Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-09-23
RESIDENTS WIN A
POLE WAR POINT
East Orange Council Commit
tee Condemns Some Supports
for Police Telegraph.

Chief of Police O'Neill, Police Com
missioner Theodore Crane and Coun-
cilmen Grover. Lawless and Dixon,
of East Orange. who were appointed
a committee to investigate the pro-
posed erection of telegraph poles on
several streets. went over the ground
this morning.
Some of the poles did not meet
with the approval Of the committee
and they were condemned immedi-
ately. Chief ONeiil and Commits
sioner Crane told the committee that
they believed the police commission
had the right to install the supports.
as the City Council did not voice OPP
position when 1t granted the appro-
priation for the system.
Residents object to having the
poles in the streets because they are
unsightly. Chief O'Eeill told the
committee only about eight poles will
be erected. The council. when 1t ap-
pointed the committee to investigate
the matter last night, instructed the
members to consult with all the
members of the police commission
and City Counsel Borden D. Whiting.
Neither Mr.. Whiting or Commission
ers Deignan and Messer were able to
attend the conference this morning.
SO another meeting will be arranged
for tomorrow night.
Characterizing the poles as 'miser-
able, crooked. second-handed things
which would be a disgrace to any
city" Mr.. Colby last night vigorously
protested against allowing the sup
ports to be placed on the curb lines,
announcing he will fight to prevent
the erection work IL 1t Is started.
The dispute over the poles. which
resulted In a lively clash between
Chief O'Neill and Recorder Mott, first
arose when the supports were laid In
cutters Of streets preparatory to being
placed in position last week. Indignant
citizens hurried to the City Hall and
threatened to enjoin and restrain the
Police Commission from erecting the
supports. Their ruffied feelings were
smoothed when Chief O'Neill assured
them the poles were only to be erect
ed temporarily..~or until such time
when the wires could be placed in
underground conduits. 1t was thought
this announcement settled the dis
Agreement. but last night petitions
protesting against having poles in
streets were received from most of
the residents in the thoroughfares.
Mr.. Cotton questioned the right of
the police authorities to erect the
poles and he directed criticism at
them for not requesting the permis-
sion from the governing body. He
declared the council should have jur-
isdiction over the placing of the poles
and name the streets where they
should be erected. Councilman
George A. Grover, who also partici-
pated in the dispute when Ii first
arose, reminded Mr.. Cotton that he
was aware that the poles were to be
on the curb line when he approved the
plans for the system before the coun-
Gil appropriated the money.
YES" replied Mr.. Cotton, but
did not have the remotest idea that
such miserable things were to be put
up as poles"
Mr.. Grover informed his colleagues
that technically they have approved
having the poles in the streets. as
they granted the appropriation for
the system.
eff we prevent the erection of the
poles" he said, I'VE will be jeopardiz-
| ing the system. The wires cannot bt
placed underground in some of the
streets at present. and If the council
insists that this be done we have tc
grant an additional appropriation.
Mr.. Cotton stated his willingness to
vote for the additional appropriation
providing the wires are placed under
ground