The New York herald., 1870-08-10
TIE GAS war IN NEWARK.
sow the HAT Million Dollar Contract wrs
tia.H. tliiannH.ged-Ihe Alleged Municipal swim
dic-How the People Feel About II.

How the Half Million Doiiur Contrac. xy,.
EtaaRsed-Ihe Alleged Municipal swim.
aie-How the People Feel About II.
-Four years ago, In consequence OF the arbitrary
conduct of the Newark Gaslight Company, measures
We ~e taken for the establishment ofa new company,
WHICH. by proper legislation, would be bound to re.
snect tho interests of the people From the very
outset the n. W movement was opposed by the old
company then IN the fifteenth year OF ITS existence.
Three years ago tn stock and capital OF the Old COM
pany had quadrupcd Hence the new company had
to fight its charter throue the State Legislature with
desperation, but which res, ied, however IN sue
cess. The people meanwhile prid exorbitant rates
for gas. They hoped, however. tiat reliel wouiu
come when the now company got {eaW 70 supply
gas The latter Is now nearly In pGsition 70 do so
ACTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.
About two months ago q resolution was l'assel
by the Common Council authorizing the Comm.tIee
on Lamps and Gas TO open negotiations with The tSp
the city for period not exceeding i've years, the
contract 20 be awarded 20 the lowest bidder. On
ton was sprnng ." on I the Council by one Of the
Lamps W and nd &c Gas - Conm.;see ' directing % " thai hui
the contract be given to the Old company AZ the Old
price, So rs per 1000 feet, and for period OF ten
years. The resolution was prepared by Aldermen
O'Rourke and Saigilt, VINO entirely ignored IN the
Schickhaus. The last named Alderman moved 10
bate IL was adopted by a vote or ~ to3 THIS re-
solution, IL Is asserted contained
4 swlNDLE WITHIN A swINDIE,
In the form OF clause which pro-
yiled that the company should supply
the city with bGrners at the ccmpanys ex-
pense. The exact advantage OF this agreement VIII
be understood when IL s declared that tho burners
used ore patent saving AFFAIRS which accounts for the
feeble lights with which the city has been sup
Piled. The conscience OF a leading officer OF the
Old compeny Is alleged to have remarked thlt
the whole thing Is u swindle. Indeed since Fri
Gay night Alderman Main and others, who voted
for the renewal Of the contract, are reported TO
have declared that II was swindle and that they
voted I0r IL without really Knowing what IL was
II Is further asserted that the vote was wrongly re-
corded; that members were reported by the city
clerk to baye voted "ayen when they voted ''Do.r
they took no notice OF this little triie--awardng
contract involving halfa million OF dollars more
until now, when the entire
PEOPLE ARE UP IN ARMS,
and denounce the procedure as piece Of shameful
rascaiity, inasmuch as the opposition company had
offered 10 supply a better light for vastly less
money, but were ch0ked or. The real nature OF the
milk in the coc0anut il yet TO be described. The de-
mocrats, though having majority, have not yet
ousted the republican City Treasurer and City Clerk.
1t was confidently anticipated by the public that
change would be made last Friday night, but
owing to the absence OF Alderman Jonn c. Littell,
who was "doing the Branch,n no change was made.
Mr.. Llttel Is large stock holder In the old gas
company, and IL l3 openly asserted IN certain quar-
ters that he pUrp0seiy stayed away in consideration
that the resolution giving the contract TO the old
company should be passed.
Tue May yor has not yet signed the contract nor Isl
likely in view OF the popular sentiment that he WILL