The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-08-06
BOARD OF
ALDERMEN
Pass the Electric Light Fran
chise Ordinance with some
few Amendments.
THE CURFEW RULE DISCUSSED

Alderman Thompson, however, went
out before the consideration Of the
electric light franchise ordinance.
A letter was received inviting the
board to send representatives to the
convention of the League of American
\ Municipalities, to be held at James
town, Va September, Is, - and 20.
Later, on motion, the invitation was
accepted and the Mayor directed to
appoint delegation to 20 at their own
expense.
A long communication from Mrs. L..
G. Lathrop recited the history of the
fixing of the side line of Franklin place
and prayed that the street be reduced
in width from sixty to fifty-five feet
between Franklin place and Ford ave-
nue.. Alderman Thompson handed a
letter, which was read, from Mrs.
Smith, who owns property opposite,
calling attention to the fact Of the
other petition and telling that she had
refused to sign it, also calling atten-
tion to the condition of the sidewalk
along Mrs. Lathrop's frontage, which
she declared was useless for pedestrians
as it is at present.
Alderman Owens said the Lathrop
matter should be given careful atten
tion. Alderman Day said the letters
had been sent to all the aldermen by
= Mrs. Smith, and that the street COM
mittee is Investigating the matter of
the Lathrop petition, but will do no.
thing before public hearing is held
to hear from the property owners on
Franklin street.
The town treasurer reported cash
balance of $6,907.45.
The report of the chief engineer of
the fire department. called attention
to the recent barn fires, and urged
close scrutiny of all applications for
!. permits to erect frame buildings.
The board of engineers reported nine
alarms of fire during the month, three
of them being still alarms, and recon-
mended the confirmation of the cleo
tion of Fl. A. Cobbett to Resolute Fl.
&. L. Company, and the acceptance of
the designations of W. M. Hodgson and
#. A. Hoffman from the board of fire
wardens. The reports were received
and the recommendations concurred
in.
The finance committee recommend
ed transfers as follows, all of which
were ordered 81 900 sewers to miscel-
: laneous; 81, 900 miscellaneous to fire
department, and 5000 miscellaneous
10 poor. On m otion, a note of
5000 was ordered executed on sewer
account, and a number of sewer bills
were ordered paid, the largest being
Williams, Proctor & Potts, S869.97 /;
G.. B. Raymond, $2,637 18, and Antonio
Costa, $3,O01.89. A payment of S640
was also made to e. B. Chamberlain on
account of the carpenter work on the
police building, and 81, 500 was ordered
paid the board of health on the appro-
priation for the year. The finance
committee also reported the receipt of
S145 for insurance on Washington
Steamer house.
The estreetlighting committee report
ed that three gas bills had been held
up and, on motion, they were referred
to the counsel.
The ordinance committee presented
an ordinance imposing fine Of not
less than S5 nor more Jhan $50, or six
days Imprisonment, for person not a
fireman to ride on any of the apparatus
either going to or returning from a
fire. 1t was passed under suspension
of the rules.
Alderman Rutan then moved that
the ordinance granting franchise to
the Morris & Somerset Electric Com
pany be taken up on second reading,
and stated that the public should be
given an opportunity to be heard.
Printed copies Of the ordinance have
been left with the town clerk for any
who desire them.
Mayor Bennell then stated that the
meeting was open for public discussion
of the ordinance. Nobody yentured to
speak, and seeing former Mayor Reed
In the room Mayor Bennell asked if he
had anything to say. Mr.. Reed said
he had some remarks to make, but
thought time might be gained if the
amendments which probably might be
suggested we're offered first, for per-
haps they would cover his ideas. He
was permitted to postpone his remarks
till later, and the work of amendment
was taken up. Most Of the amend
ments were in the wording, but one of
particular interest was that changing
the duration of the franchise from fifty
to twenty years.
After nearly all the ordinance had
been adopted by sections Alderman
MeSlar arose and objected to one of the
earlier sections for not giving enough
subway for the third ward.
Alderman Twining said that he pos
sibly could suggest some street which
night be left out. The committee
had been over the matter very careful
ly, and the town is getting a large