Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-10-27
DORSEY SAYS
MORE TO R|EDY
Points Out Extravaganza in Use
Of Gasoline

A reply to the statement of Alder
man Benjamin A. Riedy of the matter
of gasoline consumed by the McClel-
Ian Fire Engine is made today by
Mayor Frank Dorsey. The mayors
statement follows:
II have no desire to enter into a
controversy with Alderman Riedy or
with any one else regarding city az
fairs, particularly just before election
when the fair minded person will I'M
doubtedly be of the opinion that such
matters are being aired merely for
political effect. But inasmuch as
Alderman Riedy las intimated that
l am not telling the truth with regard
to the amount of gasoline purchased
for the Mcclellan fire engine in JUS
tice to myself as we'll as to the peo-
pie who pay the bills it is only right
that the true facts should be made
known.
When the bills for SOk gallons of
gasoline in July and about the same
amount in August were presented to
me + questioned them because |
thought they were excessive and /
Immediately began IN investigation. l
instructed Secretary Arthur Graham
to call up the flrehouse which he did
and he was informed by the ~Janitor
that no fire alarms had been answer
ed in July and Foreman Toolan stated
hat the pump had not been used in
three months. have also ascertain
ed that under the Craftsmanship of
Alderman Riedy no records are kept
by the janitors of the performances
of this fire engine.
For previous years the records
are available to anyone who wants to
know the truth and here are the facts
which led me to believe that the bills
presented this year are exorbitant.
I'm July, 1915, there was a pur-
chase of 16 gallons of gasoline and
three alarms were answered. In
August, 1915, on 26 gallons purchased
one city alarm was answered and
there was q special call to Fords to
the Synthetic Works fire on August
18. In July, 1917, there was q pur-
chase of 4Sh gallons and six alarms
were Answered and there was a Red
Cross parade on July 9. In August,
1917, one alarm vas answered and
25A gallons Of gas purchased. In
July, 1918, on IL gallons purchased
four alarms were answered n the
engine was out for the Jewish war
fund drive on July 20. In August,
1918, the engine made eleven trips
and used only 46 gallons of gasoline.
The total amount of gasoline pur-
chased in July and August for the
three years 1916. 1917 and 1918 was
ia gallons, which is less than
amount purchased in the same two
months of year. 1919.
Nov 1 think any business mar
when he saw such a vast difference
in his bills would raise a question
right away about their accuracy and
start Immediately to find out the
reason for such large increase.
with regard to Alderman Riedy's
statement about the use of the en-
CINE by the iremen for the purpose
of advertising their picnic 1 am sure
hat no one would make objection to
a reasonable use of the engine for the
purpose of helping the fremen but
the public also nave some rights In
the matter and 1 think it should be
Alderman Riedy's first consideration
to take are of the people who pay
the bills.
I'm order hat in the future there
a be no question raised about gaso-
line consumption 1 have instructed
Alderman Riedy to see to IT that the
janitors of Mcclellan engine keep an
accurate record of the purchases and
of the performances of the fire en-
CINE.
FRANK DORSEY,
"Mayor."