Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-07-25
ANSWER MAYORS
LETTER ON CAS-
Not His Imagination, Pfau
Says, That Gave Him Nu-
cleus for Original Story

In answer to the letter written by
Mayor Frank Dorsey to the editor OF
the Elizabeth Index, denying that he
had had any conversation, either by
phone or otherwise, with Mayor
Mraviag, of that city, in which they
had practically decided to do moth
Ing in opposing the proposed In
6rease of gas rates in this vicinity
and also denying that he had in
Btructed City Attorney Leo Goldberg
eg to Ego light in his opposition at
The hearing on this matter, William
fk Pau, the writer Of the article,
mates that 1t was not his magma
Hon that gave him the nucleus for
fhe story but assertions made in per-
con to him by City Attorney Gold
Berger
MIR. Pfau's letter follows:
Elizabeth, N. j.,
July "a, 1919.
sEditor, EVENING NEWS.
Perth Amboy, N. ].
sEvidently the weather is fine these
Gays for the politicians to do a little
bit of hedging. The only thing miss
Ing In Mr.. Goldberger's letter Of vim
Hfoation for Mayor Dorsey IN the gas
Increase is a denial that he ven talk
ed with me in Newark on h day of
fhe hearing before the Public Utility
Commission.
''The story to which Mayor Dorsey
takes exception was not written as an
~nimag1native sketch" but was based
on a conversation l had in Newark
with Mr.. .Goldberger and on informa-
ton furnished by a perfectly reliable
Elizabeth citizen, who is in a posi-
tion that he should know what he is
talking about.
THE story In question was the fifth
one of q series written In an endeav-
Or to disclose the grip of the Kean in
terests on politics in this section OF
the state and at the same time try
to force some action by Elizabeth city
officials in q proposition which will
cost the taxpayers of Elizabeth an ad-
ditional 100. 1000, O year If the gas
increase Is not opposed. Their inter-
est so for wouldn't indicate that they
even know the gas company seeks an
Increase. Elizabeth was the only city
out of ten affected which IA not rep
resented at the Newark hearing.
~.Inasmuch, as I have always had a
high personal regard for Mayor Dor
sey and believe that 1t would be hard
for Perth Amboy to find a better
qualified man to govern the city. 1
can honestly say that there was no
personal motives behind the pubffca-
don OF the story to which he objects
and unless there was a good basis for
II my newspaper experience Is suf-
nciently extensive to have precluded
any mention of 1t.
The true facts in the case are as
$ollows.-While waiting for the gas
hearing to be called In Newark some
few weeks g I was discussing with
Mr.. Goldberger the merits of. the in
crease asked by the Elizabethtown
and allied companies. Mr.. Goldberg
or stated that he felt that the COM
pany was entitled to some increase,
but not to the extent they sought. Mr..
Goldberger volunteered the statement
that opposition to the increase did not
have the vigorous support of Mayor
Dorsey and hts exact words were that
the Mayor had called him on the
phone before he had left for Newark
and had told him TO "go light" In
his opposition.
tAOf course, this conversation was
net witnessed by anyone and there
&4are.s e.. question of veracity be-
tween Mr.. Goldberger n myself. and
fnasmuch as you state in your story
that I was formerly a pool 0
proprietor in Perth Amboy the
benefit of the doubt will go to Mr..
Goldberger. However, you must agree
with me that I must have an SIN
a%gination' out of the ordinary If I
could sit down and write a story along