Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-02-09
FIGHT
/. At So. AMbOY
Bills on Water Plant Left Un-
paid Bring Up New Wran-
gle at Council Meeting.
sy Special Correspondent

80 - ACkNNS AASAA AI AlAOAilAIS
and was very much similar to the
days when Jim" Hackett was on
the firing line, protesting against
tn construction of the water works.
The matter was started when the
mayor referred to the council a
communication from the Joseph L.
Sweigard Company requesting i'm
mediate payment of unpaid bills.
Mr. Kvist explained that this bill in
cluded several articles of carfare,
labor hire, ETC., that were contract
cd before the plant was accepted on
advice of Mr. Click. personal repre-
sentative of the Sweigard Company
these items had been crossed off un-
til a later date. Under the advice
VI the solicitor, however. he dec1ar-
I'd it would be necessary to pay the
bills after November 21st, the date
of accepting the water plant.
Councilman Stanton strenuously
objected to the payment Of any
part of the bill. He stated hat
while the city may be legally bound
to pay 1t there Is a moral side of
the issue. He pointed out that the
engineer "a placed al the plant
in order to keep it operating until
h council took official action and
appointed its engineer. Because we
had some difficulty in getting men
they want to soak u.s." he claimed.
The councilman pointed out that
the contract of Sweigard was writ
ten so that the work was to have
been finished May 81. The work
was mot completed, however. until
November 81, several months later.
When this condition the coun-
Gil did not demand anything from
the contractor. He appealed to them
as men and disregarded h legal
clause in the contract. Now this
same gentleman want to hold up
the city to every item of the agree
ment. HE is too narrow and we
should have nAiled him down." con-
cluded Mr.. Stanton.
Mr.. Shuey stated that although
he was a member of the council
during thestime the plant was being
constructed he was not "in on the
deal" Councilman Delaney had as
serted that his shoulders were big
enough to carry the load n that
had been tbs attitude of the Demo-
cratic majority.
BY Mr.. Stanton: IF it had been
up to you you would not have a mu-
nicipal water works today"
Mr.. Shuey: How do you know"
l. Mr.. Stanton: "Mr. President, have
the ffoor?" KINDLY wait until
DCouncilman Shuey finishes" he was
told, and then followed a discussion
on parliamentary procedure. Mr..
Stanton testified that he never raised
o question when the Republican
majority was appointing the two as
eistant engineers ever though they
did not have the necessary licenses.
d. -LA.x 49, " yanRr 10 nrarn NJ m -
ing the chief engineers, Mr.. Shuey
was very anxious to know If the
men were qualihed-whether they
had the necessary license, etc.
Am l wrong?" he asked.
Mr.. Shuey: 1.-The councilman is
dead wrong. If l had my say we
6ould have a municipal water works
"a real one. Did / not vote for the
sinking of test wells? Did l not
vote for the purchase of ground and
the selling of bonds? 1 baked. now
ever. when YOU received and accept
ed plans and specifications before
you, / or nyo else a seen them.
You adopted the plans on Tuesday.
they arrived in South Amboy on the
following Friday and were presented
20 me on the following Tuesday. Yet
Sou wanted me to vote in favor OF
plans that / never saw.
Mr.. Kvist and Mr.. Stanton both
arose at the same time, both adj
dressing the chair. her a hot arg
Hment took place al to who should
talk first. 1t was the contention of
Councilman Stanton hat he adj
dressed the chair first n was en-
titled to continue.
Mr.. Kvist stated that it was the
law that before a man should talk
the second time on a subject the
other members of the council should
have an opportunity to speak.
Mr.. Kvist was granted the privi-
1ege of the floor. He explained that
the bill in question was one con-
eerning the labor of an engineer in
the plant before and after accept
ance by the city. 1t included board,
labor, hire and .carfare of a nan
from Ventor City. 1t dates back
several weeks before the acceptance
of the plant. Mr.. Kvist stated that
the council was refusing to pay
these bills. 1t also included labor.
hire and board of men after the &C.
eeptance of the plant. Mr.. Kvist
stated that on the advice of the SOL
fcitor this bill was being paid. 1t
was received and filed.
Application was received from
John Quain for the position of pa
9roiman. 1t was referred to the
committee on police and the mayor.
"A communication from the secre-
t4ry of Mechanicsville Hose Com
pany stated that they intended to
erect a frehouse and requested the
grade of Raritan street. 1t was re-
serred to the fire committee and the
fity engineer.
James E. Quinlan made applica-
for a position on the police de-
partment. This was referred to the
police committee and his honor the
mayor. A similar application from
tsabe Jasper was received and
the same course.
The t~reasurer's report showed a
Balance on hand before last meeting
~ "$5,675.54 and the balance last
night after disbursements had been
made of S~3,703.39.
The matter of the appointment of
oVerseer of poor then came up for
action. This was for a period of
one year to fill the unexpired term
of Joseph Z. Bailey who died on
January 16. Andrew N. Kvist NOM
mated Robert Thorpe for that posi-
ton. Mr.. Stanton nominated Will
1iam Triggs, whom he stated was the
nephew of Mr.. Bailey. deceased. Mr..
Thorpe vas elected.
Councilman Lovely stated that