The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-03-01
LAID OVER.
Consideration of the Lighting Con-
tract Goes Over to the Regu=
lar neeting.
flavor Weaver Defines His Position
and Says He Will Not Sign
the Contract.

The special meeting of the council
Saturday evening was called to order
by the mayor, and all the members
were present except Alderman Higgs
A license was ordered granted tC
Powell & Conrad on the payment OF
$500 license fee.
The mayor asked if the council
wished to call up the electric lighting
matter. After few remarks Alder
man Bashaw asked that the new con-
tract be read by the clerk.
Alderman Peterson asked il there
was not rule which provided that
the council could not take up business
of a regular meeting without unanl-
nous consent
The city attorney stated that SUCH
was not the case. The rules provide
that the special business for which
the meeting was called must first be
transacted, then other business can be
taken up if the call is so Worded.
After few further remarks Recorder
Brown proceeded to read the contract.
At the conclusion of the reading
Alderman Fowler moved that the con-
sideration of the contract be postpon-
ed until the regular meeting of the
council. Alderman Widell moved to
amend that the contract be accepted
and the proper officers be instructed
to execute the same. Alderman
Bashaw and .Widell voted aye and
Alderman Fowler, Peterson and
Pitcher voted no.
Alderman Fowler's motion was
then voted on and lost. Messrs.
Fowlera and Peterson voting aye, and
Messrs. Bashaw, Pitcher and Wedell
voting no.
Alderman Pitcher then addressed
the council regarding the PROPOSE
tion and proposed that the coun-
Gil offer the light company SS5 each
for so or 80 arc lights of 1000 candle
power. He said that he made this
pIOpOSlUlOu dIUCI d OOuSul UdolOli Wloh
large number of taxpayers who had
expressed themselves as dissatisfied
with.the contract now before the coun-
Gil.
Alderman Widell said he did not
see wherein the city would be in bet
ter shape with this proposition. He
believed the proposition for the 1900
candle power was the best one and
would give the best general satisfac-
tion in the long run.
Alderman Pitcher thought 60 lights
would light the city in very good
shape, and would be cheaper.
Alderman Bashaw thought the peo-
pie in the outskirts paid taxes and
ought to have the benefit of
some of the light. This contract
would give them that benefit but
Alderman Pitcher would not.
Mayor Weaver said that he did not
know as he was entitled to say any
thing, but as no one else was talking
he would say something. He did not
see why this council should take any
action in this matter. The present
contract does not expire for several
months, and it was the duty of the
next council to look after the matter.
He then referred to the resolution of
the Republican city convention,
favoring a plant owned and operated
by the city, and thought the council
was bound by that. "Yon can accept
this contract, gentlemen" he said,
''but l will never sign it, and if it
goes into force you will have to pass it
over my Veto"
EEAlderman Peterson moved to ad-
journ, but this was voted down.
Alderman Widell moved that the
consideration of the contract be laid
over to the next meeting. This was
carriad and tho cOuncil adiOurne0