The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-03-18
M TOWN DISTRICT COURT
Aldermen Consider District Court
and Trolley Legislation.

The Board Votes TO Establish the Special
Court in Morristown-ProtestsA Against
the Bill RELOCATING City Trolley Fran
chise Rights to County Freeholders-
Lease for Council Rooms Laid Over.
A special meeting of the City Board of
Aldermen was held Monday evening
called for the purpose of authorizing
the Mayor and City Clerk to renew lease
on rooms for the Board, and its auxiliary
bodies, the Board of Health and the
Excise Commission. The present lease
with the Morris County Savings Bank
covers three years and will expire on
April 1st. A new lease was offered and
read by the City Clerk. 1t provided
that the rooms should be used only by
the Board for purposes of meeting. The
question was at once raised of the right
of the Board under the new lease to
grant the rooms for the meetings for the
City Excise Commission, the Board of
Health, Fire Wardens, Medical Board,
or other bodies which the Board has
hitherto favored with meeting place,
and after some little discussion it was
decided to refer the matter to the
Finance Committee.
Other important matters also came up
for consideration at the meeting. On the
motion of Alderman Fleury the city col
lector was authorized to make good to
Henry Freshman the amount of taxes on
frf
man himself and E. Meeker-and paid by
Priestman. Alderman Hurting preached
theIsubject of the district judgship for
cities of twenty thousand and under, au-
thorized by recent act of the legislature
and on his motion the following resolu-
ton was adopted:
Whereas. By an act of the Legislature of
New Jersey entitled "A supplement to an act
entitled An act constituting district courts in
certain cities of this State. approved March
NINTH one Thousand eight hundred and ninety
seven, which supplemented act was approved
February seventeenth, eighteen hundred and
ntnety-eight. it is provided that district
court shall be established in every city of this
State having twenty thousand inhabitants or
less, which shall by resolution of the city
Council adopt said act within three months
from the date of the passage thereof; and
Whereas, The Board of Aldermen of Morris
town has determined to adopt said act and es-
tablish district court in Morristown afore-
said in accordance with the provisions of the
act; therefore be it
Resolved, By the Board of Aldermen of Nor
ristown, that said act be and the same Is here
by adopted.
Aldeymen Reed and Fleury voted
"No."
Alderman Hurting also offered reso-
luton protesting against the bill now be-
fore the Legislature authorizing county
Boards of Freeholders to grant franchises
on County roads for trolleys and calling
upon the county's representatives to use
their influence against its passage. Mr..
Hurting spoke strongly for the city's
rights and he held that the Board alone
should have power to grant franchises
in the city and offered the following res
olution, which was adopted without dis
senting vote:
Whereas. Certain bills now before the State
Legislature confer upon the Board of Chosen
Freeholders the power to grant franchises for
trolleys over County Roads regardless of the
rights of property owners. or the wishes of the
cities and towns through which the same may
pass. and
Whereas 1t is the sense of this Board, that
the rights so conferred are inimicable to the
best interests of Morristown, and
Whereas When the time shall arrive for the
granting of a franchise to Trolley Company
to pass through Morristown, it is desirable and
to the hest interests of the people, that they
shall say where and how such trolley COM
pany shall come and what they shall pay for
such privilege.
Be it Resolved. that the Mayor and Board of
Aldermen of Morristown. being unalterably
opposed to the taking away of the rights of
Morristown in any manner, they hereby earn
estly request our Representatives of the State
Legislature to oppose and to vote against the
passage of said bills. And that the clerk of
this board certify to three copies of this reso-
luton and mail one to the Senator and one to
each of the Assemblymen from Morris County
at Trenton.
The next regular meeting of the board
will be held on April 1.