New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-10-25

il AGWGN H
} this gas ordinance. Then tho price thi
company il to charge e rs Is tho ppdfi0
now charged by the New Orleans Gasligh
Company. We know we'll that in tn,
course of twenty years, with the advances
of science and mechanics, the cost Of sup
plies of this kind diminishea Yet the city
ID to have NO advantage from any improved
apparatus that may be brought out, bu
these parties are to have the right to charge
tor twenty years the prices now charged BY
the New Orleans Gaslight Company. l take
that to be exceedingly unwise and i'm
provident legislation. There are many
other objections have TO this ordinance
but there is one objection which shall
enter here and make general. l hold tina,
all contracts Of this description should be
put up to public auction, and that all fran
chises given by the city shor'd be put up to
the highest bidder. If you give away your
gas, and your waterworks, and your rail.
roads, what have you left! Ny idea is that
the city will never get out of its difficulties
while it gives away these franchises and
these privileges, which can he held to ad.
vantage.
Mr.. Lewis: l beg leave to differ some
what with the Mayor in regard to this con.
tract. AZ to the location of the pipes and
the erection of gas posts, have put every
safeguard around the eity's interests. The
Jefferson City Gaslight Company to-day is
extending its lamps, and the city has no
control to prevent their putting them
wherever they think proper. That is differ
ent under this contract; the Council have
some control over the laying Of the pipes.
IT they desire that the lamp posts shall only
be put on the streets fronting the river.
they will order them to be placed there; if
on the second, third, fourth or fifth street,
the company will be compelled to put them
there. The Jefferson City company light
according to the moon, but this contract is
similar to that of the New Orleans Gaslight
Company, and the residen Is will have gas
all night, moon or no moon, and in case Of
failure. fine of one dollar lamp for each
lamp is imposed. The Mayor objects to the
price. am willing to strike out the word
now" paid to the New Orleans company,
if he pleases, and make it the price that
may be paid to them at any future time.
The making contracts for gas devolving on
my department, l have had this ordinance
printed, and have been willing to receive
suggestions for amendment, but have heard
none till now, when the ordinance is called
up on final passage. The Mayor says put
it up to the highest bidder. have no OBJ
lection. There is proposition for street
railroad which has come be fore us tonight.
Let us put that up also to the highest bid
der. But the people over in Algiers want
gas. They pay taxes, and are entitled to it.
The Mayor: will state the history Of
this matter. These gentlemen went before
our Legislature year and half or SO ago
and got charter, with all the privileges
now granted, and more given to them ex
clusively. But there was some difficulty
about the matter, and they thought it
necessary to get the Council to adopt this
contract.
Mr.. Delassize explained that it was from
the police jury of Algiers and not the Legis-
lature that the grant was obtained.
The Mayor: Well, the police jury granted
them privileges similar to these. Then
they came in here for our concurrence, and
the matter was referred to me, whereupon
l called upon the grantees and made the
very same objections have been urging
now. proposed changes in the ordinance,
but that did not give them advantages
enough. then proposed the charter should
be put up at auction. They did not like
that. They wanted to have this Council
give them something, and did not desire
to compete in open market. This is the
vice of all our legislation; it is all wrong
The gentleman asks why amendments were
not proposed. He is well aware the Mayor
has no right to move amendments. / have
suggested the points l now urge to the Ad-
ministrator and to the parties concerned,
but to no purpose.
Mr.. Lewis suggested that the ordinance
be referred to the Mayor with power.
p The Mayor remarked that he desired
40 such ''power."
Mr.. Shaw expressed the opinion that the
Mayor had the right to offer amendments,
though he had not the right to vote.
The Mayor said that if the Council would
ay the ordinance over for one week, he
would make such suggestions as he thought
should be embraced in the ordinance. The
Administrator Of Police had instanced the
he Jefferson City contract. That contract
was an outrage on the city, and it was to
void the repetition of such contract that
,e opposed this ordinance in its present
hape.
Mr.. Shaw said this selling of privileges
md franchises could not be extended to all
hings. The Council had no right to sell
he elements-no right to sell light OF water.
md an ordinance deriving one dollar reve-
Tue from such source would be null and
Toid.
The ordinance was laid over for a week,
o allow the Mayor to suggest amendments.
Petitions, Etc.
Mr.. Lewis presented the following petit
ion, which was ordered received and
printed:
,FF1cE OF THE RECORDER OF THE FORTH DISTRICT !
New Orleans, October 10, 1871.
Ion. James Lewis, Administrator Of Police:
/ have the honor to respectfully represent
hat the Grand Jury for the parish of Or
cans presented this day to the honorable
he First District Court an indictment,
wherein am charged with oppression in
'fice, alleging that / reinstated for exa-
the case Of a person charged be-