The question was raised as to
whether or not the industries had
promised to pay Sheriff Geran's bill.
1t was brought out that as there was
but little time to decide, some of the
industries had agreed to make good
what the council of defense could not
pay, but the representatives of the
industries present last night felt that
as the Investigation was for<the bene-
fit of the whole community it was un-
fair to saddle the expense upon the in
dustries alone.
The discussion resulted In the bills
of Sheriff Geran and Mr.. Rose being
McKenna's bill was left in the hands
of Chairman Lyon to be taken UP with
the senate investigating committee.
As it was announced that these
three bills were all that were to be
presented 1t is understood that Judge
Lyon, the chief counsel for the Council
of Defense at the hearings. donated
his services for the good of the cause
in which he was so deeply interested.
A communication was received from
the National Council of Defense urg-
ing the local council not to disband. as
there Is considerable work to be done
in each community and 1t is the de-
sire of the Secretary of War and other
government heads that the councils of
defense in each community remain in
tact to serve as they are needed. 1t
was decided, however, that as the
work would not be SO pressing in the
future, to meet hereafter only at the
call of the chairman.
The matter of securing the use OF
the stage of the high school auditori-
um for rehearsals of the battalion
band of the state militia reserve was
again brought up. The unsuitableness
of the gymnasium with its concrete
scisting of Jean Dubois. Fred J. Coz
commented upon. A committee con-
sisting of Jean DuoBis, Fred J. Cox
and j. Logan Clevenger was appoint
ed to wait upon the board of educa-
tion and again request the use OF the
stage in the auditorium for band re-
hearsals each Monday night when the
auditorium was not otherwise in use