Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-01-31
FREEHOLDERS
PLAN PROBES
OFEXPL0S|vES
Investigation From Time to
Time of Explosives Stored
HereaboutS

A committee of the whole TO inVes-
tigate from time to time the amount
of explosives stored at the munitions
plants in the vicinity of this city and
South Amboy and to confer from time
to time with the mayors of the two
cities as well as the congressman from
TINS district, was appointed yesterday
by Director Dcy OF the Board of Tree
holders, following the adoption OF
resolution, introduced by Mr.. DeY, de-
signed to protect the lives and prop
erty of residents of the two cities and
tho surrounding country.
The anticipated action Of the board
did not materalize in the matter OF
warden William Goodwin's criticism
OF the board In newspaper inter
view. Mr.. Goodwin was not called be-
fore the board to explain his attitude
with regard to the conditions at tho
county workhouse, but committee Of
three was authorized to start an in
vestigation of conditions at the county
building and also the charges made
by the warden, who is now warden OF
the county Jail.
Mr.. Dey's resolution said that the
catastrophe at Morgan and the large
number OF lives lost, as called atten-
ton to by the United States senate in
vestigation committee showed that the
storage Of excess quantities of INT
and other explosives was highly dan
gerous to this city and his home city,
South Amboy In the resolution the
director was authorized to appoint a
committee TO confer with officials OF
those two cities and the congressman
from the district that reoccurences of
the disaster may be avoided and lives
and property be protected.
The director explained that the
meaning of the resolution was to have
the committee investigate from time
to time the amount of explosives
stored at the plant. He later named
, .he entire board as committee OF the
whole
win would be called awGy from the
new Jail long enough to explain iis
remarks about not being able to Sc
cure supplies for his prisoners and
thus allowing them to become, as |
inspector of the state department !,
charities and corrections claimed
them to be. vermin laden. The ward
en- was not called. however, but So
licitor Frederick s. Richardson rec
commended the appointment of a com
mittee OF three TO investigate the con
ditlons at the workhouse and the
statements made by the warden. Thl
committee, at his suggestion, is EN-
powered TO examine witnesses and to
get at the root of the entire matter.
Freeholder Haight moved the adop-
ton of the recommendation and Direc-
tor Dey named Freeholders r. Leon
Loblein, George S. Applegate and
j. Edgar Bennett as the committee.
DIR. Loblein called attention TO the
fact that at the county workhouse,
wood was being burned in large guam
titles in place of coal. This timber,
he said, could be made valuable use OF
and in reality cost the county much
rlot haaF %
pay for coal. Warden Walter Master
son OF the workhouse. said that at the
present time the building required
about three cords of wood a day to
keep II warm and recommended that
coal be used to heat the place and
that the work now expended on the
wood should be turned to work on the
county farm. BY motion of DIR. Lob
lein the matter was left in the hands
of-Mr. Masterson. who will act as he
sees best.
Two separate resolutions by Free
holder Haight called for the author
ization TO borrow $4,000 more or
notes In anticipation OF taxes. max.
ing an aggregate of 100000 to cover
current expenses.
A suit against the county which
was decided In favor OF Oscar Har-
kins I'm the New Brunswick district
court I'm the sum of si70, will be ap-
pealed TO the supreme court. on the
accommodation of Solicitor Richard
son and his predecessor. George J..
Burton.
The board ratified tho sum OF 50. 900
rs the amount to be paid by the Pub
lie Service Railway Company as their
share of the new S12s.000 span over
the ID. and r.. canal at Albany street.
The Plainfield avenue payment was
accented as done by the Weldon Con
tracing Company and the payment
OF ninety-five per cent OF the cost au-
thorized.
The county engineer was authorized
10 start plans and specifications for
two miles of repairs TO the Cranbury-
South River turnpike, by resolution
Of Mr.. Bennett.
The state highway department OF
the state highway commission. In
letter from Chief Engineer w. G..
Thompson. said that Plainfeld ave
nue. In South Plainfleld had been in
spected and accepted BY the state on
November 20.
Fred +. Hilton. secretary OF the
board of trade, OF this city. thanked
the board In a letter for their coop
GRAFTON in the FOrds road matter and
for the general cooperation between
the two boards.
CONTINUED on page -
Bright and willing boy wanted. APP
ply Evening News once. i-2s-tf'