Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-12-03
TO PROBE TAX
ON FRANCHISES
Summit Council Believes Re-
turns to City Are Far
Too Small.

SUMMIT. Dec. 3.--Expressing sur
prise at the small amounts paid over
to the city by the local corpora lions,
President Debevoise, at the meeting
of Common Council last night, caused
a resolution to be adopted directing
City Solicitor williams to investigate
the matter and report to the commit
tee of the whole
From the Morris County Traction
Company the city received for lite
past year in franchise tax $500 9S;
from the Public Service Gas Com
pany, S2,31636 the Western Union
Telegraph Company, s2659; the New
York Telephone Company, S451.1S:
the Commonwealth Water and Light
Company, of this city. s1,096.65, and
from the Postal Telegraph Company,
s147
These amounts seem astonishingly
low to me-" said Mr.. Debevoise.
when we receive only s451.1s from
the New York Telephone Company
for the privilege of looking at the
beautiful poles which adorn our city
there seems TO be something radically
wrong"
$4,000 Bond Issue.
An ordinance providing for a. bond
issue of $4,000 was given first read
ing OF this amount about $4,000 is
required to pay the city's portion of
the asst ssment for the West Summit
sewer system. The bonds are to bear
interest at per cent. and are to be
liquidated with the interest in yearly
pay ments OF $1,000, this amount to be
included In the tax budget for six
years. The bonds will not be placed
on the market but will be taken with
irlE M
now amounts to $4,000, with $4,000
due the fund shortly.
City Solicitor Williams advised the
council that the Morris County Trac-
ton Company had filed a cross petit
ton with The Public Utilities Commas
sion in which the traction company
attacks the validity of the clause In
the franchise granted the corporation
by this city which requires the opera
ton of trolley cars between this city
and the Central Railroad station in
Elizabeth. The traction company con-
tends that neither this nor any other
municipality has the legal right to
prescribe the conditions under which
cars shall be operated except within
the limits of Its own boundary lines.
President Debevoise declared that In
his opinion If the contention of the
traction company is sound the whole
contract between this city and the
trolley company is involved, and on
his motion the city solicitor was au-
thorized and directed to take such
legal acton as he may deem neces-
sary to protect the rights of this city.
In consequence of the many COM
plants made about the promiscuous
shooting by hunters on private prop
erty the ordinance prescribing the
discharge or use of firearms was
amended so as to prevent shooting
within the city limits except with a
permit or license from the council.
First reading was given the ordi-
nance prov ldIng for the granting of a
franchise TO the Tri-County Power
and Traction Company for the opera
ton of a trackless trolley line in this
city. AS has been told. the proposed
line is to run between this city and
Stirling.
The franchise as introduced last
night provides that the company shall
pay to this city $4O0 for the first three
years, $500 for the second three years.
$500 for the third three years. 81 00)
for the next three years and $1,000