New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-20
PUBLIC SERVICE LOSES.
DOESN'T GET FRANCHISE.
Orange aldermen Postpone 1ction
indefinitely.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE rRIBuxE.J

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE,I
Orange y. j.. Dec 19.-Yielding To the practically
unanimous sentiment of the citizens. the Orange
Common Council tonight indefinitely postponed
consideration OF the application of the Consolidated
Traction Company for franchise to construct.
operate and maintain trolley line in Central-ave.
from the East Orange line to the West Orange
boundary. Never before In the history of the CITY
has there been such an uprising the people as
there has been since the constituent branch of the
Public Service Corporation made it's application last
August. In these four months the people of Or
ante have been aroused from a apparent lethargy,
which many thinking citizens thought II impossible
to penetrate realization of their civic duty and
obligations which eliminated in an attendance at
the meeting tonight which the greatest in the
history of the city. The little council room was
damned TO suffocauon 1t seats about two nun
bred people. Every seat occupied long before
the Council convened. and the alsles and Railways
and Rnte-room were damned.
Last August when the company made its original
application it asked for two franchises; one for
tie Consolidated, the other for the Orange and
Passaic Valley line. which latter extends now
for block in the avenue. compensation OF
$1,000 year provided in both ordinances.
Not wishing to pay 5000 year for the privileges
these applications withdrawn and a new
one made for the entire distance in the name OF
the Consolidated. The company submitted an or
dnance for perpetual franchise with $1,000 a year
compensation this is for fifty years, when
the payment to be readjusted and thereafter
IT was to be readjusted every twenty-five years
BY this time election was approaching The peo-
pie fully Informed to the value of the
franchise sought for, they appeared at the public
hearings and demanded better terms. They insist
ed upon n limited franchise and adequate
compensation. The feeling grew intense that
the aldermen decided that it would be futile to
fly in the face OF public sentiment and the So
called model ordinance was introduced.
In the mean time the Republicans and Demo
held their city conventions and the platforms
each favored the trolley, but demanded that the
franchise be a limited one, and that the compensa-
ton be commensurate with the value Of the grant.
The model ordinance made the life of the franchise
twenty-five years. when it TO cease absolute
~ and all rights and privileges conferred revert
TO the city. An annual payment of 5000 a year
provided the compan" was also to pay the
per cent State franchise tax, license fee OF
$40 a year for each car macadamize, curb ana
gutter the road. This model ordinance passed
by a of IL TO l. II vetoed by Mayor Stet-
son. and the veto came up soor after election Re
fore that time. however, Abe company had made
a application, and it Sls openly charged thai
the ordinance 70 be jammed through
before January l. The veto sustained. nine
members voting to pass the ordinance. the vet"
notwithstanding, and seven to sustain the veto
AS eleven votes were required override the
veto. 1t consequently sustained one OF the
aldermen who voted to sustain was Ira { VIZ
Jams. who introduced the model ora
nance when he candidate for reelection. He
was signag defeated at the polls.
The new ordinance introduced last Monday
night by Henry G. Miller II exactly the same
as the one which was turned down before election
Two aldermen who had voted to override the veto
voted for this ordinance on first reading Ihey
IaS1 otSh 20 it yarei ' drnon@4d and cen
sured. lie announced this morning thdt ne "outE
vote for the ordinance tonight. and said thas
his last week perfunctory. inasmucE as
the introduction OF ordinance constituted its
first reading and he had intended to offer amend.
ments to il when ii came up on second reading. II
became apparent to-day that the aldermen had de
ordinance If they had not been convinced before
of the public sentiment, the popular mass meeting
of protest last Friday night must have shown them
that the people were in no mood to teWpOrlZe But
the company did not give up without struggle
L. y. Howard Gilmour. of counsel. filed formal
withdrawal of the appCa ton with city Clerk Gano
order: then. after having the clerk ndOTSe the
time the notice, he told President Seymour that
he wanted an opportunity to speak as soon as the
roll called.
Il want 10 get the noo- before Perry does.
Mr.. Gimour said But Alderman Ed ,Eard 5. Perry
the Republican leader of the Council. too
tute to be fooled by the Public Service Corpora
ton When the call for the meeting had been
read, he jumped up and said
"Mr President, the roll has not been called.
Then he remained standing and th=
call finished presented resolution providing
that consideration OF the application and or
dinance be indefinitely postponed. As soon
the resolution had been read MIR. Gilmour asked
to speak. Alderman Miller moved to grant him
permission to speak Alderman Perry objected
Seymour thought this privilege might be accorded
but the aldermen objected and the roll was
called on Perry's motion. Every alderman said
Aye in good loud voice. Before the roll was
finished the audience rOared and hurrahed, and the
demonstration intense that no one heard
President Seymour vote No" The Council i'm
utes TO show the people that the aldermen re
spected their wishes.