GOOD CITIZENSHIP HELPLESS 



239 



once used by a governing body in considering a street rail- 

 road application, and determined that sncli "consents can- 

 not be the basis of further municipal action upon a second 

 application/' 



AMENDMEN-TS AGREED UPON. 



These conditions were directly applicable to the East 

 Orange franchise. The traction company decided that it 

 would take its chances and have its completed ordinance in 

 East Orange "delivered/' It was accordingly gone over and 

 some amendments were agreed upon at the council meeting 

 April 14, 1902. On March 24 a committee, consisting of 

 D. S. Walton, H. W. Bulkley, J. F. Freeman, H. H. Ward, 

 0. F. Seward and W. H. Baker, had made a written request 

 of the Mayor and Common Council "for a hearing, before 

 any ordinance be introduced for locating a railroad on Cen- 

 tral avenue to the permanent prevention of parkway im- 

 provement there." This request was denied. A similar re- 

 quest from the joint committee, April 14, fared the same 

 fate. When these and many other well known citizens de- 

 sired to speak at the meeting referred to. Councilman 

 Jerome D. Gedney exclaimed: "If these gentlemen come 

 here to oppose the trolley, I, for one, will listen to them with 

 deaf ears." It was then announced that any "proposition 

 or suggestions should be submitted in writing." 



The council meeting for completing the franchise deliv- 

 ery to the traction company was held April 28, 1902. A 

 great crowd, much excitement, and, at times, worse confu- 

 sion were the features. Requests for a hearing by those 

 favoring the parkways were again refused. "I think it only 

 fair to all that the council hear nothing further," was the 

 way Thomas W. Jackson, chairman of the Railroad Commit- 

 tee, put that decision before the meeting. Protests were 

 drowned in the general hubbub that followed. 



"I ask if the taxpayers have no rights here !" W, E. Scar- 

 rett in a loud voice demanded. 



"The majority of the council object to hearing further a 



