The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-08-06
BAYONNE GAS WAR.
The New Five Year Street
Lighting Contract At
tack ed in Court.
ELECTRIC WIRES In A TANGLE.
Opposition Comes From the United
Gas Company eff Jersey City
Queer Legal Com
tradiction.
ELECTRIC WIRES IN A TANGLE.

Ex-Governor Bedle, as counsel for
Solon Humphreys and others. this morn
ing. obtained from Justice Werts rule
to show cause why a certiorarl should
not be granted, removing to the Supreme
Court for review tho recent five-year con-
tract Gin the form of an ordinance) be-
tween the City of Bayonne and the Bay
onne City Electric Light, Heat and Power
Company for lighting the streets. Street
and Water Commissioner Edward A.
Dugan of this city is President of the
Electric Light Company. Mr.. Asa Dick
insoh of the firm of Dickinson, Thompson
q McMasters appeared for the Electric
Light Company, and J. P. Northrop, City
Attorney, for Bayonne. 1t is the United
Gas and Improvement Company that is
moving against the contract, and q pc
culiar feature about the case Is the fact
that the objecting company recently Sc
cured similar contract in this city, and
Is Itself defending somewhat similar
suit.
FEATURES OF THE CONTRACT.
The rule is returnable September 10. In
the contract, the Electric Light Company
promised to give the city Gamewell fire
alarm telegraph system free of charge,
connecting the two fire alarm towers
with all the engine houses in the city. 1t
IS said the United Gas and Improvement
Company also made the same offer. The
effect of this rule is to stay all action
under the ordnance until the hearing on
September 10.
There has been considerable discussion
in Bayonne as to the advisabiIity Of end
ing this contract, many people shinkin G
tnat it would cost the city more for these
electric lights than Is paid to the United
Gas and Improvements Company for
electric lights would be placed on Ave-
nue. d. Mayor Farr allowed the ordinance
10 become law without his approval.
and in q lengthy communication to the
Council last Tuesday evening expressed
his doubt as to The advisability OF this
contract and also called attention to the
fact tina. much care should be exercised to
obtain from the electric lighting system
return for the same amount of money
equal TO that now rendered by the Gas
Company. The Fire Department. is ex-
tremely interested in this matter rs it
gives it fire alarm for which there Is
great need.
GROUNDS OF OPPOSITION.
The ground of the objection to the con-
tract is supposed to pc based chiefly upon
the right of the city, to enter into con-
tract for term of five years. The last
Legislature created State Board of
Commissioners of Electrical Sub-ways,
and under the powers given them, no
ectric views can be stretched
above the surface of any strees
or avenue of any city until authorized by
a majority vote of the Board 1t may be
urged against the ordinance that the con-
sent of this Board should first be OBJ
tained before permission was given by
the city for the use of its streets to string
electric wires
The result of this case will settle the
question in the State of New Jersey as to
the ability of city to make a contract
for the term of five years. and also obtain
a construction OF the powers of the State
Electrical Board.