Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-06-08
Mayor vetoes Long Vacation
Resolution Attacking Those
Who Manned Trains.
CLARK'S MOVE WAS BEATEN
Only Patten With Him in Try
ing to Pass Measure Over
Mayors Veto--Hot Wrangle

The lengthy resolution sympathiz.
ing with the railroad ''vacationists
and condemning the action or those
men who manned trains when the
strike was at its worst. passed by the
aldermen In May by vote of six to
one, but unapproved by Mayor Frank
Dorsey, was killed last night when
efforts were made by Alderman John
j. Clark to pass the measure over
the mayors veto.
The shorter resolution. laid on the
table at the meeting of the aldermen
in May. covering practically the same
ground, but in more compact form
and without any condemning clauses,
was then taken from the table, and
after a bitter fight upon the part or
the author of the other measure, was
unanimously passed.
Questions of parliamentary law,
points of order and some hot insinua-
tions played an important part In the
action ON the two railroad resolu-
tions
At the last meeting Of the aldermen
in May two resolutions, covering. the
situation were introduced one,
short resolution, declaring the board
to favor the "vacationists' receiving
an increase and retaining their SEN
iority rights, was first introduced.
This resolution was at that time iald
on the table by a vote OF four tc
three, Aldermen Waters, Clark, Patten
and Wester voting in favor or the
motion and Aldermen Wilson, Ander-
sen and Riedy against.
With that resolution on the table
at the May meeting Alderman Clark
then brought before the board reso-
misunderstanding of five large type
written pages-which in addition to
the features contained in the other
measure elaborated upon details or
the railroad mems fight for increased
wages quoting figures, telling of the
high cost of living and condemning
the acton, of college students, pro-
fessors and public spirited persons
who manned the trains during the
waik-out. When vote was taken
on this measure at that time Alder
man Albert G.. Waters alone voted
against its adoption, he claiming 1t
to be unfair in the manner in which
1t was gotten up.
This resolution then went to the
mayor, who had ten days in which
to sign or return 1T unapproved Mayor
Dorsey failed to sign 1t, returning it
unapproved, which, amounted to a
vote. Alderman Clark yesterday
stated that as the mayor had not We
toed the measure but simply returned
1t unsigned. 1t automatically was pass
ed.
situation was found to be wrong last
night when the mayors action in
not approving the resolution was re-
ported. The mayor stated that al
though in sympathy with the men,
he telt that as the mayor of the
city and representing the entire COM
munity he could not affix his sigma
ture to such a resolution.
A motion was then forthcoming
from Alderman Clark that the reso-
luton be laid on the table and a
copy of the mayors reasons" for
vetoing 1t sent to each member of
the board. Alderman Waters. de-
clared there was no reason for delay
as the mayors reasons, which were
short and clear. had just been read
to the aldermen. The motion to lay
the resolution on the table was killed,
Alderman Wilson passing, Aldermen
Waters, Anderson, Riedy and Wester
voting against it and Aldermen Pat
ten and Clark for it.
Alderman Clark then moved that
the veto of the mayor be not sus-
tained. Alderman Patten was his only
backer in this move. all of the other
members of the board voting to sus-
tain the mayor In his action.
This action meant that Alderman
Clark's resolution had been killed.
The regular order Of business was
then gone on with. After all of the
nights business had been completed
Alderman Wilson moved that the
railroad resolution laid on the table
in May be taken up for action. AL
derman Clark opposed this action,
claiming the first ward alderman had
no. right to move for the resolution
being taken from the table as he had
not voted to lay it there originally.
Alderman Waters, who had voted
to lay the measure on the table, then
moved that it be taken up for action.
This was within the law. Alderman
Riedy then seconded the motion.
This action was said to be illegal by
the alderman from the fifth as Riedy
had voted the same as Wilson at the
last meeting.
1t was then apparent that Alder
man-at-large WeSter was the only
member of the board who could
legally second the motion, with the
exception of Aldermen Clark and
Patten and it was plain that they
would never take such action.
But Mr.. Wester could not second
the motion while holding the seat
of chairman. In order to put the
measure through he named Alder
man Wilson acting chairman. Mr..
Wester then went to the floor and
seconded Alderman Waters motion,
which was regular. The vote result
ed in the resolution being taken from
the table by a vote of five to two,
Clark and Patten voting in the mega
tive.
Seeing that his fight had been lost
Alderman Clark then announced that
he would vote for the adoption of
- ,aSoI,Yfiap xxhan II WAS pllt nm for