The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-11
THE TACOMA LIGHT FIGHT.
War To the Knife Between the City and
n Private COMPANY.

Tacoma. July le.-Special.-It Is war to
the knife between the city and the Ia
coma Jas n Electric Light Co. From
tho small beginning OF business rivalry
the controversy between the city and It's
competitor II the lighting business has
grown tn the relations between the "
are severely strained. and the city threat
ems aggressive measures.
The latest move made by Mayor Faw-
cetf has bean to notify the gas mpan
TO take It's wires OF the citys poles II
appears that the commercial company,
whose franchise was acquired by the gas
impair when the two We're consolidated,
entered INTO q contract with the old Ia
coma Light & Water Co.. whereby the
latter allowed the commercial company
10 string It's electric light wires over the
former poles. When the city bought
the water and electric light plants from
the company. - became bound, IL IS
claimed. 10 carry ont the contract en-
tered into with the commercial company
regarding the use Of the poles. This fact
has long been known 10 the public. but
there has navcr before been a time when
the relations between the city and the
commercial company demanded that the
contract be broken. This time has now
come. however. and Mayor Fawcett has
notified tha gas company 10 take away
its wires. as II can no longer play In tho
eiy's back yard. The gas company was
given fifteen days In which 10 remove It's
wires. failing which the city threatened
TO cut them down.
Charles Fl. Hurley. who was general
manager OF the light and water company
when the city bought the plant. Is now
president OF the Commercial Company.
and Is also general nsg and treasurer
Of tho Tacoma Gas and Electric Light
Company. Replying 30 the notice TO va
cate served by the city. Mr.. Hurley said
that the contract between the old light
and water company and the Commercial
Company provided that sixty days no.
,tce must be given before the deal can be
called OF. Therefore the company refuses
20 pay any attention 20 the eity's fifteen
DAYS notice. Moreover. Mr. Hurley saws.
The city has accepted rent for two years
and cannot sbrogate the contract az will.
Mayor Fawcstt. on receipt Of this reply.
Impaired az ths compsroiler'z once n
aseertained. he SAYS. that the company
has paid no rental for a year past. Ths
mayer takes the position tina; the con-
trac, IL therefore weld for default IN paw
uent OF rentals and viii stay by hts fifteen
days proposition.
The next thing in oreer - an Injunction.
restraining order and supreme court de-
cIslon. These have always been lucor-
pera.ed into everything that has been
sone ny the municipality. There "a no
reason 20 believe that the rule viii be
varied IN tho Present controversy.
whether the city comrels the company
70 get ct ifs poles o. not. the nght viii
not be stopped. City Attorney Ja3son
has advised the mayor that tire CON-
rany's franchise wiii net allow II 70 80 in
10 the lighting business, Mayor rAwcctt
IL confident OF winning out on one az the
swo points OF attack. BE SAYS he has
secured business amounting TO yoa FER
month from IRE COMPANY.