Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-11-11
RECON- United.
TN EPSON ORDINANCE GOES BACK 10 IN
C0nHIfTyl ON LIGHTS
Lively Discussion Of the Question - Councilman
Bmshsimsr Deals Out Hoqusncs-Oouncll-
man Wilson Makes Several Speeches

| There was livery OTusu III Sno
Branch of Council last night. 1t was
on the Edison Light, Heat and POWER
Ordinance. And it was some time be'
fore the smoke of battle cleared away,
and the members again got tneir
bearings. There was considerable In
terest in the disposition OF the ordinances
and there was pretty full house oil
spectators. Among the members OF the
Company present were 4. d. Haziett'
President, Henry Speyer, Robert Simp-
| son. VIM. 81. Hearne, Thos. O'Brien and
| d. Z. Stalnaker.
The report of the Committee on
Lights was read, in which they recon-
mended not to adopt the ordinance.
! Councilman Campbell moved that the
report of the committee be not adopted'
and then followed series OF remarks
that waxed warm.
Councilman Emsheimer, loaded with
| ideas. and imbued almost insplratlonaily
| with Demosthenean oratory, lmme-
diately took the floor, and propounded
in stentorian tones to the assembly, the
adverse side of the situation. Council
man Emsheimer's voice became at times
so ELOQUENT aud far reaching
that many members left the Sec
ond Branch Of Council and gathered
on the scene. He argued strongly
against the introduction OF the ordl-
nance. and believed that with another
company in the field the revenues OF
the gas works would be sadly depleted.
He did not see how we could ask the
city of Wheeling to go into Sloo'OoO
/ debt for an electric light plant, ana
then openly allow competing company
TO take the field, opposing the best In
terests of the city. He said he was
there to represent the people, and he
could not conscientiously vote to adopt
such an ordinance.
Councilman Wilson next took the
floor. and said that Mr.. EmShelmer's
remarks were all very we'll in their way,
but they were too one-sided; they were
! only such arguments as we could meet
every time.
| Mr.. Wilson said the facts can be
shown that where electric lights have
been introduced in cities, the consump-
tion of gas has not been lessened, but
| on the other hand, increased. This is
the first time that a purely local organ
| ization has asked franchise at your
hands. There is no monopoly In 1t,
whatever. Who's opposing the move
ment? The fine Italian hand OF the
manager of the Electric Light Co., and
the members also. / desire to warn you
now how you reject this ordinance.
Some startling revelations will be heard
in this city if things go on in this way.
This company will be benefit TO the
whole city of Wheeling, and the city
revenues will not be cut down. l don't
ask that this ordinance be
read for second time
tonight; postpone it for. while
and give it careful consideration.
At this point Mr.. Wilson asked Mr..
Emsheimer what particular damage the
introduction of the new company would
bring about; in reply to which Mr.. En-
sheimer was instantly on his feet, and
| said that he was only too willing to
state his reply, that it came into direct
conflict with the gas works, practically
DESTROYS them, and more than that, en-
tiers into serious competition with the
electric light plant to be established by
the city.
Councilman Pollock next took the
floor, stating at the outset that while he
had great respect for the incorporators,
he honestly thought the citizens OF
Wheeling would be better taken care OF
by the city than by private corpora
tlon. My friend, MIR. Wilson, says that
this new company in the field will In
cite healthy competition. And so il
may, in certain sense. But this new
Edison Company, it is said, has bought
up the Edison patents, and l ask any
candid citizen what the city can do In
competition with those patents.
Just on the same princi
pie that the private citizen:
interested in this new company could
not establish gas plant in this city
that would begin to compete with the
City Gas Works. Citizens want cheaI
light as they want cheap water, anG
the only way to bring this state Of
affairs about is to keep it within oul
own grasp.
Councilman Wilson here stated thai
he believed that if the question o.
franchise were placed before the people
to-day, it would receive an overwhelm
Ing majority in its favor.
Councilman Campbell said he did no
believe the city was ready to 60 into th'
incandescent light business, and won
be for fifteen years yet. She will bt
busy for some time with the Sl00,00t
arc plant. As to the lessening of tn,
revenues of the gas works through thu
establishment of the new company, hi
desired to present some figures takel
from the books in the gas Office in which
he showed considerable increase
since the introduction Of the incandes
cent lights such as are already in us'
here.
Councilman Wilson then added to thu
weight Of DR.. Campbel's remarks b!
reading kilograms from Richmond, Va.
and Chicago, showing the increase o
gas revenues after the introduction O
electric lights.
THE idea of such proposition, sale
Mr.. Emsheimer, 1.-THE more lights you've
got the more you will use. II you pu
in an electric light, you certainly don
want gas Highland it stands to reason
that the electric lights will surplant tn,
gas in many places, and reduce the rev
enues, for people can't use two lights
any more than man can wear TIVE