The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-03-10
COUNTY ROAD 4R0LLHYS
Property Owners Protest Against
the Freebooter Franchise
Bill Montelair
Aroused.
Special to ths Jerscu Csts, Mars.

Special to the Jerscu Cstg Meas.
TRENTON, March 10, 1sss.-The House
Committee or Corporations gave a hear
ing yesterday afternoon on Assembly
man Rolls bill. No. PSI. which gives
Freeholders the exclusive right OF grant
ing trolley franchises on county reads.
Large delegations were present from
Montclair, East Orange and Belleville.
A~ssembiynnan Reed said that under the
law at present trolley companies must
first obtain permission of property own
ers. The signatures of property own
ers must be acknowledged before a
Commissions of Deeds, but under this
bill signatures are only requested to be
proved" which loosens the law and is a
dangerous provision. The present law
requires absolutely the consent of fifty
per cent. of property owners. This bill
merely requires hat the Board of Free
holders shall be satisfied with the con-
sents given. This gives the Freeholders
a wide scope. They may be satisfied
when the number Of consents is INSULT
cient. The bill provides for no hearing
Of roperty owners, no notice of meeting,
and a franchise could be granted under
1t at a special or secret meeting. Mr..
Reed said that he thought the bill took
away formalities which should always
be observed in giving away a public
right.
in whose interests are you speaking?''
asked Mr.. Roll.
Il am speaking only for myself"
You are sure you are not speaking for
the Central Railroad?'
yes, sir. The Central never heard of
this bill"
Charles Thompson of Montclaar said
the bill would give Freeholders power
to grant a franchise along bloomfield
avenue, which is a county road. The
lile Of the North Jersey Tractor Com
pany extends through to Caldwell. Con-
sent of the property owners on that por-
ton Of the avenue in Moatclair has been
steadily refused. and the peop.e there
do not think 1T is fair to give Freeholdsrs
power to grant franchises which the
people of a community have refused. MIR.
preaching. which VIII settle. the trolley
question in M6nscla5r. Under this bill
the matter Of police regulation Of the
running OF cars would be taken away
from the town. This would be taking
away a long established right. The town
Wonid also have no say as TO the regula-
eve think we have rights to conces-
sions,'" he said, land we want to be in
a position to say how much viii be given
US in return. The company wants the.
main artery of our town. Under the
present law we have that power, and
we do not want to see the Legislature
such roads shall be operated
Mr.. Thompson SAID that it was certainly
to have the Legislature pass a bill giving
them power to run tracks over roads
which counties are Obliged to build and
keep in condition from the money of the
taxpayer.
ut seems to me that you are giving a
great deal away IN giving corporations
grant. | do not believe the people will
endorse. nor are they likely to stand it.'
Mr.. Skinner read a set of resoiutiona
from the town committee of Montclair
against the bill. He said that or the
one question Of whether there should bn
vas saw divided. aD1d'e vas p geGaa yea 4 llftls
in favor OF the trolley. 1t would be an
issue in Montclair at the next election,
vile is also considering a question Of
franchise to a trolley road from Franklin
to connect with the Newark line. The
township of Bel.eville having the sole
right of granting the extension of the
trolley line and securing what concessions
e. G. Osborne. treasurer Of Princeton
Of Princeton. He aid that the wants
Of the people are mel by the present law.
The trolley question was an issue a year
ago in Princeton and the election re-
suited in uphoiding the anti-troliey senti-
ment. The people of Princeton were op-
posed to the bill and hoped it would not
pass
Henry n. Hall. who said he came from
East Orange, stated that anybody who
spoke against the trolley was behind the
age. The people of the suburbs were
anxious for closer connection with the
larger cities. The law of 1894 was an
equitable scheme of regulating the rela-
tons of the people and the trolley com
panies. The people in the suburbs have
rights which Legislature is bound
a road IS a serious matter to the prop
erty owner. The law OF 1894 requires the
consent Of both property owner and
municipality. Prior to 1894 il was pro-
from Newark to Llewel,yn Park. 4
majority Of the property owners would
not consent and the law Of 1894 gave them
protection. The propose bill strikes at
the principle of horne rule and 1t would
place property owners along the county
roads at the mercy of F~reeholders. He
was puzzled to divine the motive Of the
towns their established rights.
I'VE may well be alarmed" he said