The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-01-14
DIR CITY government
Aldermen Juggling with An Or
dinance to Prevent Runaways.

dinance to Prevent Runaways.
Reports OF the business of the Town BY
the Several Committees-Po Points on the
Runaway Ordinance : Mulhall aud
.'rexas" Protest on Behalf of Citizens
Alderman Hurting Wants Some LsgisIa-
tion to Improve streets-First Church
Tower Clock illumination.
All the members of the city Board Of
Aldermen were present at the monthly
meet5hg last Friday evening, and each
seemed in fairly good humor: more par
ficularly the Mayor. whose smile was
illumined and set off by the flashing of a
'smany karat" diamond. set in the bosom
of his amplsgshirt, Christmas token
from tbs Messrs. McEwan Brothers of
Whineany. Outside of an occasional
sWtm clash between the members from
tie Firskand Second Yards, the meet
ing was quiet one, Md withal, there
Eas juSt enough of sparkle and stir to
lNkeresk and amuse the avaricious re-
pofteTsRnd an audience of twelve. The
speciat attention of the session settled
about tEDroposed ordinance to prevent
runaway Bes the use of hitchi1 posts
and fifteen pound weights, /" and<4he
question ofAlluminating the First Chuteh
clock faces the cityss expense.
In the orde of dispdAal, the first item
sEas the accepApance oN $32 from a. E.
kwartwout for ~ Miller estate, in
Wyment of share of the expense of
bWlding catch basins on COLES ayenuA
ne< Miller road.
Chef Engineer Stevens reported the
Mee3er Haines fire of Christmas eve,
and recommended the purchase by the
city oHkQ0 feet of new hose for the De-
partmemt. The Board of Engineers
recommended the election of Fred NJ.
Day to membership of Independent Hose
Company and the expulsion J. F. Wood
ruff and F. G. Piper from Humane En-
gine Company. Later these reports
were accepted and recommendations
adopted on motion of Alderman Owens
for the Fire Committee.
City Tax Collector Becker reported
collection of 81, 1854 on '96 taxes, coli
lected since the last meeting and turned
over to the city treasurer.
The condition of the city treasurer was
reported as follows
Total appropriations for year. S54, ,265 0a
Amount previously expended 3, q, sl3 90
Balance. So, ,45l 04
Bills presented January 7........... 4,762 e8
Balance appropriation unexpended $16, ,6sS q
On the motion of Alderman Byram,
Finance Committee bills were ordered
paid on approval and transfers of SIS
from the miscellaneous to discounts and
$3.50 from the printing account to the
street department were voted. The
Mayor was authorized to execute notes
in case sufficient tax funds were not re- i
ceived to cancel the notes now out. 1t
was stated that the bills approved by the
Fire Committee included the annual no.
preparations to the several companies of
the Department; namely, Independent
Hose, 500; Board of Fire Wardens, $50;
Washington Engine, $10O; Resolute Hook
and Ladder, 500; Humane Engine 500.
Marshal Holloway's report for the
Police Department for the month of
December, read by Alderman Van
Glider, showed thirty-eight arrests and
fifty-two lodged in the city lookup.
On recommendation of Alderman
Fleury, for the License Committee,
billiard and pool license was granted to
Patrick Looney for Farmers Hotel and
billiard license to l.. D. Guerin for Man
sion House renewed.
Alderman Hurting stated that the con-
tracts for street lightning expired this
month, and on his motion the committee
was authorized to solicit bids for light
ing the city for the coming three years.
At this point a communication was
read, signed by John Wright, asking for
the passage of an ordinance requiring
the proper building of chimneys and the
lining Of same with tile, to prevent fires.
Alderman Fleury said that the letter
was handed to him by Mr.. Wright. No
action was taken, but Mayor Quayle
stated incidently that to his mind some
steps should be taken toward the inspec-
ton of buildings and particularly build
ings under construction.
The ordinance requiring the tying of
horses, introduced at the last meeting
by Alderman Hurting, was taken up for
amendment, and several minor changes
were suggested by Mr.. Hurting. The
ordinance commanded the tying Of all
horses left standing alone on the street
under penalty of 50 fine for each viola
ton; horses to be tied to hitching posts
or TO weight OF not less than fifteen
pounds, to be placed on the ground; the
direct object Of the ordinance being the
prevention of runaway accidents. In
the vote on the several sections as
amended, the Second Ward Democrats
were in direct opposition, Alderman
Freeman was excused from voting and