The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1888-08-29

gas could be obtained before 1890,
and. in fact, Immediately. This plan
embraced the passage of a bill ex-
tending the st. Louis Companys
franchise u,Itil 1910, on condition
that the price of gas i'll it's exclusive
territory be reduced to 81 90 per
1000 from the date of the accept
a"cc %: he order until 1890, and not
to exceed 81 25 thereafter, and re-
passage of the Water Gas Company's
bill with additional restrictions.
Withln forty days after the penning
of the veto message this plan was
carried out, the st. Louis Gashght
Company reduced its price 81 per
1000, and cheap gas was secured.
This feat was accomplished in the
face of great difficulties. The popu-
lar opinion of the veto was that it
was a mistake. Time proved the
wisdom and business sagacity of the
young mayor, however, and there
after his numerous vetoes of public
measures were almost unanimously
indorsed.
The next important measure vetoed
was bill comforting franchise of
the Electric Elevated Railway Com
pany. The veto was based upon
the ground that the city received
only paltry compensation for the
surrender of the nine miles of street
proposed to be taken up by the road.
The surface track connection of
the Iron Mountain railroad with the
Union Depot was the next great
measure vetoed. This bill was sought
early by the Gould interest. The
bill was vetoed because it conferred
an exclusive franchise on conditions
that would result in the paralysis of
st. Louis commerce.
The Dorsett underground wire
bill next received the attention OF
the mayor. The franchise was too
valuable to be given away for the
privileges proposed to be extended
the city In return, and no surety was
given that the wires would be
removed from the air. The bill was
reintroduced at another session o1
the assembly, passed, and agair
vetoed.
In addition to this display of ex
ecutive wisdom, Mayor Francis ha.
shown himself possessed of rar'
financial ability. During his admin
q istration the sum of S950,000 wa
, reclaimed from the Missouri Pacif
, Railway Company, and the debt o
!, the city largely reduced from 7 ant
O. 6 per cent. to 4 and 3.65; this on a
: Indebtedness of over $1,000, ,0O(
+ The interest paid the city by bank
D carrying the city deposits was il
g creased from 5.O6 per cent. to SO
O per cent.
e 1t is as public man that Nj
: Francis ability shines forth COZ
spicuously. He has, inspeeches tha
Il have made him esteemed and respec
], ed. welcomed to st. Louis all th
q great bodies that have assembled j
10 the city during the past three year
le Many of his speeches have bee
1t reprinted in the most promine,
If Journals of the country. Inadditic
IS to formally welcoming the city
er guests, he has, with generosity an
le genialty seldom exhibited, exten'
y ed privately hospitality as rare an
I, elegant d. warm. Being a man
e. means, the possessor of a fine hon
" and a leading figure in bushes
ee political and social circles, he HI
rs been splendidly able to do this. F
or has thus entertained for the city 6
s. the distinguished State and Nation
ID men who have been attracted to
as Louis in the past few years, amor
IL them being the lamented Thomas
i'll Hendricks, Thomas Francis Bayar
" and Grover Cleveland, President
" the United States. The trying sit
s. alton in which the city and Sta
ii were placed by the disavowal by t
DO Grand Army of the Republic of
to connection with the movement