The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-06-03

The opposition to the mayor failed
to muster sufficient strength last night
and the result was that Mayor Glen
dinnings veto of the street lighting
contract with the Big Cottonwood
Power company was sustained. The
vote was to s. lacking just one of
enough to override the veto and pass
the contract, a two-thirds vote being
necessary in such cases.
The result means that the city will
not be redeemed from darkness for
some time to come at least and the
field will again be open for competi-
ton.
The meeting was rather featureless
save for an attack on the mayor by
Mr. O'Aeara, who displayed with char
acteristic vigor his dislike for the adj
ministration
CALLISTER OPENS THE BALL.
When the routine business had been
transacted Calhsuer called up the veto
message which was read by the clerk.
Callister said that while he was not
present when the contract was drafted
he was somewhat conversant with its
provisions He took up some of the
arguments set forth in the veto mes
sage and dubbed them as misleading,
especially the ones stating that the
plant of the Salt Lake and Ogden was
antique and out Of date The argu-
inent that the streets could be lighted
at lower price he replied to by say
ing that the old company had offered
10 throw open its books and prove they
{ 1irr1o+
As far as the time Of the contract was
concerned he thought that the argu-
Inent in favor of two years was so
obvious it needed no repetition. AS to
the Provo company, he said such a
proposition was not to be considered
for the reason that it came in after
the council had recommended that
contract with the Big Cottonwood
Power company be entered into and
after the bid of that company had been
made public. The statement that st.
Louis was paying much less for an all
night service than Salt Lake for a
moonlight schedule service, he called
attention to the fact that st. Louis
had several thousand more lights and
further that the light company of that
CITY had offered to forfeit $4,000 per
year to the city for the balance of the
term of their contract provided they
could be relieved from their obligation
to the city.
Relative to the statement in the
message that the chief of the fire de-
partment was not the proper individual
for inspector Mr.. Callister took issue
with the mayor. 'Of course, ne con-
tinued. 'fthe mayor thought he knew
more about this chief at one time than
he was able to prove Callister
thought Chief Devine just the man
for the place. Callister continued for
a. long time making side jabs at the
mayor and making everybody ex-
rremely tired.
DALES OBJECTION
Dale repeated his opinion that the
contract should not be entered into for
a longer period than one year. The
Salt Lake and Ogden Gas and Electric
light company had hypnotized the
Citizens company and it looked to the
speaker as if the Big Cottonwood COM
pany was getting the upper hand. He
thought the CITY in q year from now
might need some such a contract to In
dtce companies to develop power and
enter into competition in the city.
A ONE YEAR CONTRACT.
Romney said he would be perfectly
satisfied TO sustain the veto provided
the city was to be in darkness for the
next wear. but would the citizens stand
1his2 He was in favor of only one
years contract but under the circum-
stances, the council having accepted
a two years contract, he felt conn
PEELED to vote for passage of the con-
5f-act over the mayors veto. The COM
pany. he knew. was not in favor cif
making a contract for one year and the
council could not compel the company
TO do So If the veto was sustained the
city would have to be in darkness and
the people of the city would not
stand it.
LIE PROHON TAKES A HAND.
LIE Prohon said no wonder the Salt
Lake and Ogden Gas and Electric
Light company could not furnish cheap
lights II had an Anticipated plant that
was practically useless and capitalized
at three times its value. He also
agreed with the mayor that the fire
chief was not proper man to act as
light inpector. He pointed to the fact
that the council could not enforce any
extra duties on the chief of the fire
department. The speaker said, "You
sustain the mayors veto and you will
find that the companies will fall over
each other to secure a contract for
one year"
o'MEARA ATTACKS THE MAYOR
O'Meara wanted to know why the
mayor could not be satisfied with SIM
ply vetoing measure without securing
the aid Of the appointive officers to
work upon members of the council to
change their votes.
Dale at this point demanded to have
The names LIE Prohon seconded the
demand.
O'Meara did not give any names, but
said he was prepared to prove it. He
also asserted that members of the
council had been approached by per-
soas controlled through appointive
power by the mayor and asked to vote
to sustain the veto.
Diehl resented the insinuation and
said he should call O'Meara to account
for what he had said
o'Meara retorted by asking if Diehl