The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-02-22

Consideration Of the Electric
Light Cos Bill.



.Tne special order of business this
sverins. said Mayor Moran as the
Council meeting last evening. as 70
consider the matter Of street Lighting
and the Seattle Electric Light Co.'s
rany's bill for January The Conacl
did not hesitate long before the dis
eussion Of the bussAeSs il hzsI 70 CON
s1der z2S taken up
Councilman Durie rEsoved that the
Council reconsider the action by which
the following report was adopted at
the last meeting.
"Yoar committee 70 WHOM was re-
fe-red the bin Of the Seattle Electric
Light Company beg to report IS fol-
lows: We consider that the city is
liable for ali repair 70 lamp posts
made necessary by renewal or acci-
dent2l damages, unless the same
SHOULD prove 10 be the res1lt-
of imperfect workmanship, but the
Electric Light Company = responsible
for the entire maintenance OF the
lamps. II IS desirable that some mem
Der OF the committee have timely in
formation of Seeded repairs to the
lamp-posts JAMES McComss.
JosgFa GSEvs.
Street Light Committee
The motion by Councilman Durie
30 reconsider the same was then car
RED The above report Was then, on
motion os Mr. Dlrie, laidon the table.
THE ELEcrgte LIGHT BILL.
The bin OF the Seattle Electric Light
Company for lighting the streets and
for repairs douing the month OF Jsnu-
airy. amounting to STATS was then
brought mp.
The objection 10 this bin Mr.. Jones
said was TO the item for repairs.
Mr.. Reitze said that up TO last year
electric lighting was TO d certain extent
an experiment and the, company. In
order 30 perfect its system had kept
everything in repair. Now that they
had gotten beyond the experimental
stage il was but right tha. they charge
for repairs.
The bid submitted BY the electric
light company ON September q. lssS,
was by request read. The company
agreed TO supply and maintain lights
for the following prices. f6-candle
lamps, 81 s0each per month; I-eandle
lamps. s. each per month: one light.
$i2 each per month.
Councilman Durie read the con-
tract under which the lights were
last year, and in which the
agreed TO furnish and main
tain the lights. He gave Websterss
definition OF the word maintain TO
be. TO hold OF keep in any particular
state or condition, TO sup
port 70 sustain, 10 uphold,
etc. He contended. therefore, BIZ the
terms of their bid and by implication,
it cost the Electric Light Company
more money 20 keep the lights In re-
pair, without additional expense to
the city He held that the contract
should hold the company to strict
of its contract. In the
of October, November, De-
cember and January the cost Of the
extras had been more than $1oo0.
Mr. l.. c. Gilman appeared as the
attorney of the Electric Light Com
pany. and held that the company had
contracted to maintain and supply the
light. He held that If globe was
broken or lamp injured it was the
duty of the city TO replace one
and repair the other under the
terms of the contract. Two bids had
been filed by the electric light COM
peny, one TO supply the light and the
other TO supply lamp posts. In ac-
cordanee with these contracts the light
had been furnished and the lamp posts
and the city was in duty bound to pay
for them.
A great deal OF desultory debate fol-
lowed. Councilman Durie held that
contract. the city would net be COM
peeled to pay the bill.
Councilman Jones inquired il ii was
the intention OF the Council 10 60
on in the present un business
like manner without contracts.
He thought it might be a good plan to
adjourn until the city attorney could
be present.
1t was Councilman Reitze's opinion
that the bills under consideration
should be paid, and that new con-
tract should be entered into. Council
man Green objected strenuousIy to
paying the bill in its present shape.
He thought the Electric Light Com
pany should pay for ali repairs except
those which were caused by accident
After debate which lasted over an
hour. Mr.. Dnrie moved that the bill of
the Electric Light Company be paid.
with the exception OF the repairs. The
notion was seconded by Jones.
Councilman Rufze moved to amend
by referring TO the Judiciary commit
Tee There was no second and Mr..
Durie's motion prevailed.
Mr.. Niesz said that Mr. Frink of the
Light Company was not will
ing 10 go on with the contract as
the Council understood it, bat was
willing 10 continue il as they under
stood it. That is that the company
was to be paid for making repairs.
Councilman Jones favored advertis-
ing for bids at once and Mr.. Suez made
\ motion TO that effect. which was car
red.
Itwas then moved by Mr.. Durie
hist il be the sense OF the Council that
t&hali consider the question of having
he city furnish its own lights, also
hat the matter of furnishing its own
lights be referred TO the street light
to report az its earliest con-
venienee.
geitze and Niesz both made appeals
Tor the electric light company, and
told hos much Il had spent in string
ING its wires 10 the outer limits OF the
city. and thought il the city should
put Up It's own plant to furnish lights
that the one OF the company should
De purchased. The motion was car
red.
GARBAGE scows-
Councilman Green reported that the
on health and police had
plans for two garbage seovs submitted
70 it. One wss designed by Mr.. Lake
and the other BY CITY suvyewor Ser,r-