The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-01-08
BOARD OF
ALDERMEN
New Board Takes Up the Task
Of the Town Government,
First Regular Meeting.
MAYOR BENNELL'S MESSAGE.

| After the roll call Mayor Bennell
read the following message:
Gentlemen of the Board Of Aldermen
| find an existing custom which
seems good one. that the incoming
Mayor shall at the beginning OF the
year put before the Board his impress
sions OF the more important matters
he deems likely to come before them
Anything | can saw at this time will
necessarily be incomplete, but it may
| inticate my own attitude and what
believe is the attitude Of as ali, that
mis- administration intends to be both
conservative aud progrsssive; thai 1t
means to hold the scales of justice
even; and welcome actual information
from all sources We mean to give q
business administration without auy
unnecessary trills.
Since the event which unexpectedly
elected me inio Office | have been
diligeDt in seeking ALI sources of infor-
nation within reach that would tend
to give ME a correct knowledge of the
affairs OF the town OF Morristown; its
fiuances, the present conditions and
future needs of it's various depart
tuents, the purposes for which the
town government was organized and
its subsequent history. the success or
| failure which may have followed III
any direction.
The objects we ought to have in
view in the present and theimmediate
future; in short, to get as broad
view as possible of the whole problem,
| as any good business man should be-
fore entering actually into the daily
duties OF multiplicity OF detail.
1 ic ,lx, vi
| that | have been able to obtain. am
perfectly conscious that more inti-
mate knowledge IRON within may
greatly modify present impressions.
| Morristown was organized as a
Town Corporate" to be distinguish
ed by the name of "Morristowp,n by
1866.
| BY adopting those two words Town
| Corporate, We seem to have been
forced into a separate and conclusive
compartments SO that we now find orr
selves different from any other muni-
cipallty in New Jersey. This was un,
| important SO long as charters could be
| amended, but when the constitution
of New Jersey was amended in 1875,
| special legislation was abolished.
This Town has since found itself
somewhat embarrassed with an ipef-
| ficient charter which cannot he amend
ed. Neither can it take advantage of
| general legislation because we are not
IN any of the classes for which general
| legislation is provided.
| This Is confusing to a layman,, and
lawyers are not at all agreed. | have
no solution to offer.
| The wise men of our town will no
doubt eventually settle 1T. Our able
| predecessors have been able to worry
along for some years with pretty good
success. Imperfections seem to be the
rule of life.
only propose that we take up the
| burden where they left off, use their
experience and make the best head
way we can in matters Immediately
pressing.
The first charter was extremely
limited III its powers. Its whole force
| was spent on streets. Besides streets it
took over the property of the old
Fire Association" also the power OF
licensing inns and taverns and shows.
| Ii gave no powers of taxation what
ever; nor was there any revenue ex-
cept that the collector OF Morris town
ship, OF which Morristown was still a
| part, was directed to pay over to the
Treasurer OF Morrlstowu so much OF
he road taxes of said township as had
been raised by said township within
the bounds OF Morrstown.
The first government went into Of
fee May 9th, 1866, with Hon. George
T. Cobb as Mayor, a gentleman OF
great energy and force OF character,
| assisted by eight other gentlemen OF
influence and ability.
They Immediately attacked tha
streets very vigorously. accomplished
a great deal and involved themselves
| much litigation.
The very next year the charter was
revised and many new provisions ad-
| ded, and taken almost verbatum
ON the charter of Newark as were
| the ordinances, passed under its pow
| eIs.
Mayor Cobb was succeeded by a
line of able and eificleD, Mayors who
nave had the aid of the best business
ability of Nj lrristown as Recorders,
Alderman and Counc Imam down to
he administration of Mayor RselN
Imy respected and able Immediate
predecessor and his associates. under
ali oil whom our town has greatly
prospered.
Under the amended charter of 1866
new uAFters were aLtPiupteu anu tue
new power of taxation was exercised
to he limit which was So. 900. which
was increased in 1870 TO $4,000 and 10
1879 10 $12 500 Later by various de-
wees the amount has been Increased
until it has reached the amount of
last years tax budget.
Ouly few amendments were ever
added 10 the charter, mostly enlarge
ment of powers already possessed, or
to make them more efficient. One OF
The amendments was perhaps OF more
han ordinary interest. 1t was passed
ia 1867 aud provided for testing the
views OF Morristown AS to municipal
ownership of the water supply.
Twice under this WAS a vote taken
ut tue polls in 1858 and in 1873 or 4,
and twice our citizens voted ii down
II does not appear that our town has
ever gone into debt by issuing bonds.
except ouce To the amount OF $4,000
tor establishing Fire Department.
Our predecessors, and the leading
citizens, have always set their faces
against bonded Indebtedness.
The Immediately pressing questions
TO come before us are 'sSeWers and
Lights" The question of sewers has
been agitated to the full. 1t has for
the second time been referred to a
commission, which is now celebrating
LCoNIINuED ON EIGHTH PAeEl