The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-12

emphatic declaration.
But insist on my rights, as a men,
Der of this council. There has been
too much domineering by the president
OF this council and it has got TO be
stopped
Callister then appealed from the posi-
ton taken by the chair. when the lat
ter gave in and asked Dale what he
had to say
Only this. Mr.. President, that you
recognize me in a decent and respect
ful manner" was Dale's hot retort.
THE CHAIR OVERRULED.
The president at this point began to
recede from the position taken and af-
ter debate of wide scope the chair
was overruled by a vote of to 5.
The recorder then read the journal
and had recorded seven votes for and
six against confirmation, thus taking
no coglizance of Newells attempt to
register Stewart, WI declined TO vote,
in the affirmative, to make the neces-
sary eight.
And now I want to know" asked
one member, whether Haines is con-
firmed?"
The chair refused to make any claims
either way, Diminishing the question:
THE records are there to show the
votes received, and that is all there is
to it,
And so the matter now stands.
GAS AT so CENTS.
The gas question then came up on a
majority and minority report from the
committees having had under consider
alton the amendment TO the Salt Lake
and Ogden Gas and Electric Light
company's charter. Dale, Hayward,
Mulvey and Diehl had signed the ma
Jority report, which rec q lmended
rate of so cents for lighting purposes
and 80 cents for fuel, with a minimum
rate of 81. The minority report recon-
mended fixing the rate at 80 cents per
1,OOO with a charge of 81 minimum
rate.
Callister moved to substitute the mi
nority for the majority report and in
support read petition signed by a
large number of business men asking
that the so cent rate be established. He
maintained fixing the rate at 80 cents
would ruin the gas business, to the
detriment Of the public, who would be
compelled to throw out their gas stoves.
Again, he contended this city had
spent hundreds of thousands of dollars
in advertising the gas fields. If the
wells were now to be shut down the
city would suffer 1T looks to me-"
asking for bread and we give them a
rock in the shape of this proposed so
cents rate"
O'Meara said that while he had
signed neither report. he favored the
minority. He also said that the two
rates would require two meters in
every s.use, one for lighting and one
for heaung.
Lloyd did not like to do anything
that would close down the gas wells.
He did not propose to vote for either
report in their present shape. There
fore ne moved as an amendment that
the rates as proposed by the minority
report be adopted for a period of two
years and that thereafter the rate be
40 cents per 1000
Buckle declared if a 80 cents rate was
fixed the wells would shut down in the
morning, because the company could
not now pay expenses.
Dale called the councils attention to
the fact that there was nothing before
the council to show that he Salt Lake
and Ogden Gas and Electric Light COM
pany would even accept the 80 cents
rate. The speaker said he had talked
with consumers and the only result
was more confusion on the question.
No two citizens using gas agree, he
said, and it was very difficult TO arrive
at any definite conclusion.
EX-MAYOR BASKIN.
Ex-Mayor Baskin. who was present.
was called upon and responded. He
had examined into the question and
was satisfied that under the present
rate the we'll owners could not make
expenses. He believed honestly, he
said. that Mr.. Driver would be COM
PEELED to close down if the rate was
fixed at 80 cents. When the wells shut
down the contract with the Salt Lake
and Ogden company would be forfeited.
Diehl said so far as the threat to
shut down was concerned the city need
have no fear. for ne was assured there
was capital in waiting anxious to buy
the pipe line and the gas fields and
furnish the product at 80 cents.
Callister closed the debate in favor of
the minority report.
Lloyd's amendment was lost by vote
of u to 2, and the minority report. fix
ing the rate at 80 cents per LOCO, with
q minimum charge of 81, was then I
adopted by the following vote
Ayes-Allen, Buckle, Calister, LIE !
Prohon, Lloyd, Morris, y, -sAeara and /
Nays-Dale. Diehl Hayward, Mulvey, /
Stewart and Wiscomb-6.
Absent--Romney.
The matter was then referred to the
city attorney to draft an ordinance.
PIONEER FRANCHISE.
The Pioneer Electric Power franchise
was then taken up There was ma
jcrity and a minority report, the latter
signed by Mulvey, Stewart and DiehL.
The only difference between the two
reports was that the minority report
favored retaining the clause prohibit
ing the company from entering into
or pool.
The minority sent in a very vigorous
document. It represented that the
franchise with the clause referred TO.
was adopted by the special
committee and accepted by the COM
pany's agents. Then the document
charges:
"A few days later the applicant sent
message to the council that they did
not wish the franchise passed by he
council until it had been considered by
their attorneys, and this action was
by a personal and persistent
appeal to the individual members Of
the council on the streets and else
where by agents of the applicant to
have the committee called together in
special session for the purpose of
striking OUT the obnoxious clause. This
has been done by vote of four men,
bers of the committee at the dictation
Of this corporation, and why? Because
this company Will not agree to exercise
The privileges granted it by the city in
good faith and with an honest purpose
If benefting the public by bona fide
with other corporations en-
gagged in the same business"
Dale objected to the report or ac-
count of the language. It was an in
suit to the four members referred 10
and of which he presumed he was one.
Stewart made a lengthy talk, declar-
ng that any company could come into
he council and get anything they
wanted.