The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-05-19
in The LEGISLATURE.
The New Narragansett Electric
Lighting Bill.
IT PASSES THE HOUSE TO-DAY.
A Prospect That tho Senate VIII ysss IL
in Concurrence-Terms OF the Act
Other Important Business In the Leg
lature.

lature.
The House was convened at lilo
o'clock, Speaker Capron in the chair.
The Speaker appointed Messrs. Wilson,
OF East Providence; Heffernan, of Woon.
socket, and Darling, Of Pawtucket, as
members of the committee of conference,
on behalf Of the House, on the revalua-
tion bill.
Several private acts and resolutions to
pay bills were referred to committees.
Mr.. Wilson. of East Providence. from
the committee on the judiciary reported
back bill In substitution of the one for
merly presented, giving to the Narragan-
sett Electric Lighting Company, twenty
year franchise in the city of Providence.
The committee recommended that the
original act be indefinitely postponed and
that the substitute bill be passed. Its
provisions are as follows:
The bill provides for 20-year bonds to
be issued by the company. not exceeding
$l,0O0.0O0. with power to mortgage its
property, and the company shall have for
twenty years exclusive right to operate
lines and plant for selling and distribut-
ing currents Of electricity for light and
power, but nothing Is to prevent any
street railroad, telephone, telegraph COM
pany or party authorized or who may be
authorized by the city from having and
operating systems for the purposes of
their business, in any street or high
way, whether occupied bv the Narragan-
sett Electric Lighting Company or not.
nor to prevent the city from erecting,
maintaining and operating poles, wires
and appliances for its police, signal and
fire alarm system and other public uses
and services. The city may from time to
time impose such reasonable rules and
regulations as to the erection. construc-
tion, location and relocation, removal, use
and operation of poles, wires. conductors,
etc, in any street. highway, conduit, sub
way, etc, as the public good may require.
On ninety days notice the city may order
poles, wires, ETC., removed from any
street, giving the right on some other
street.
The company shall introduced improved
systems when proved practical on being
authorized by the City Council. If this
sive franchise shall be forfeited. The city
has authority to put in a plant for max
ing its own light, heat and power, ETC.,
but IL shall not do 80 except by majority
vote OF The Council and the approval
of the mayor and ratification of majority
OF voters at annual election. and the vote
falling, no other shall be taken for three
paid by the Narragansett Company is TO
be fixed by arbitration, and the city shall
buy such proper as is used exclusively by
the company In lighting the said streets
at rates to be arbitrated.
Reports OF gross earnings are to be
three times year by the company under
oath, and 3 per cent. paid to the city on
the same for the years from July 1. and
not less than 3 nor more than 5 for each
succeeding period of five years. Double
the tax is to be collected If not paid. The
city may order new systems of poles,
wires, etc., on six months notice, and
failure to comply forfeits the franchise
light power, ETC., during the twenty
years.
The rate charged the city shall be regu-
lated every three years by agreement or
arbitration. All surplus of profits over 8
per cent. shall go toward reduction of
rates except cash surplus not exceeding
10 per cent. The arbitrators are to be APP
pointed one by the city, one by the com
pany and a third by these, and IN case of
failure, by the Supreme Court.
The act was read by the clerk, and
during the reading strict silence pre-
vailed, the members closely following the
provisions of the bill.
been held on the bill and tnat Mayor
Potter, in behalf Of the city, and the Off
GERS OF the company had expressed their
complete satisfaction with the provisions
OF the substitute act which had j ust been
read. He therefore moved that the bill
be put upon its passage.
Mr.. Brown, Of Woonsocket, desired to
know whether the city council had
authorized the committee sent from that
body to make q final agreement of this
matter. That is, he wished to know
whether the action of the committee was
to be conformed by the city council
Mr.. Little, of Providence said that the
that the resolution creating the commit
tee gave them the authority to proceed to
a settlement as between the city and the
electric light company,
Mr.. Lowe, Of Providence, read the re-
and Mr., Brown said that that
him on that score but he now
wished at to ,iu know what proteetion the bill
to protect the individual from the gross
imposition of a 20-year monopoly?
Mr.. Wilson called the gentleman's at
tention to the provisionsof the bill, which
prohibit large dividends, the watering of
stock and permits competing companies
to come in and operate systems on streets
not occupied at the present time by the
corporation.
Mr.. Brown said that this explanation
was satisfactory in part. He then moved
that the bill be- taken up by sections,
which was done.
When Section was reached Mr.. Hcffer-
nan moved to amend il so as to provide
that the company shall furnish lights to
all people on demand, and on the same
terms; that is, there shall be no discrimi-
nation in rates and accommodations.
Mr.. Wilson thought that there was
hardly any need OF the amendment The
company would sell all the lights that
they could; that was their object in run
ming their plant. The fact that there
were buildings now brilliantly illumi-
mated by electricity in Providence, owned
by people who were formerly bitterly OPP
posed to the Narragansett Eelectric
Company, was n sufficient an
swer TO the charge of discrimination in
The furnishing Of lights.
Mr.. Hefferpan said that unless the
prevailed he should oppose
he bill in toto.
Mr.. Wilson said that Mr.. Heffernan's
'ear was based upon an hypothesis.
The amendment was lost, ayes 8,
noes "a.
The bill was then put upon its passage
ls whole, and it was declared carried.
Mr.. Brown OF Woonsocket doubted the
,ote, and called for the ayes and noes,
stating that be wished TO go on record on
a n .II -. A -