The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-07-19
||nE COMMON COUNCIL.
M City VIII Not Have an EIec-
tric Light Plant.
{ElEPHoNE WIRE coNDuITs.
uot Debate st the Meeting Last Night
Low Tension Wires tn Go Under
0round--Ylr. Mccarthy Kicks as Usual
--1ntsr-esate Bsflrosd.

At the meeting of the Common Council
Iast evening the two matters of impor-
tance, the telephone company's franchise
Tor conduit system and the matter Of a
municipal electric plant, occupied the
whole time with the exception of a very
Iow moments. The bill for the ordinance
granting the telephone company's request
Was passed after much needless debate,
while the report OF the joint special COM
mlttee 70 inquire into and report on the
olectric light plant was Indefinitely post
Presldent Watson stated that the
npociaI order for the meeting was the re-
port Of the committee on ordinances upon
bill for an ordinance authorizing the
KnovrDENcE Telephone Company to con-
Dtruct and maintain underground con-
duin for telephone wires.
Mr.. Peck moved that recess be taken
70 enable the council TO look at the plans
which were then in the ante-room. The
motion was carried and the recess was
1aken.
On returning from the examination of
tho plans, Mr. Peck offered an amend
ment to section 3. which was adopted
without opposition.
Section as amended reads as follows,
re amendment being the part in paren-
thesis.
enc- g. All such conduits. ducts. pipes and
-uubways shall be constructed and from time
20 time repaired by said company, Its success
ooIe and assigns, In such manner as 20 cause
1hs least possible injury and delay 70 the
public; and as soon as any such work of con-
o<ruction or repair Is completed, the said COM
Qepy. its SUCCESSORS or assigns. shall. at Its or
their own cost, replace the streets, alleys or
U50oWolks with the same material OF which
<he adjoining portions of such streets, alleys
md sidewalks 50 replaced by them IN good
tQndftion for twelve months from the time
~ replacing the same, and said company shall
keop al such conduits, ducts, pipes and sub
Xoyo IN such condition as in no way 10 inter-
9Eo with the use OF the streets, squares, alleys.
k0Qwalks and public places as public high
ways; and all such work of construction and
<epatr hereby authorized or required shall be
1s e the satsfacon c. q the
where work OF repairing streets or sidewalks
T. required TO be done by said company, the
~ e fEovIpENcE ,s reserves er;e TO 70 ITSELF the
which case the expense thereof shall be paid
" aid company
M. Mccarthy said there were other
companies who might want to use the
oonduits aud asked Mr.. Peck how many
compAnies would be likely to SO desire.
Abe Postal Telegraph, the District Mes
oGnncr and others may wish to do the
6nUne thing.
(. Nj. Peck said that the committee did
&c consider any other wires than the
Z61ophone Company's wires and the wires
6elenging to the city:
Mr.. Mccarthy said there are several
G<hor companies which use low tension
Wiree over head and that there is more or
Iors danger and that they ought to 20
0nder ground.
Nj. Barney said that the council hal
moaning TO do with getting rid OF all the
wires which are now overhead. The com
nx wIion ~ nas ens rsa. r,iss; mass Oh wires ss
]1ho wires underground. Section pro
:xi6os for the future contingencies. The
time has come when the CITY can get
nd Of the great part OF the wires
and danger from our streets, do not
~ ~ loss this chance to get part of the
danger out Of the way.
M. Vaughan SAID that the telephons
0ompany has nine-tenths Of the low ten
nion wires in the air now, and as the COM
wants 70 do the very thing that the city
tried tn get done five years ago he favored
Ietti' T them do IL. IL the conduits are
Do3 roperly built the commissioner OF
B1akl works can see to IL that the work
= dine IN satisfactory manuer. He
xeoousmended the passage OF the ordin-
Mr. Mccarthy said that the PROVIDENCE
Xotephono Company had followed the
example OF other corporations aud aske
1or certain rights which the city council
without due consideration. He said that
certain members Of the council always
IN ed for anything that the corporations
0olkod for, amt he was not surprised TO see
them supporting this ordnance at the
preeent time. The tel phone company
has never paid any special tax for the
HAochis<, aud he prop,iel that they
> 'onid pay the same TAX as o her corpora
fi0ns which enjoy special franchises, and
1l..st tsey snoul put low tension wires
8e.onxinx TO other companies in the
nn,ne conduits with their own wires. This
corhpapy has practically an exclusive
1io cni~e. though il does not appear.
Come OF pa .ents of the Bell telephone
4 0xn spauy exp,rS within a wear anu new
compAnies will spring up which will have
The effect OF making rates lower. But
the new companies cannot get permission
20 Uuifd subways. ana the PROVIDENCE
Iolephonc Company will have an exclu-
o1ve franchise.
How do you know" asked Mr. Bar
Because you aud others will never
vote 70 allow any other company the same
pElviieges that the PROVIDENCE Com
Dal,y enjoys"
dr. Mccarthy said that rates would be
6hoapcr after 1893.
~: Peek asked il he would stand by
q Hr. Mccarthy said he would il the city
would allow other companies to come in
aud compete with the present company.
NJ. Vose said that there is no reason
Why the telephone should not pay tax
for franchise as we'll as other companies
This matter OF subways is the very one
1hAt she people rose up against three
1enrs ago when the Electric Light Com
Dnpy tried to do the same thing.
Mr.. Vaughan said that it is a very diff
1orent thing from what the gentleman
quoted That matter was the exclusive
hight for subwass, while this Is not The
word Incorporation" has very bad effect
Gn some persons, much as piece OF red
Inunol has on bull.
Mr.. Mccarthy said, 'You are not one
Df them."
The president hoped that personalities
might be allowed To drop from the de-
bnfo- Several times insinuations had
ben made and should not have been al
Iowod 70 proceed.
Mr.. Joseph II. Kendrick asked IL the
ordinnnce did not give to the city the
Dower 10 order the company's wires out
- tbe conduits I'm case OF any improper
DEooesdings on their part They should
~ Be made TO pay a franchise tax, as
t1oy will not have an exclusive franchise.
= ~ Mccarthy offered resolution in
0Loct that the report be recommitted with