The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-10-16
Another Squabble Over the
Mount Tabor Gas Question,
Franchise Not Granted.
$4,000 DAMAGE TO BRIDGES
Last week's Flood Did an Enormous
Amount of Damage In Morris County.
President Ely Tells the Freeholders
They are Not Honest. Says he Knows
They do Themselves.

The regular meeting of the Board OF
Chosen Freeholders was held in their
rooms last Wednesday, To the locker
on and listener the meeting was one of
the most interesting that has been
held in some time.
After the regular business had been
disposed of the road committee re-
ported that the committee would con-
slider the application of the Dover,
Rockaway and Port Dram Gas Com
pany when it had given the COM
mittee good evidence that the cities.
townships and municipalities through
which it proposed to pass had given
it permission to do so. The report
of the committee was like throwing a
red rag before wild bull. Freeholder
Cook, of Hanover, Immediately wanted
to know what difference it made to
the Board whether they had permis-
sion or not. eff the Board sees fit to
give them the franchise, what differ
ence does it make to US whether these
townships give their permission or
not ?" Mr. Waters reminded the
Board of their experience in the Madi-
son matter and intimated that if
permission was given the Dover, Rock
away and Port Dram Company the
Board might be liable and have to
stand a suit. Mr. Moller, of Dover,
said at makes no difference to US
whether an injunction is served or
not
At this opportune time Mr.. Mills
said, 'The courts hold that we can't
grant the franchise, but only the per-
nit" And that pertinent remark
aroused a great deal of enthusiasm
which was clearly manifested by the
members of the Board and by the visit
ors present, and Mr.. Cook poured
water on the fire by this interrogative
speech, "Why should we keep gas out
of Mt. Tabor, when they want it?
Why should these people be made to
suffer ? The Morristown Gas Company
had got franchise, and do not see
why they can not" Mr.. Cook was
solicitous of information and he got it
when he was made acquainted with
the fact that the Morristown Gas
Company had received its permit from
the Hanover township committee, in
stead of from the Board of Freeholders,
and Counsel Runyon increased the
Freeholders' budget of information
by telling Mr.. Cook and his col
leagues that they could not give the
company permission to pass through
a township.
Mr.. Moller, whon now felt the strength
of his position, said, Let 'em go
ahead; it makes no difference to the
Board about litigation" and he
glanced at Freeholder John D. Smith
as he made this remark, as if to add,
''YouM get the benefit of the first
tilt !"
The visitors also had their say, and
they said a few things for instance,
Mr.. Ely, president of the Dover, Rock
away and Port Dram Gas Company,
said "There is no legal or honest
reason why this permit should not be
granted. All reasonable members
must agree that this is so. The appli-
cation is in perfect form, and there
can be no objection to that. l am
perfectly familiar with the law;
know as much about it as any Free
holder, and am competent to judge
for myself as to the legality of it.
The townships have nothing to say
about it, as | understand the law.
Some of the arguments used by the
gentlemen of the Board are, in my
opinion, mere subterfuge, and those of
Mr.. Mills and Mr.. Dalrymple in par
ticular. lido not think the Board can
close this session without giving our
company the permission.
At this time Mr.. Mills thought he
had an opportunity to score point,
so he asked Mr.. Ely if the company
asked for franchise or a permit, but
Mr. Ely lodged very cleverly and sue
cessfully.
Rev. A. B. Richardson, d. D., presi-
dent of the Mt. Tabor Camp Meeting
Association, was the next speaker fol-
the visitors, and he said: 81 am here
as the representative of the people OF
Mt. Tabor, and put it mildly when |
say that that community is suffering
very, very seriously from the want OF
gas. / feel constrained to say to the
Board of Trustees of Mt. Tabor Asso-
citation that this Board of Freeholders
are against the people of Tabor"
Counsel stated that application had
been made to Rockaway but Rock
away had refused to grant them the
franchise.
Mr.. Kilmer stated that counsel was
mistaken, because Rockaway had
never refused permission to pass
through on the way to Mt. Tabor. A
general war of words followed these
remarks, and Director Becker was
forced to restore order with the aid OF
the gavel.
The vote on the question was then
taken, and resulted as follows: Ayes
16, nays 3; the report of the commit
tee being confirmed by large majority
r. D. Foote, president of the Morris
County Traction Company, asked fol
permission to build a bridge across
the Rockaway river on Blackwell
street in Dover, for the purpose Of
laying the tracks for the trolley tC