Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-05-20
OVERRIDE VETO
ON STREET WORK
Politics Paramount at Alder
manic Meeting When Herbert
st. Job is Discussed

-fSS1SSSe
Party lines were tightly drawn last
night when the Board Of Aldermen
refused by a four-three vote to sus-
tain the veto of Mayor Dorsey on the
resolution to pave Herbert street.
The three Democratic members OF
the board jumped to the support of
their leader and the four Republicans
stood firmly together overriding the
veto OF the mayor. This does not
mean that the pavement will go
through. as, II the three Democrats
stick together when the contract
comes up, they will be able to beat
the award, as a two-thirds vote is rec-
essary to carry.
There were many straight outspoken
words when the mayors veto was read
and a letter accompanying 1t, explain
ed h executives stand on further
expenditures for improvements un-
der present financial conditions.
In his letter the mayor said that
he could see no urgent need for the
work at this time. He expressed re-
luctancy at vetoing any public i'm
provement, but said that the public
welfare demands that for the present
at least street paving work must be
curtailed. He said in part:
You are no doubt aware of the
fact that we are rapidly approaching
our debt limit. If the street paving
program now in contemplation is ar
ried out. which includes Gordon,
Laurie and High streets at a cost OF
nearly 500, 600 we will be brought to
the N of our resources n we will
have no means by which we can f.
nance propositions which are of ben
eft to the public at large such as
the development of our water front
and other nuhlfc neceSsitieE."
h mayor further called the atten-
ton of the board to the urgent need
for curbing expenditures by speaking
of the high cost of living, which is in
creased by every bond issue authoriZ-
ed by the city fathers. The tar rate
would mount and that would arrest
building work on a large scale, thus
causing the increased tax rate to fall
heavily upon the present tax payers.
He called attention also to the loss
of revenue from excise licenses, a.
mounting to about $40, 900 n the
fact that the garbage contract calls
for an expenditure of $4,000 more
Ihan was provided in the budget.
1.-The expenditures thus far con-
tracted for include the following esti-
pates," the letter continued:
Elm street ...... ......>..s34,00 600
Fayette street ............. $4,000
Broad street $1,000
City's portion of Smith st. . 81, 900
Curbing n tagging Amboy
avenue iO'o00
Auto sprinklers ............ $4,000
This makes a total of $1S4,000 and
the Mayor, after explaining the nee
essity for and the reason he would
support the Smith street work, said:
Surely there is no justification for
us 30 embark upon a more ambitious
program just now. If we were do
ing this work to proved employment
for returning soldiers and sailors we
would no doubt win public approval
by continuing street Improvements
but / nave found that in the streets
now under way there are no former
service men employed"
Alderman Waters moved that the
mayors veto be sustained. This open
ed the flood gates of aldermanic r
tory, in which Alderman Wilson ar
yued that h action of the mayo
would not save money, but would lose
money for the city in view Of the fact
that the money had already been ex-
pended for advertising the Herbert
street work n that if the veto was
sustained it would undo what has been
done n further that the passing
would not commit the board to per-
formanck of the work Immediately.
Alderman Waters backed the mayor
up as did Mr.. Clark. The other mem
bers jumped into the discussion,
which finally ended when the question
was put INT the Republicans, Grouse.
Wilson, Anderson and Reidy voted
negatively on sustaining the veto and
Clark. Waters and Patten voted at
f1rmatively.
The reading of the ordinance to
pave Laurie street for the second and
third time met with the same vote as
did the High street paving ordinance.
The Gordon street paving ordinance
was laid over until the next meeting
The water board asked the alder
men to consider financing improve
ments amounting to ~$2,906.99. The
matter went to the finance and water !
committees
Watson. Flag and Company report |
ed that it would cost $3.50 to repair
the damage done to the municipal
lighting plant by the Morgan explo-
sion. The claim board has allowed
the claim for hat amount, but con-
gressional action is needed before 1t
can be paid.
Charges against Patrolman Grega |
for conduct unbecoming an officer
were referred to the police committee
for investigation n trial of the ac-
cused on h charges.
An ordinance to allow a bond issue
for $13,g75 for the payment for two
auto street sprinklers was passed on
first reading.
John O'Too1e, treasurer for the
Home Defense League reported the
financial condition of the league to
be: Receipts. $6.S59.8S: expenditures.
$6,574.54; balance on han May IL.