Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-07-17
NEW ORDINANCE
CAUSE Of TILT
Likely to be Changed Consid-
erably Before Finally Adop-
ted by Aldermen
CLARK IN OPPOSITION
KIan Feature Attacked by 9th
Ward AIdermen-IS Pass
ed on First Reading
CLARK IN OPPOSITION

A new police ordinance drawn up
by City Attorney Wilentz at the re-
quest of Alderman Waters, chair
man of the police committee, was
read for the first time at the alder
manic session last night and it was
passed upon first reading after
lengthy discussion. The long ordi-
nance will likely be changed con-
siderably before it is finally adopted
as various aldermen objected to GER
tain sections but a majority was will
ing to vote for it's passage on first
reading on condition that these
changes be made before it was final
ly adopted.
City Clerk Costello consumed thir-
ty-five minutes in reading the ordi-
nance through. At the conclusion of
the reading of the ordinance, Alder
man Waters moved its passage but
Alderman Clark moved that it be laid
on the table in order that the police
committee or the committee of the
whole might take it up section by
section and approve of the contents
in this manner. The fifth ward al
derman maintained that several
changes must be made as some of
the sections are contrary to law.
One section of the new police or
dinance reads so as to exclude from
membership in the police depart
ment any member of an organiza-
ton such as the Ku KluX Klan.
This section was attached by Alder
man Clark who, after reading it
aloud, declared Taboo for that!
The constitution of the state will not
allow us to pass any such thing
as that. We have no right to tell
any man what he shall do or how
he shall think. 1 hold no brief for
any organization, but we cannot law
fully pass this measure"
City Attorney Wilentz spoke in de-
fense of the section. commonly re-
ferred to as "Ku Klux Klan" section,
declaring that he thought the board
was within it's rights in including
such a clause in the police ordi-
nance and stating that it is also
Toolan and ex-senator Brown that
this section could be included in the
ordinance and lawfully enforced.
When a vote was put on the ques-
tion of passing the police ordinance,
Alderman Sofield voted "yes" on
condition that he be permitted to
change his vote when the ordinance
comes up on second and third read
ing; Alderman Waters voted AYE
all the way through; Alderman
Patten did likewise; Alderman Nc
CURE voted AYE" on condition he
could chance his vote, he not be-
ing satisfied WITH the maximum age
limit of thirty-five at which man
might be named to the police force;
Alderman Clark voted mo; Alder
man Riedy voted AYE" with the
condition that he might change his
vote; Alderman-at-Large Calvin
voted "aye".
The so-called "Klan" proviso
reads as follows:
"Any applicant for a police ap-
pointment shall together with his
certificate from the city physician
certifying said applicant to be n
sound mental and bodily health, and
certifying him to be at least five
feet seven inches in height. Said ap-
pilcant shall also present his sworn
statement as to residence, age, abil-
ty to read and write English, that he
is free from conviction of crime and
lated with any fraternity, associa-
tion. organization, corporation or
combination of persons or corpora
tions that has among its objects or
purposes ,antagonism or opposition
to any person because of religion,
race or color. No application shall be
considered unless accompanied by
aforesaid certificate and a sworn
statement"