The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-09-13
BOARD OF FREEHOLDfRS.
They Had a Lively Meeting Last
Wedne esday.

1HOlS arc many lullSS Ill lHo WOrlu
that are interesting, not on account of
their Importance, but on account of
unimportance. One of these was the
useless and bitter war of words between
members of the Board of Freeholders at
their regular monthly meeting last Wed.
nesday. The discussion arose over the
application of the Dover, Rockaway and
Port Dram Gas Company for permission
to open certain county roads for the
purpose of laying gas mains. Presi-
dent Addison Ely of the company had
brought the matter to the attention of
the Road Committee and the company
asked that they be allowed to open 434
feet of West Blackwell street, and 3, 400
of West Clinton street. Counsel E. A.
Quayle presented to the Board a reso-
luton granting the permission. Mr..
Troxell asked why the company should
not buy the permission, as the Board
did not want to be put on record giving
away a franchise for the benefit of q
corporation. He said ~ have heard
some very ugly stories about using in
f1uence to get votes to grant this fran
chise and l, for one, wont go on record
as voting for it." Freeholder Cook
asked to have the petition presented at
the August meeting read, after which
he said '"That does not say when they
will start the work, when they will
finish it or if they will do so at all. 1t
seems to me they are asking the Board
to compromise themselves by giving
away rights. They want an exclusive
right TO these roads,"
Counsel Quayle stated that the Board
could not grant a franchise but could
only give permission to use the roads
and that permission gives them per-
petual right to lay their pipes in the
road.
Speaking for the Dover members, Mr..
Munson said that the people in that end
of the county wanted the gas and favor
ed granting the permission and that the
Common Council had already granted
their permission. Mr. Cook said that
the Council had no right to grant such
without the permission of the Board
A motion was made that the matter
be laid over, but Mr.. Fancher objected,
saying that the Company had already
been delayed month and he moved
that their application be granted. Mr..
Quinlan of Dover seconded this motion,
which was lost on an aye and nay vote.
Mr.. Cook then renewed his objections
to granting a permission to the company
on the ground that it was not in proper
form and that as a verbal petition, il
could not be entertained, and that practj-
cally there was no petition before the
Board. He said 1.-The first petition is in
the hands of the Boad Committee. Show
me man who is asking for this permis.
sion and l will vote for it. Do you
want twenty-one members to sit here
and vote for something the Counsel of
the Board has made up? Present the
matter in proper form and | will vote
for it,
A motion was made that the matter
be referred to the Rosd Committee,
Mr.. Fancher thought the verbal appll-
cation accompanied by the map would
be sufficient. ''Show me the petition
asking for permission to open Madison
/ q in fI,ic oF ;
Cousel Quayle replied to this that there
was none as the permission was granted
before the resolution requiring written
petitions was passed.
The matter was finally referred to the
Road Committee and the Gas Company
will be asked to present formal appli-
cation, signed by officers of the COM
pany.
The Finance Committee reported the
books and vouchers correct. The County
Collector reported balance of $14, $780,
SO, the receipts being $35 677. 49, and
the disbursements $21 ,246. 30. The FL
nance Committee presented approved
bills to the amount of $1,250.2S.
The Court House and Jail Committee
reported forty-six prisoners in Jail. fifty
having been admitted and forty.eight
having been discharged during the
month. They presented approved bills
to the amount of $1,706.11 for current
expenses, and 1916 81 for permanent i'm
provements.
The Aims House Committee presented
approved bills to the amount Of $617 .39
for current expenses at the Aims House
and $372 for current expenses at the
Children's Home. They reported four
prisoners committed to the Aims House
during the month, and two deaths,
leaving ninety one in the house.
The Committee On Printing and Elec-
tions reported approved bills for $216.7O.
Road Committee presented for the
State Aid Road account $7,645. 10 and
for road repair account $5.9l3 80. APP
proved bills to the amount of 81, 400. 30
were presented by the Insurance and
Miscellany Committee.
A transfer of $75 from miscellany to
Roxbury bridge accoant was made at
the request of Mr., Fancher for bridge
repair, and 1915 was transferred from