The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-01-28
NEN CITY Government.
Continued from Second Page.

the powers of well organized muncl-
pality such as the laying of sewers. the
erection of City buildings, the acquisition
and operation of water supply and gas
and electric plants and the ike, exists
only if Morristown is City. While un-
der the new Act the powers granted for
the undertaking and prosecution of all
necessary public Improvements are COM
IT 9hensive and ample, and are granted
under proper safeguards.
Your Committee are satisfied that the
Charter and Laws under which Morris
town is now governed, unless Morris
town is city, are not adapted to the
needs and demands of a growing, healthy
municipal organization.
Your Committee also are impressed
with the fact that the method of assess
and collecting taxes in Morristown is not
well ada tied to community of its size
and wealth, and that the methods of
assessment in not providing maps may
in time lead to unequal and unfair re-
suits.
Your Committee therefore are of the
opinion that it would be of benefit to
Morristown if some change could be
made in these. and perhaps other features
of its government.
Your Committee after a careful study
of the new Act find it generally faulty
in these particulars: In that
I. 1t throws upon the Common
Council the duty of granting licenses. 1t
is believed that the duty of granting
licenses. 1t is believed that the system
now in vogue in this community Of
granting licenses by an ind 5ndent
board is preferable.
2. The new Act permits a sum to be
raised annually for municipal purposes
equal to two per centum of the value of
the taxable property. This limitation is
far in excess of the needs of this com
munity.
Your Committee does not express an
opinion as to what would be proper
percentage in the case of Morristown
Assuming that at present for its NUM-
cipal expenses and school purposes, the
amount now raised by taxation and APP
propriated is $50, 000 or Whereabouts, the
amount which under the new Act would
be raised by tax of one per cent upon
valuations would be about $50, ZOO diff
ference of SIS 900 or thereabouts.
Furthermore the valuation taken as
the basis is that of the particular year
for which the appropriations are made.
Whereas it would be safer and wiser if
the valuation upon which the percen-
tage is calculated be that of the year
previous to the year of the appropriation
and tax.
3. By the new act the Common Coun-
Gil while not required so to do may vote
salaries to themselves. Your Commit
tee believes the act would be better if
the Common Council did not have such
power.
4. The new act without further legis-
lation on the subject would conflict seri-
ously with the present school system,
which is governed by special act of the
legislature.
The new act is one containing many
admirable features, and in most respects
it has been carefully drawn. Generally,
with the exception of the features above
pointed out, it presents safe and well
devised scheme Ct municipal govern
ment.
Your Committee has thought it best
not to make any recommendation as to
the adoption or otherwise of the new
act, and that they could best discharge
their duty by presenting and contrasting
the general features of the new act with
those of the present Charter.
Whether it would be of advantage to
apply to the Legislature for such amend
ments to the new act as would eliminate
its Objectionable features, and whether
if the act were SO amended it would be
best for Morristown to take advantage of
its provisions are questions for the Soci-
ETY. to decide.
November 80. 1897.
Signed,
WILLARD w. CUTLER,
PATRICK FARRELEY,
L. o. STILES.
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