The record-union., 1897-01-26
MUST HAVE CHEAPER LIGHTS.
Mayor Hubbard Refuses TO Accept the
Street Lighting Contract.
And the Veto Was Sustained by the
City Trustees Last
Night.

Trustees with the Sacramento CAS-
Electric and Railway Company LOT
lighting the city. In a message to the
Trustees last evening he gave the tol-
lowing reasons for his action:
To the Honorable Board of Trustees:
herewith return the proposed CONTRACT
OF the city of Sacramento with the sac
ramento Electric, Gas and Railway
Company, without my approval Tor the
following reasons viz:
First-The specifications which form
a portion of said contract were SO drawn
as to prevent competition. There was
but one company in the city which could
furnish lights under the said contract,
and hence it was impossible for the city
to receive the benefit of competitive
bids
Second-The said proposed contract Is
illegal. Section 80 of the charter pro-
vides that no contract shall be made for
fuel, gas, electric lights, or any other
illuminating material at a higher rate
than is charged to any other consumer.
This company is furnishing to consum-
ers private lights at a much less rate
than it offers to furnish to the city.
These private lights are used until IL
o'clock in the evening, and if the same
rate per hour were charged for regular
city lighting as is charged to private
consumers the cost to the city per light
would be about IS 80 for each all-night
hight instead of 81 %, the amount
sought to be charged by the said COM
pany.
Third believe the price is excessive,
for many Eastern cities have contracts
at a much less rate, even where the
electric current is produced by steam
power. This is particularly the case in
St Louis, where for the past year all
night lights have been furnished at the
rate of S6 % per month for each light,
and midnight lights at So % each. 1
could mention several other cities where
lights have been furnished at much
lower prices than those offered by this
company.
Fourth-This company is enjoying the
benefits of valuable franchises for street
railways and the use of our streets and
alleys for poles and wires, for which it
pays nothing, and I believe that the
company can afford to be more liberal.
1t is we'll known that electricity gen
Grated by steam power is much more
expensive than when it is generated by
water power. This company advertfses
TO the world that it has one of the most
complete electric plants in existence,
and that it can furnish electric power
in almost unlimited quantities at a very
low price but Notwithstanding that
fact, the company is opposed to furnish
ing to this city electric lights produced
by water power as cheaply as most OIL
the Eastern cities are required to pay
for such lights produced by steam
power.
I therefore recommend that your
board do not enter into said proposed
contract with said company, but that
you again advertise for bids. and that
the specifications be so made that other
companies may bid, and that If neces-
sary you allow at least ninety or one
hundred and twenty days to the success
full bidder within which to complete the
necessary lines and furnish the lights.
Respectfully submitted,
c. H. HUBBARD, Mayor
After the reading Of the message. l..
T. Hatfield counsel for the company,
stated THAI the message seemed more
in the nature of a personal attack from
the Mayor, and said that the figures
would not sustain the statement that
private consumers were being charged
less than the city If the city would be
willing to go on the commercial wire, as
is the case in St. Louis and other places, |
the price could be reduced, but they |
would have a fluctuating current.
The city of St. Louis, he said, was able |
TO lay down coal at the rate of So cents |
a ton right at their own doors and this !
was practically cheaper than water at
their own doors. The company had come |
in and bid on the Specifications adopted |
by the board and in competition with |
other companies.
One question was as to whether or not |
they wanted TO be on the commercial |
circuit, which only extends over a |
small area and from which the outlying |
parts OF the city could not be served |
He had been assured by the Superin- |
tendent that no complaint of poor or
insufficient lighting had ever been made |
Clerk Desmond read the bids from |
salt Lake City at so a year per light, |
where the city put up its own poles, and |
South Norwalk. Conn, had made con
tract for street lighting at S74 per |
damp per year.
Devine spoke in favor of sustaining |
hhe veto OF the Mayor. He said there |
WAS TO have been regular competition, |
feasts and fine suppers together, and /
the competition ceased. The proper |
method would be to open up the whole /
matter again and readver'tisa for bids.
Davis approved Of passing the con- |
tract over the Mayors veto. He did not |
believe in the story Of forming pools, but |
did think the Sacramento Electric, Gas |
and Railway Company was entitled to |
some consideration, as they had spent /
a large amount of money here.
He moved to pass the contract over
she veto, and this was seconded by Nc |
U<ay and Wacahorst.
Hatfield again addressed the board. |
saving they could not put in plant for |
less than $4,000.
Trustee Mckay was called to the |
CHAIR and Leonard said he believed the |
Navor had taken the right step In the |
anatter. and was satisfied that there had |
been an arrangement made that shut off |
competition. He believed in readver-
tising for the lighting and giving any
other company a chance to furnish at |
a. lower. rate. The old price paid. every
body knew. was a cold blooded robbery,
and the lower price paid was much too
high, and II There was a new advertise