The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-09-13
ALDERMEN
SQUABBLE
Members Vote Lighting Contract
to United Electric Company.


A Long, Bitter Debate Over Prices
Mark Ending of 1eeting Charges
That People are Betrayed by Award
to the Concern for Three Years.
An acrimonious meeting of the Board
OF Aldermen was held last Friday night
during the progress of which the numer-
GUS spectators in attendance listened to
proceedings which were largely dress
parade of recriminations, bitter fiineing
OF charge and counter charge, partisan
scandal and gossip which ought months
ago to have been decently mouIdering
IN unhallowed graves. IF the granting
OF the contracts over which the bitter
light was waged could mean the end of
II all, burial without hope of resur
rection, everybody would rejoice. but
the decent citizens of the town. if con-
vlnced against their will, expect to hold
the same opinion still, and that is. that
there is something wrong about the lob
and an investigation would not be amiss.
just previous to adjournment, Alder
man Burke moved to award a three
years contract to both the Morristown
Gas Light Company and the United
Electric Company of New Jersey at the
same rates as were paid during the past
three years, viz, $21 for each gas lamp,
$50 for each incandescent light and $i2O
for each arc light. At the August meet
ing of the board Alderman Hurtzig had
protested vigorously against the renewal
OF the contracts and Friday night he
again objected. "The prices asked he
said, 'are outrageous. We are not get
ting as good light or as cheap light as
other towns, and a change should be
made.
Alderman Crane, in reply to query
by Mayor Fox, said the city was receiv-
ing as good light and at equally cheap
rates as other towns, but was unable to
say with any degree of positiveness that
his statements were true. Mr.. Rurtzig
then said, II move that the matter be
laid on the table for month because
Alderman Crane is not positive of what
he says. 1t is an outrage" he con-
tinued, ''to pay $120 per year for each
arc light. In a year we do not really
get nine months light. Besides, the
United Electric Company has no fran
chise. The chairman of the Street
Lighting Committee ought to know
that. 1t is"
"The Alderman is little previous"
interrupted Mr.. Crane 'sHe is evident
ly not aware of the fact that when he
was chairman of the Street Lighting
Committee the prices charged then were
exactly the same as now"
"That is not the question before the
board at the present time," answered
Mr.. Hurting. 81 fatter myself that |
was always capable of looking out for
our interests; and want it understood
that when voted for the contract the
United Electric Company was a local
concern. At that time l wanted to see
the company secure footing and it
couldn't furnish us light for less than
$120 each for arc lights. Now it can.
say that Morristown is the worse
lighted town in the State of New Jer-
sey for the money we pay, and should
have better and cheaper service Here's
an opportunity to have it done. Why,
the company has not got franchise
from Morristown to-day. I never said
it before, but l say it now"
When Mr.. Hurting ceased speaking
and took his seat there was look of
surprise on the faces of those present
and intense quiet prevailed. Then A.
H. Lynch arose, and, trembling with
excitement, said: what the gentle
man says is untrue. The original fran
chise was granted to the Morris County
Electric Company and was given to us
by former Governor Werts when he
was Mayor of Morristown. A subse-
quent franchise, when the United Elec-
trio Company of New Jersey absorbed
the Morris County Electric Company
was procured for us by you"
Eyes, replied Mr.. Hurtzig, "you did
receive franchise, but you never lived
up to it. You were granted permission
to place only few poles in certain
streets. If the town had so desired, it
could have cut down hundreds of your
poles, for you placed them in many
streets you had no access to. BY the
way, have you ever filed a bond with
the County Clerk or City Clerk" he
asked
Eyes, we have, said Mr.. Lynch.
when" continued Mr.. Hurtzig.
II can't give you the date" was the
response.
"No, guess nct," Mr. Hurting said,
as he took his seat "and l don't believe
you ever did"
At this point Mayor Fox asked Mr..
Lynch several questions relative to the
prices and brlllianey of light in other
towns as comparing with Morristown.
"Supposing tMr. Lynch, he said, "a
man should say to me, What dull set
you Morristown officials are to pay so
much for your lights when other towns
get it so much cheaper, could | con-