Perth Amboy evening news., 1924-07-25
PLEA To MOVE
| EXPLOS|vESAT
SECRET CONF FAB
0rpen Gives Tip that Request
Made at Star Chamber
Proceedings
SOME DETAILS FOLLOW
Should Not Be Given Publicity
Is Claim, But Matter
Discussed, However
SOME DETAILS FOLLOW

NEW BRUNSWICK, July u.s.
Behind the closed doors of the free
holders conference room yesterday,
and away from the eyes and ears of
those in attendance at the public
meeting of the county body, an in
formal attempt was made to obtain
the freeholders consent to the re-
moval of 10000 pounds of gun cot
ton, which Is buried on the Nixon
meadows, to some other point In the
county where it was proposed that
the substance be put through a nj
trating process and reduced to lac
quers to be used in automobile fin
ishing.
About one-half hour after the
public meeting had been called the
freeholders recessed to the privacy
of their committee room. An hour
later F'reeholder J. Fred Orpen rId-
denly entered the public meeting
room and called to the news report
ers: "You are missing some explo-
sive news. You better get in there"
at the same time pointing toward
the star chamber.
The news gatherers fastened into
the freeholders midst to learn the
news but the members of that body
closed their vocal chords in the same
manner that the clam closes Its sh~ll
when subjected to attack. When
questioned as to what the explosive
news was Freeholder Louis j. Bel
loft asserted that there was no such
news, as no action had been taken
by the freeholders who were merely
in conference with the three g ntle-
men present.
Freheolder Orpen insisted that ex-
plosives had been the subject and he
insisted that the proceedings be
made public through County Solici-
tor Frederick F. Richardson. The
majority of the county body re-
mained mute. though Freeholder
Belloff maintained that the matter
should not be given publicity.
"Under no condition will l vote
for the resolution giving them the
right to come in this county and
start the handling of explosives. after
We have spent thousands of dollars
in placing safeguards around the
existing explosive plants for the pre-
vention of future damage or danger
to the lives of the residents of the
Freholder Orpen, "and I think 1t
Is only right that the county solici-
tor make the application public"
Mr.. Richardson stated that Sam
uel Hoffman. New Brunswick Mt
torney. who was in attendance with
two of his clients, asked the free
holdesr' permission to dig up and
remove the explosives to some other
section of the county. The applicants
contended that the gun cotton would
be more dangerous If left on the
meadows than If 1t were moved
away. 1t was the purpose to move
the materials to some other point in
the county. though the location was
not divulged. where the explosive
would be made into laquers.
1--WE advised Mr.. Hoffman to take
the matter up with the state depart
ment of labor" said the solicitor,
"after we had informed them that
the board did not feel like permitting
further explosive Industries to be
started in the county. which might
prove a menace to the inhabitants"
When questioned as to the iden-
tity of Mr.. Hoffman's clients, the
freeholders and solicitor denied any
knowledge as to who they were. but
said tnat as lney were trying 10
put through a business deal and
were at the presens time elsewhere
employed and that for the sake of
their positions it would not do to
reveal their names.
Mr.. Hoffman and his clients were
on the steps at the entrance to the
county building shortly before thu
meeting was convened at $3.50. The!
made no appearance In the room
where the meetings for the benefit
CT. the public are held, but went
direct to the conference room wher
all knotty problems are solved by
the freeholders before being made
known to the public. Z
Yesterdays application for the re-
moval of the explosives is the second
Of that nature to come before the
| freeholders in less than two weeks
Last week the Mahogany Company
owners of the old Evans shell plant
at Parlin, queried the freeholders
as to whether or not there would be
any objection to converting the OLD
shell plant into ammonium nitrate
| plant. The application was made rs
(Contipued on Page 4)
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