Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1894-03-08
CITY COUNCIL.
Council Finally Passes the West
Side Railway Ordinance. Will
1T be Fura h or Contested?

Side Railway Ordinance. Will
1T be Further Contested?
City Council held an adjourned
meeting Friday night to consider the
ordinance of the West Side Railway
Company.
There we're present Councilmen
Matthews, president, Garw wood, Leary,
Laning, Robbins, Elmer, johnson and
Woodruff, when the Council was called
to order.
The minutes of last meeting were
read and approved, and President
Matthews announced that this was an
adjourned meeting to consider the
aforesaid ordinance; he said that
motion to take up the ordinance would
be In order.
Mr.. Garwood moved that the ordi.
nance be taken up on third reading.
The motion was seconded.
Mr.. johnson said for his part, In
view of the recent decision of the Su-
preme Court, which he did net fully
understand, as he was not sufficient
lawyer to know what it all meant, he
desired to have the opinion of the City
Solicitor as to whether the Council had
the right to pass this ordinance or not.
The ordinance was perfectly satisfac-
tory to him, and he was willing to vote
for Its passage, but he should vote
against It's being taken up without the
opinion of the Solicitor on the right to
pass.
The motion, however, was passed
and the ordinance was taken up and
read In full. Councilman Sooy taking
his seat during the reading, followed
by Oouncilmen Mcfarland and Rice.
Mr.. Sooy, after the reading of the
ordinance moved that this be consid.
cred the third reading, which, on be-
ing seconded by Mr.. Garwood. was
adopted.
Before the vote on the passage of the
ordinance was taken Council desired
to hear the opinion of City Solicitor
Trenchard on the question as to
whether Council had the right to pass
the ordinance.
Mr.. Treuchard's opinion was that
council had ample right to pass the
ordinance; his opinion was also to the
effect that the South Jersey Traction
Company, organized under the act of
1898. has the right to build and oper-
ate trolley road, as was not denied
In the opinion rendered by the Su-
preme court.
The ordinance on the call of the roll
was passed by a unanimous vote.
A long debate followed the render
ing of this opinion, which was opened
by Chas. E. Sheppard, ESQ, who
stated that he appeared for parties in
terested. He declared that the decis-
ion Of the Supreme Court was that the
Bridgeton Rapid Transit Go. had no
right to build q trolley road, and that
the West Side Railway was organized
under the same act under which that
company had been organized. He
further declared that Council had lost
jurisdictions over the pending ordi-
nance by not taking 1t up for contin-
uous consideration at successive meet
ings of Council. and therefore had no
right to pass the ordinance.
Both these points were denied by
Walter Il. Bacon, Esq and City So
licitor Trenchard.
Mr.. Bacon read the act of 1898
which, he said, was designed to remedy
the defect Of the. act of 1886 and pro-
vide for the construction of trolley
roads. Mr.. Matthews said If this law
meant anything at all it meant that
Council could pass the ordinance, and
the company could construct the road.
Mr.. Bacon said, the company was
ready to take the chances, If Council
weuld pass the ordinance.
The wrangle was kept up for more
than an hour, but finally the call of
the roll was ordered and the ordinance
was passed unanimously, every men,
ber voting ''yes" clear and distinctly
when his name was called. Council
then adj burned.
In DOwne Township.
Saturday night there was big fight
IN Downe township union caucus. the
contrast hoinr oro, N.ooho oIcor oud Ac.