The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-01-05
NO ELECTRIC
co. INQUIRY
Board Of Aldermen Refuses to
Authorize Investigation Of
COmpany's 5 Affairs.
AUTO CHEMICAL ENGINE ASKED

v Somerset Electric 20. by a commit
tee appointed by the board of alder
men at the latter body's meeting Oh
Friday evening caused d ripple to pass
over the surfaca Of that usually placid
body. The resolution recited chat
WHEREAS, The Morris & Somerset
Electric Go. is now operating the
plant OF the Public Service Corpora
tiOn under lease and
WHEREAS, The charges for electric
current for private consumers have
materially increased while the quail
lty OF the light has decreased. and
WHEREAS, The streets of the Town
are encumbered with two sets of
poles for Lighting purposes, both un-
der The control OF one company, and
WHEREAS, 1t is claimed chat the
terms 0f the contract made with the
Town for public lighting is not be-
ing lived up TO by the Morris 10
Somerset Electric Co., and that the
leasing OF the plant of the Public
Service Corporation by the Morris 81
Somerset Electric Co., works injury
and is to the detriment OF the
charges Of the citizens of Norris
town, and the increase in the
charges of the Morris & Somerset
Co. Is unnecessary and gTieyuuS
hardship to our citizens:
Be IL Resolved, That the Mayor ap-
point committee consisting of five
persons to investigate the equipment
OF the Morris & Somerset Electric %.
and its leased properties to ascertain
their efficiency, also whether the in
crease in charges is justihable and so
arranged as to work the least hardship
TO consumers also what can be done
10 do away with one set Of poles on
our streets and TO make such inyesti-
CATION Of the general subject as such
committee may deem TO the public
interest. Which committee shall
hold such meetings, both public and
private as shall be thought necessary,
and may employ counsel and expend
not exceeding tiye hundred dollars
from the funds of the town.
Alderman Kinsley Twining said in
defence of the company that Ne felt
confident that If The man who inspired
the resolution was TO visit the conn
pany s offices all information would be
given him regarding its affairs and as.
serted that the company is Iiwlng ups
60 It's CONTRACT se ted shat the
lamps now ia use for street ligbAing.
Eare OF fifteen candle power more than
called for by the contract and that
the police reports of the outages are
practically nothing CON pared to 800
under the regime Of the Public Ser
vice corporation. so far as the
higher rate is concerned and the lease
Of the Public Service plant, said the
alderman, "that has nothing to dol
this board"
Alderman Ira MOwery characterized
the resolution as an outrage and. arr
insult to the board. On a rom call
vote Alderman Taylor, Conkling, who
fathered the resolution and SEuE.
gis voted in favor of the resolution
and hy a similar vote the resolution
was ordered expunged from the min
utes Of the board on Mr.. Twininq's
motion.
Chief Engineer J. Fred Runyon IN
his annual report of the fire depart
ment recommended the purchase byI
the town Of an auto chemical engine
for Independent Hose company. These
auto machines, he said, were doing ex-
cellent service in many towns and he
believed the fine work now being done
by this company could be>greatly in
creased by the purchase of this appar
atus, adding much to the compahy's
efficiency He also advocated the h2r-
chase of hose wagon for Washington
Engine Company to replace the pres
ent hose cart which has been In use
for fifteen years and is about worn
out. New ladders and hose were also.
needed by the department, he said.
Flfty-six alarms OF fire have been made
during the year. of which sixteen were
general alarms and forty still alarms.
The fire damage for the year aggre-
gated $50, ,326, of which $l1,725 was to
buildings and the balance to contents.
Fourteen new members have been re-
ceived into the department, four have
resigned and two have been expelled.
No serious accidents have happened
to hremen during the year, the only
being broken arm sustained
by Edward Jolley, OF Washington En-
CINE company. The fire department.
has property valued at s70,5O0. Horses
and equipment owned by individual
but under the control Of
The fire department. amounts in value
TO 81, 200.
The board of engineers recommend.
ID the election of George w. Paynter
10 Humane Engine company and re-
)orted three general and six s1ill
alarms OF fire during the mouth OF De-
,ember.
Alderman Mowery, Of the Einancs
read the following arpro
for the year which were
ldopted $50. 200 be made "a the lin-
4nce committee: tire depart nent slS
90; police, $40, 500; street lamps. sl6
90; sureets and highways. Se VQ0
$1,000; making tha tatal
budget for the year $40. 800
Mr.. Mowery also presented tssa Nczs
t the following naugd eQnseaelas
which were accepted George W R