The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-01-29
ALDERMEN
TAKE ACTION
Regarding the Safety Of Places
Where the Public
Congregates.
MAYORS ScATHING REMARKS


The resolutions Of the Morristowri
Library and Lyceum Trustees d.
rected to the attention of the Hon.
Charlton A. Reed, Mayor, had. the
desired effects a special meeting Of
the Aldermen was called last Friday
night, when due and proper considera-
| tion was given the action OF the
Trustees. The Board has decided
that an ordinance shall be drawn
which will give the city authorities
power to act against owners OF un-
protected fire traps, and passed the
following resolutions:
Resolved, That the Mayor be
authorized to appoint a committee to
investigate the condition of buildings
used for places Of assemblage by the
people of Morristown, with the view
to ascertain their safety and the
means of egress from them in case of
fire, and report to this Board at the
earliest possible date with recon-
mendations of what action the Board
should take in case, in the Judgment
Of said committee, any action should
be taken, and that the committee
notify the Mayor as soon as it is
ready to report, and that he recon-
vene the Board without delay for the
purpose of taking such action on the
conditions as may be for the public
welfare.
Some little time before the meet
ing was called to order the aldermen
gathered in the Mayors private office
in the Aldermen rooms, and calmly
and deliberately talked the situation
over. Every Alderman there was of
the opinion that the time had come
when some stringent measures should
be taken to protect as far as possible
the lives of those who congregate In
public buildings
When Mayor Reed raped for order,
there was = stiffness such as comes
before a storm. His attitude was
well known and the city authorities
looked for an arraigninent of the
cause. 1t came and was scathing in
it's entirety, calm and non-abusive.
| 1t was the sentiment or the people
depressed tersely and in a forceful
manner Had the, Trustees of the
| Lyceum been present granting they
are reasonable men they would have
realized that a duty was incumbent
on them ito look to the protection of
life as well as to carry out the
testanaentary directions of the dead.
Mayor Reed said in part: 'sThe
report of the Lyceum Trustees is a
confession that things in the Lyoeum
are not as they should be- 1t is,
however, no more so than other
places Ut would be unfair to single
out this institution, and we should
take action looking to ali places
where people go. As to the question
whether the directors of the Lyceum
make amy profit or not, is something
with which we have nothing to do.
Whether the profits are used for
charity or put in the pockets OF the
directors docs not concern us. That
does not relieve their liability
Everything should be done to allay
fear in public assemblages, the mayor
said, and he hoped this would be
done.
Alderman Burke suggested that
the matter be investigated. and that
fire limit be fixed. He said in 1889
the Legislature passed bill fixing a
fire limit in cities and an ordinance
passed in conformity with the law; but
in 1894 when the question of whether
Morristown was town or city, in the
suit of Day VS.. Morristown, it was
decided it was "a town and accordingly
aMnulled the ordinance.
City Attorney Muir was authorized
to draft bill to be presented to the
Legislature in 1902, giving the town
power to have an ordinance respecting
fire limits, WHICH was duly passed.
Mayor Reed appointed on the fire
limit committee, Aldermen Burke,
Belby and Owens.
Inspection OF asoonton Dam.
Civil engineers from all over the
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