Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1895-07-19
Electric l.ill Killed.

Lie IuOSU tHuV Woc
ever sneakcd through the Pennsyl-
vania Legislature was justly vetoed
by the Governor. It is hardly nee
essary to explain that it was the
Electric Light bill, which was intro
duced by Senator Hackenberg as a
courtesy to his supposed friends,
Senator Cochran, of Williamsport,
and ex>Attorney General Hensel, of
Lancaster.
The intent of the bill was not res
vealed to the Senator of this district
who was kind enough to introduce
it, and the apparent friendship be-
tween him and his Democratic col
league was supposed by him to be
sufficient security against being used
other than in good faith.
How the bill got through both
Houses is a mystery that no one
seems to understand, but when it's
full meaning and purpose became
known it was universally condemned
and many good members and Scna-
tors are gratified to know that it has
been dealt death-blow by the Gov
ernor. The fact is, the infamous
measure was planned in the city of
Williamsport in the interest of q
corporation with monopolistic aspi~
rations and which is combination
of the Lycoming Electric Light Co.,
and all the electric railway CONS
panies and against small block
company known as the Citizens
Electric Company, which has been
in successful operation for a short
time and run without charter of
Incorporation.
This new company started on n
small scale on the block system, and
their patrons comprise nearly all the
business houses in the block in
which the Updegraff Hotel and the
Gazette and Bulletin office are situ-
ated. The Office of the Citizens
company is located in the next block
north of the one in which their plant
is and they run a wire across Third
street to connect with the office.
This proceeding did not suit the
combine and they Immediately open
ed war on the small concern. They
tried through the city council to
have the wire removed and as they
are not corporation it seems that
the council 10 have the wire removed
and as they are not a corporation it
seems that the council could not
grant franchise of the streets for
running wires across them and no.
titled them to take it down. BY
some grace or other, however, the
wire is still up and the parties who
own the plant are about procuring o
charter for the company when they
expect to be entitled to fair consid-
Grafton from council and intend en-.
larging the plant as soon as arrange
ments can be procured.
In order to reduce to insignifi-
canoe the new company and defeat
their plans Mr.. Cochran and others
who are interested in the big COM
pany had a blanket bill prepared
which would allow no new company
to have the right of way on any
street or alley that was occupied bv
another company. Not even would
the city or borough itself be allow
ed to erect a plant for its own use
according to the bill. When the
purpose of the bill became known
gemonstrances began to pour in
against it from every section of the
State. The press was almost unani-
nous in condemning the iniquitous
conspiracy and the Governor has
maintained the good will of vast
number of people, including many
Democrats, by his prompt action in
wiping it out. The bill was so
grossly outrageous that Mr.. Cochran
would not risk introducing it but in
duced Republican Senator to do
so, that in the event of it being ex-
posed it might he charged as coming
from the Republican side of the Sen.
ate. However, Mr.. Hackenberg
promptly laid the facts bare and the
public is now familiar with them.
Hereafter friendly Senators will be
charry of doing courteous favors for
Senator Cochran, and the whole
Senate will scrutinizc any measure
that that gentleman in the future
may propose.-Sunbury American.
July IL.
Only four survivors of the battle
Of Waterloo are now to be found in
Europe. The vast armies of Napo-
leon, wellington and Blucher are
gone, and it is not on record that in
their declininp Years thpv ever IN mo