The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-02-06
VERY WARM EIGHT
In Committee Over the Wheel.
ing Electric Light Bill.
MEsSRs. SWEENEY AND HOBBS
Present...col. Whites Fight for the
BIII...NIr. sweeney's Argument.
He Pays His Respects to
the Register.
sn,rinl ni,pnteh 70 he Inlelligener.

CHARLESTON, w, Vas FEB. o-Ih
Joint Committee on Counties, District
and Municipal Corporations met this a
ternoon to consider the Wheeling cleo
tric light bill. In addition to member
of the committee, Messrs, Hobbs AM
Sweeney, OF the Wheeling Etectrica
Company, Frank Mcneil and Col. A. A
Frapzheim were present.
o. Chairman Prichard read Telegram
from Senator Whitaker stating that h'
was unayoidably detained and asking
that action be postponed until Friday o.
Saturday. Senator Stewart said actor
had been postponed at the request O
Senator Campbell in order to allow the
opposition to the bill to be heard; that
Messrs. Sweeney and Hobbs were pres
ent, the former of whom he introduced.
Mr.. Sweeney wanted to know whether
the connection OF the Electrical Com
pauy with the railway bill was to be
gone into. He saw no connection be-
tween the two. He related the history
OF the electric light plant, saying that
the promoters had failed TO interest the
city in the project. Council granted a
franchise to the Electrical Company
with capital Of 100000, which invest
ment now amounts to about SlS6,0 900.
MADE NO MONEY.
II it had been thought the city would
want to go into such an enterprise
at so early a day, it would have been i'm
possible to get a dollar Of capital. Since
The company has been in operation it
Las made no money. It has declared
one dividend, three per cent stock div.
idend since its organization, and the
people he represented felt that, having
gone into the enterprise under the en-
coursgement OF the city, the city. at this
time, should not become a competitor.
There was an almost unanimous desire
in Wheeling that the streets should be
lighted by electricity, but he did not
think it was desired to wipe out the
electrical company, particularly when
the company could. light the streets at a
lees cost than the city could.
In response to queries by Mr.. Camp
bell, he sail the stock OF the company
had deprecated considerably, owingto
the agitation ii the question, and that
he would not have invested q dollar In
it iiit had been thought the city would
become competitor In the near future.
When the gas company was chartered
he thought there was provision that
the city could buy its plant after twenty.
Eve years II II desired. If not 80 stated,
there was an implied agreement between
the city aud the electrical company that
the city wonld not establish plant to
compete.
The company had no exclusive right.
The city could charter private COM
pany tomorrow, Offering i the same
rights. No competition was feared from
such a quarter, but they felt they could
not compete with the city, because the
city would probably furnish lights below
cost and make tax payers pay the differ
ence. II having been stated that Colonel
White had said nine.tenths OF the peo-
pie OF Wheeling wanted the bill passed
in It's present form, Mr.. Campbell asked
il nine.tenths OF the people understood
that the bill empowered the city TO go
into general business with almost un-
limited power to do anything.
THE PRICE or LIGHT.
Col. White said that as in other places,
all Wheeling people were not Of the
same opinion, but he believed that nine
tenths Of them wanted the city to fur.
nish electric lights in houses, stores and
streets as gas is furnished now. The
bill don't prescribe that the city must
furnish light but 1t empowers the City
Council to contract with anybody to
furnish 1t cheap.
MI. Hobbs said it could not be fur
nishcd chesper than at present.
Colonel White replied: II don't
know what it costs 10 furnish 1t, but /
know the people want 1t furnished as
cheap as II can be furnished. uyou
can furnish it as cheaply as anybody
else have no doubt but they would as
lief you would furnish 1t as anybody.
The Council has not had the power TO
furnish light and heat to the people in
their homes and stores and II Mr..
Sweeney can furnish It as cheapiy ae
anybody else, have no doubt he will
be given the contract" 40
Mr.. Sweeney said that 1t seemed the
city wanted to contract with somebody
else, and furnish 1t to people at profit.
Colonel White replied that that was an
admission that light could be furnished
cheaper than at present and allow the
city a profit. He doubted the propri'
ETY. Of the city furnishing electric power
| to citizens, and Senator Whitaker mad
Informed him II that feature was ellmi.
mated he would vote for the bill, and fol
that reason the bill was 80 amended in
theHouss. he referred to an editorial
in Yesterdays RsgiIter which be saiC
indicated the feelings Of the people o.
Wheeling.
soME REGISTER STATEMENT.
Mr.. Campbell said that since the Reg
islsr had been mentioned, he wanted II
know what Colonel White had to ga,
about dispatch that appeared in it OF
the same day, speaking Of him as beinl
a member OF the electrical company. ant
as though he were in the committe,
working against the bill when not
member OF il. He was informed tina
the information came from Colone
u