The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-07-23
COMMUNICATIONS

1t would seem from the action o
our Board of Aldermen as reported ii
your issue of July 10th inst, tina
there is small chance of having a gen
uine public hearing on the question O.
| the franchise to be granted to the M
q S. Electric Co.
The fact that we have had our con
fidence abused and our rights ignored
for some time past, by the Company
already in the field. ought not tC
make us willing to grant rights to q
new corporation without the most
careful consideration of tie terms.
No doubt the Committee of the
Board of Aldermen has given, in all
honesty, its best thought and effort tC
this matter and has asked advice oi
those in whose judgement it has con.
fidence, but if it has ever asked the
general public for an opinion, | have
failed to notice the request.
| The law very plainly implies that
| there shall be genuine public hear
ing and sound public policy demands
| it.
An ordinance was introduced a. the
regular meeting of the Board on July
5tn, when a So-called hearing was
| given; but before it's Introduction no.
body, except the persons who drafted
1T and the favored few to whom it had
been submitted, had seen it. A dis
cussion OF its provisions as they could
be CLEANED from listening to the read
ing OF it to the Board at the time of
its introduction would be futile. In a
matter of this Importance, to call
such discussion a. hearing, leaves to
the. word nothing but a hollow sound.
The hearing was then adjourned to
the next regular meeting OF the Board
on August I'd.
At that time we all hope and expect
an ordinance on this subject to be
passed.
No matters then suggested, would
have fair chance of consideration,
less they appeared almost as vital as
those which caused the Board to aban-
don the first ordinance introduced. 1t
is to be presumed that the members of
the Board would come to that meet
ing having already decided how to
vote on the question.
Before the ordinance was introduced
member of the Committee of the
Board having this matter in charge,
was spoken to about the deSirability
of having a public hearing on this
franchise, on some evening after it
was introduced and before it came up
for final passage. He then considered
it desirable.
Since the introduction he says that
all he could get done was to have
copies of the ordinance printed for
distribution. as the members were
tired of holding special meetings.
Now comes your suggestion, that
copies of the ordinance may be had of
the Town Clerk, and objections if any,
sent to him in writing. How much
consideration would such objections
receive Ii the Board are so little de-
sirous of having an expression from
the public, as to be unwilling to have
a genuine public hearing on the sub
ject?
The Town can i'll afford to have the
Board of Alderman establish a prece-
dent of granting franchises without
the fullest publicity and the frankest
public discussion before the Board, of
all the terms of every franchise.
Doubtless many of our citizens
would like to be heard on the present
franchise question. But it is very
doubtful whether many will avail
themselves of the chance as at present
presented. 1t looks too much like be-
ing told the law says you must have
a chance TO be heard, now say what
you please, but what ever you say will
make no difference
A Committee Of five citizens of this
Town during six months of this year
were working to improve the lighting
conditions. Their unanimous conclu-
sion was that the best hope of inn
provement, in the matter of electro
city, was Through new Company.
Several members of that Committee
are backing the new enterprise. From
my association with these gentlemen,
on that Committee, | am sure they
would be the last persons to consent
TO being put in the position of at
tempting to discredit the old electric
Company. that they might Supplant
1t In supplying the town with electri-
city.
We have now no way of getting rid
OF the old Company'S distractions on
our streets; and we have no pledge ex-
cept the word of the promoters, that
the new Company will do better in
any respect; and no way to get rid of
it is provided in case it does not.
Surely, the citizens of this Town do
not want to be burdened with two
public service corporations, unless
there is some guarantee of permanent
improvement in service.
Yours truly,
CHARLTON A. REED.
JuIv 18th 1907