People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-03-18
What is the Rush?
Daily Journal, Friday.

III seems 10 US UndU ever SlnCe Gut
proposition made by the mayor to the
city council at its regular meeting
March l, to annul the gas franchise,
there has been an undue haste Oh the
part of several persons TO work
through the council an electric light
franchise. Now there is no question
that the city wants better lights. and
the prevailing sentiment seems to be
In favor of electric lights. But why
can't the city get electric lights
without holding all.night sessions
and being compelled to hurriedly &C
Cept unfavUrable terms for such light
ing? An ordinance was presented T.
the city council last night, which
was undoubtedly intended and ex'
\ pected to be passed Oh the spot. II
was the granting OF perpetual fran
chise to an unknown company or cor
poratiOn, calling for five years con-
trait for lighting the streets Of 1he
city Of Wellington at yearly rental
OF about $1,000 or Sl,700 The Ordi-
nance put practically all the response
billty o. operating and maintaining
such lights upon the city itSef. Ii
provided that VIII never a light was
to be moved or relocated, Or an add
tiOnal light was to be put in, the city
was to bear the expense of such trans
fer, the erection Of poles, wires, appar-
atus, etc, and pay for the same out
of its own funds, the company in all
instances to do such work and to re-
ceive pay for it. Another provision
contained in the ordinance exempted
the company from liability except for
aprU rata charge for lights during 90
shut down for period not to exceed
six months. In other words, the
company could shut down its plant
for SIX months if it saw fit to do 50,
without jeOpardizing its franchise OF
contract with the city. Councilman
Graf very quickly moved that the
ordinance be laid on the table. A
great deal of discussion followed ana
1t was decided that the city wanted
another ordinance entirely if il
wanted any, and the committee that
had been comforting with, Mr.. Ford
during the past two days, was APP
pointed to act with the city attorney
and Mr.. Ford and prepare an ord
nance for presentation to the councli
Saturday night. 1t was intended t
meet again tonight to pass the fran
chise, but on account of City Attorney
Elliott's inability to be present IT,
night, it was decided to meet tOmOr
row night, at which time the fran
chise is expected to be granted
The Journal wishes 1t understood
clearly that it is in favor of cleo
trio lights-that is, if the city can
secure better service than it is now
securing from the gas company. Bui
unless we can secure such advantages
there is little excuse for Drawing a
legal fight with the gas company, Il
is a question whether the courts will
construe the gas ordinance in the
light the members of the council view
1t, i.e., that the putting in of electric
or other lights within 300 feet of each
gas post will invalidate the gas CON-
pany'S franchise or contract. 1t is
natural that the gas company should
defend themselves in a fight with the
electric light company, and if the city
grants Mr.. Ford, or "his assigns" a
franchise, we can look for a SHARP
legal battle with said gas company
However, the road looks clear to q
victory for the city in such event
and if favorable agl cement can bt
reached with the electric light com
pany the city can afford to fight
Otherwise it cannot.
But whether the city wants electric
lights, or whether it doesn't wan
them, it would be folly to decide hur
riedly, From the moment Mayo
Savage began his fight on the ga
company, there has been hurriet
efforts to get the city council to gran
a franchise to Mr.. Owen Ford of s.
Louis. Mr.. George H. Hunter OF thi
city, has offered to furnish power t
the company at actual cost, which
by the way, is but natural, since Nj
Hunter is the company who wi
operate and maintain the propose
plant. Now the Journal is not i
the least opposed to granting a frau
chise to Hunter or anyone else, and
fact believes in Offering special in
ducements for home investments. Br
we cannot see the harm of maxim
haste slOwlyin this important matte
We are free to confess that we believ
this electric light project was FIR
started for the purpose of capturir
s2,l0O in Doodle yearly from the Cit
We do not believe that Mr.. Hunter
philauthropic tendencies promptt
him to offer power practically free
q fnraiUn comnanv SO1olv for +bo -,