The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-05-10
The Trolley Once More.

Yesterday was the time fixed for l
ceiving bids for the trolley franchise.
1t was plain to be seen that somethir
had happened not altogether to the likir
of the hackers of the Monmouth Tractic
Company. They stood around in lit
groups, with long faces and they had 10
that arrogant, aggressive manner that h;
heretofore characterized them. Tt
cause for all this was disclosed at til
meeting.
Director Mitchell called the Board t
ORDER and Clerk Antrim read the minute
of previous meetings. Mr.. Tallman aske
if the trolley companies had compile
with the resolution to deposit an add
tional $500 each to cover incidental ez
penses.
Mr.. Beldon said he understood the res
olution was from the committee of tn
whole
| Mr.. Crowell interrupted and said it wa
resolution adopted by the Board.
Mr.. Beldon continued, saying that tn
notice of resolution requiring furthe
deposit was received on Thursday. Col
Morrell, president of the Monmouth Trac
ton Company, is mastering officer il
the military camp at Mount Gretna
where he has been so busy that he ha
been unable to give his attention to an,
other matters. The point Of competitiv
bid is matter of extreme Importance
not the least of which is the point of wha
a company can do, not only to secure at
tention, but what it can do in justice t,
itself. He did not understand whethe
the bids were to be confined to the term
of the ordinance, and whether the blank
therein were all that were to be filled, o
whether bids outside of them would b.
entertained. But, whatever the situation
the Monmouth Company had not beer
able to consult with its president, henc,
was not ready to go ahead. If it was alb
solutely necessary there was not mucl
doubt that the deposit could be placed a
once, but it would hardly be proper t.
take such action without the presiding
officers sanction, especially as his sigma
ture to the check would have to be OBJ
tanned Therefore in view of this stat,
of affairs, he would suggest that further
action be postponed for two weeks, anC
that, looking over the audience and seeing
the display of patriotic emblems in the
lapels of sundry coats, he felt sure the
Board and the spectators would willingly
make some concessions and he suggested
that the public meeting be adjourned fol
two weeks.
Mr.. Crowell said there were two sides
to this proposition and he suggested that
the representatives of the New York and
Philadelphia Traction Company be heard
Mr. Macafee said that until Mr.. Beldor
had appealed to his patriotism the thought
of conceding to an adjournment had moi
entered his mind. He was prepared tc
deposit his $500 and the bid of his Com.
pany was in Prosecutor Budd's possession
He appreciated to the fullest extent that
the bid of only one company would moi
be competition. He had nothing to feal
on that score, and although he had moi
received much indulgence at the hands Of
the Monmouth people he would be more
magnanimous and would acquiesce in al
adjournment
Mr. Crowell then moved that the public
hearing be adjourned until May "a.
Mr. Conrow asked if this was not pub
lie meeting, and if this motion prevailed
would not the entire matter go over? Ht
thought the report of the committed
should be heard.
Mr. Crowell said the committee had me-
in accordance with the resolution adopted
at the last public meeting and had gone
over the ordinances. Several changes haC
been made. He held in his hand state
ment signed by several members, which
was in the nature of minority report
He had been requested not to read it a
that time, but while he was talking HI
was asked by several of the signers to reaC
it and he did So
1t suggested that the matter of yearly
compensation be fixed on the basis of per
centage of gross receipts, and not on the
basis of fixed sum yearly, as the ordi
nance now reads 1t was signed by
Messrs. Conrow, Birkhead, Evans, Vain
wright, Borden, Fairbrother, Adams
Sooy, Younker, Smith, Ridgway.
Mr. Crowell said the minority wanted
the ordinance so framed that the com
panies would bid on both the percentage
and the lump sum proposition.
A motion to adopt the majority reporr
was offered, and was adopted.
Then the Board proceeded to get mixet
up.
Mr.. Conrow wanted to take up the mi
nority report and adopt its suggestions
Mr.. Darnell thought Conrow was tax
ing back track. The Board had met al
a committee of the whole, had thoroughly
dissected the ordinances and had obeyeC
the instructions Of the Board to have ONT
ordinance drawn and presented to thu
rival companies for bids. This had beer
done and one company is here with it
bid ready, and now there is a proposition
to discuss points not in the ordinance tina
had been given them to bid on. In reply
to statement by Mr. Conrow that there
was no provision prohibiting a perpetual
franchise and that Mr.. Darnell favored
such movement, the latter admitted thu
fact, "but;" he said, II offered such {
suggestion to the committee, and it wa:
not adopted
Mr.. Conrow then moved that the ordi
nance be considered by sections, eacl
speaker to be limited to 10 minutes
Mr.. Crowell could not see what would
be accomplished by discussing an ordi
nance that had already been adopted ant
under which bids had been prepared
Solicitor Chambers said the Board was
certainly acting backwards. The BoarG
had met as committee of the whole, an(
had drawn up an ordinance which he, OF
their order had sent to the two companies
They decided then what they wanted t.
do. They should now present report il
writing @
Mr.. Conrow then moved that the motion
adopting the report of the committee b.
reconsidered. The yeas and nays wer'
called, the vote being
Yeas Mathis, Jones, Packer, Ridg
way, Evans, Conrow, Evan, Wainwright
Younker, Smith, Fairbrother, Sooy, Dor
den, Applegate-14.
Nays : Robbins, Adams, Pancoast
Sharn Thackara Darnell Challender