The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-07-30
LIGHTING FRANCHISE
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

conditions of affairs. by securing from
companies now existing, or to be form
ed, propositions to furnish good SER
vice at reasonable rates, and with
strong guarantees, assuring the con-
tinuation of such good service"
AS Mr.. Reed has said, it was the con-
clusion of that committee that Nor
ristown needed a new company, and it
became absolutely necessary that the
individual members Of that committee
aid in it's organization, otherwise it is
certain that no new company would
have been formed; therefore three
members OF that committee immedi-
ately put their energies into the form
alton OF such company, on lines that
would be strictly for the benefit of the
entire community. To show the fair
intention of the organizers, the com
pany now offers to any citizen or resi-
dent OF MOrriStOwn the opportunity to
subscribe for any portion of the stock
of this company, which he or she may
see fit, that in this way anyone may
be represented in the management of
its affairs.
There seems to be some criticism of
certain members of the Civic ASSocia-
tiOn, and BuSineSSmen'S Association,
for taking an active interest in the
new company. There are upward of
400 of our citizens enrolled as members
of these two associations, and if it is
not proper for any of these members
to further public utilities, who will ?
The object OF these associations should
not end with mere Investigations, but
by heartily supporting all good move
mentS. 1t is easy to question motives,
but it is unfair to criticiSe until the
true facts are known.
Mr.. Reed further fears that the town
is to be burdened with another public
service corporation, and states that
the town should have some guarantee
of permanent improvement III service.
We are afraid the repeated violation
of the promises made by the Public
Service Corporations officials has led
Mr.. Reed to judge his fellow citizens
in the same light; be that as | ) may,
Mr.. Reed could not have read carefully
the contract for the public lighting of
Morristown, which provides for light
ing system las President McCarter of
the Public Service Corporation him.
self expressed it, !" Better than any
other city had. with the exception of
Fifth avenue, New York J. Further,
the new company has given a bond to
the town for $4,000 as guarantee of
the performance of all the terms of
the contract. What sort of a guaran-
tee did the former Boards of Aldermen
obtain from the Public Service Cor
porayion for the satisfactory fulfill
ment of it's contract with the town for
street lighting?
The new company also proposes, as
President ChildS stated at the Board
Of Aldermen's July meeting, to sell
current to consumers at rate as low
as that now charged by the present !
and will allow liberal dis.
3 UNITS for quantity consumed. 1t
must be remembered also. that the |
new company is going to erect a new |
modern plant of large capacity, which |
inSures good service.
1t therefore seems to us unfair to |
imply that this is not decided inn
orovement in service to the town of |
and that this improve |
nent is not fully guaranteed.
Yours, respectfully,
f. LANDoN HUMPHREYS,
S. b. CARSON,
S. III. GILLESPIE,
For the Board Of Directors of the
Morris & Somerset Electric Go. |
of Morristown, N. j.
July "a, 1907.