The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-05-09


streets clear of rubbish, papers and
refuse Of various kinds, either care
lessly thrown out or purposely de
posted on the streets. 1t is no un
usual sight to see responsible bust
ness houses sweep out their places Of
business across the sidewalk and into
the cutters, Immediately after the
same have been cleared of accumula
ions of similar kind, by the street
department Neither is it at all un
usual to hear from the very people
who cause this condition complaints
of the unsightly appearance oul
streets sometimes present. We have
sufficient ordinances to punish such
action and if the people are not i'm
pelled by their pride in their town to
take care Of the accumulations Of pa,
per and other refuse about their
places of business. it seems to me
that it would be a part of wise pub
lie policy to punish all infractions OF
our ordinances in this respect to the
full extent. apprehend this will
HUI U6 uECG0cdlJ III lldlJ CCtOGS, ctUu
perhaps not at all, if the attention OF
the offending parties is drawn to the
fact that it is impossible to keep the
streets clean, if people are allowed to
carelessly throw or sweep refuse in,
to them. 1t is impossible to have a
town kept in condition when the citi-
zens exercise no care and exhibit
their greatest interest and activity in
municipal matters by complaining OF
conditions and reviling their elected
representatives AS for us, we should
attempt to support those, who have
the good will of the town at heart
and are anxious to see the laws and
the ordinances enforced and who ex
hibit this anxiety by ther telves OBJ
serving them.
The fire department of any town is
always a matter of local pride. This
is particularly true where it is a
volunteer department. Morristown
is no exception in this respect. The
companies have been well provided
with modern apparatus, which is
now in good condition. The senti
ment of the town has approved these
expenditures and we were all pleased
to join with the companies in the fire
mems day parade and inspection iI
September last. We were pleased tt
welcome their friends and to give
those friends and the visitors of the
town a chanuca to see AIerristewr
and what provision it has made fol
protecting itself from fire, and how il
takes care of the citizens who are
volunteering their services for thai
purpose. The apparatus is now in
good shape and will need but little
expenditure for repairs during The
coming year. The same is true oi
the houses of the various companies
The result of decision Of the Su
preme Court has been to deprive
many members of the companies oi
an exemption from taxation hereto
fore allowed, and no scheme has beer
devised as yet for allowing in any
other way what was previously giver
by this exemption 1t is plainly i'm
practicable to make direct allowance
from our funds of an amount equa
to what was formerly given by the
exemption.
Formerly the exemption was allow
ed on $500 taxable valuation of prop
erty. There was also allowed al
exemption from poll tax. The pol
tax is uninterfered with. If the 9th
er exemption were to be made by di
rect payment, the payment woulC
have to be made to all members o.
the department. This would greatly
increase the amount. The paymen
would also have to come from the
funds raised for town purposes ex
clusively. Under the system of ex
emption of $500 from the taxable val
uation, the amount practically re
ceived by the beneficiaries came
from the town, county and State
school assessments proportion tt
their various rates. That is, the towr
was only deprived of its proportionat'
assessment and the other objects
mentioned were deprived of theirs
The whole amount was not takeI
from any particular one.
To attempt to make a direct pay
ment would be in effect to make the
department a paid department 1
we should do this, it would be i'm
practicable to allow to the severa
companies anything like the number
of members they have at present /
would also, it seems to me, in a greai
measure destroy the volunteer fea
ture which is so valuable in many re
spects. The amount received by
each member would be very small
and the training and spirit of doing
something for the love of the towI
would be practically killed outright
or would die a slow death. The ser
vice we gentlemen here perform II
entirely gratuitous. It is no more
honorable than that performed by
the members of the companies and
am quite sure that the majority o.
the department look at it in this way
Without going into detail as to 9th
u AHdtt0Ao, WOulu respectfully VI 81
the Importance of all the commit
tees working in harmony, particular
" the police committee. the stree
committee and the street lamp com
mittee: that the members of thil
Board insist that the various EN-
ployes of the town cultivate spiri
of mutual helpfulness and devote
themselves to furthering Of the wei
being Of the town in all respects
and not confine themselves simply t,