New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-16
ORANGES TROLLEY c0uuoTIoy

Individually and collectively Orange is great
~ wrought mp allegations of graft in
connection with trolley ordinance now pend
ing and il seems altogether likely that the ES-
Sex County Grand Jury may be called upon 10
look into the matter The surface facts are
plain and simple enough, but the causes which
are producing results seem to he somewhat
myStifying
To begin at the beginning il should he under
stood that there is trolley line running
through the East Orange section of Centraav".
While the franchise application was pending be
fore the East Orange aldermen efforts were
made to amend il by limiting the period of its
life. but Thomas y. McCarter. president Of the
Public Service Corporation, refused absolutely
to accept anything but unlimited franchise,
and he got what he wanted. The railroad was
promptly built so far that authorization war
ranted. Next in order it was necessary. from
the company's point of view. 10 get from Orange
a similar franchise. When the first move was
made the municipal campaign happened to bo
on and it was amazing to note how many of the
local statesmen wanted it understood that they
We're for the people all the time and agin the
trolley company from now until eternity. Both
Republican and Democratic city conventions
pledged themselves and their adhcronts and
representatives against perpetual franchises
! The aldermen who were seeking reelection
! thought that that not enough They intro
duced and had passed wha, has come 10 he
! known as the model ordinance" This PRO
! vded for a twenty-five year franchise aud had
| numerous other sections which demonstrated
| clearly that the Aldermen We're warm cham
! pons of the citys rights and did not care how
much they hurt the feelings of the company
That was before election. After the voters
got through with their work on November : the
| Mayor changed the situation by vetoing the or
| dinance. His action did not. apparently. cause
| much surprise but it did startle some people
| when the aldermen sustained the veto and this
| too. in spite Of the fact that its original pas
| sage only vote was recorded against the
| ordinance. The story. of course. did not end
| there Such a franchise as the Public Service
| Corporation wanted embodied in a now or
| dinance and promptly introduced by an alder
/ man who had voted for the model ordinance
Tho new ordinance came up nj a mectin.. OF
| the aldermen last Monday night President Nc
! Carter of the Public Service Coronation was
! introduced. and he said fatty that his companv
| could not accept anything less than a perpetual
! franchise because he could not finance the road
| ON any other basis Besides. he wanted 10
know how he could possibly accept a limited
franchise in Orange after peremptoriIv refusing
10 consider such a proposition from East or
ange To this the retort was made that the com
pany could surely draw its own check fot. tba
money necessary ia build the road and that tbs
aldermen of Orange could not afford to stultifv
themselves in view Of their record on this aues
ton and the unmistakable manifestation Of puh.
lie sentiment
But majority Of the aldermen had evidently
been converted 10 the coGIpanys way Of think
ing. How. or why. or where. they said nor
They shed no light on the manner of arguments
which enabled them to see the error Of tLoir
ways, but simply voted aye" when their names
were called on the question Of passing the Ordi
nance through It's preliminary stsges With
one exception ihese men were all pledged up to
the neck mot TO vote for sncb an ordiponoo
Possibly they reversed themselves in ordar =,
make Christmas gift 70 the struggling desery.
ing. poor but honest'' Public Service Cornoro.