The Penn's Grove record., 1921-08-26
Jitney Ordinance
Now a Law
Clerk Hunt Presents An Inter
esting Report of BOrough's
Expenses For Current Year

Mayor Samuel M. Hunt presided.
All the members answered to roll call
except Dennis Fahy. Clerk w. A.
Hunt and Solicitor S, Rushing Leap
were also present.
A bid was received from Samuel l..
Reign for placing concrete cutters on
State Street and Railroad Avenue.
The price was 50 cents a foot for 558
feet, a total of $4,000.
David ?. Featherer, Collector, pre-
sented his report to the Finance Com
mittee. 1t showed a cash balance of
$19,4O2.99; in Trust Fund account,
5000; license fees and miscellaneous
revenue, $3,017.26.
A contract was received from the
American La France Co. showing the
amount of the payments to be made
annually on the new pumping engine.
They will cover a period of five years
and draw interest at the rate of 6 per
cent. One clause which was not ac-
copied leaves the title and ownership
with the La France Co., and in case of
any default all payments should go to
the Company and considered as rental.
The apparatus in such case would also
revert to the Company.
Solicitor Leap said the Borough
could not enter into such contract as
title to any property bought by the
Borough must rest with the Borough.
They could not hold property under
the instalment plan, but must have
title outright.
The contract was referred back to
the Finance Committee to have the
Objectionable clause eliminated.
Robert w. Kidd reported for the
Finance Committee in reference to adj
iustment of salaries as follows: Col
lector. from $1,000 to $1,000; Assessor,
from $500 to 5000; Building lnspec-
tor, from SIS per month to $500 a
permit. These were governed by or
dinance and could not be changed dur
ing year, but a new ordinance could be
prepared which would include Borough
Clerk and any other officials, effective
January, 1922.
Clerk Walter A. Hunt presented a
communication asking for a bonus of
S25 per month for the current year
in addition to his salary.
A resolution was passed whereby
the old Volunteer Liberty Fire Co.
transfers all its equipment and prop
erty oven to the Borough and to re-
ceive the sum of S671.S4 therefor.
The ordinances controlling and reg
ulating jitneys, license for same, etc,
were then considered.
This matter has been a trouble
some one for some time. Council
has studied it, prepared ordinances,
then supplements and discussed the
question from every angie until
everyone was so mixed up that it was
hard to tell just how the matter
stood.
However, without going into specific
detail of the untanglIng of the mess, it
may be stated that the original ordi-
nance which was published in full
July 20, was passed and after d final
publication by title will become the
Borough law governing jitney traffic
in Penns Grove.
A supplement to Ordinance No. 53
was introduced by Mr.. Smith and sub
s~titutes a new section. This supple
ment appears in this issue.
The gist of all this legislation is for
the purpose of protecting the Trolley
Co. from competition that will put 1t
out of business if continued, and it
has been definitely decided by business
men and others that it would be a bad
thing for Penns Grove to have the
trolley quit operations.
D. J. McCloskey spoke upon the
question and said the business inter
.ests demanded legislation at once
that would give the Trolley Co. a
chance. 1t was not necessary to drive
the buses out Of business, but put
them under control.
Councilman Smith spoke along the
sam lines and said it was a we'll
known fact that the Trolley Compay
was running at a loss at the present
time and this could not continue.
Some positive action was necessary to
place the matter on a suitable bust
ness basis and pending legislation
would. he thought, do that. Petty
politics nor personal feeling should
have no part in this important matter.
Clerk Walter A. Hunt presented an
elaborate and carefully prepared
statement of the expenditures OF the
Borough to date and the amount avail
able for use during the remainder OF
the fiscal year. 1t is printed IN full
elsewhere and is a very interesting
document which all taxpayers should
read and consider carefully.
The following communication was
also read:
Penns Grove, N. J., 1891.
To the Hon. Samuel NJ. Hunt, Mayor
of the Borough of Penns Grove:
Resolved that
Whereas-the Borough of Penns
Grove is in urgent need of new fire
fighting apparatus, and
Whereas-the Borough Council after +
due consideration and inspection Of all
of the principal makes of fire fighting
a~pparatuses, have decided to purchase
a $50 G.. P. M. American La France
Triple Combination Pumper, and
Whereas-same can be delivered
within thirty days after signing OF
contract with the American La France
Company, and -.
Whereas-there is a difference OF
opinion between the Mayor and Coun-
Continued on page 4