The herald., 1897-03-19
Action Deferred, After Discussion, Until
the Session of Monday Next
Osod Prospects of a Compromise Between the
Company and the Property Owners
The Railway People willing to Grant Certain
Conc .sslons Asked for-Electlon OF the
Oil Inspectors-0eneraI Routine
Business and lotions

At the adjourned session of the city
O,Melveny, as attorney. was given a
hearing in the matter of the Allen-Staats
electric lighting franchise, about which
there has been so much in the papers re-
Gently. Mr.. O'Melveny stated that the
council had directed the city clerk to re-
advertise the franchise for sale, but this
had not been done, and on inquiring. he
found that the advertisement had been
kept out at the request of some of the
councilmen. He desired to know why
the councils direction should not be
followed out.
Mr.. T. H. Dockweiler appeared as the
representative Of many leading prop
erty owners on the business streets of
the city. They objected, he said, to the
grant of any further franchises that
would require the erection of more poles
on the streets and stringlng of wires
therefrom. He offered a form Of fran
chise, the same as heretofore adver-
tised with the addition of privision re-
quiring all wires to be laid in conduits
underground. The boundaries as set
out in Mr.. Dockweiler's form were as
follows Hill and Los Angeles streets
and Seventh and Marchessault streets.
Mr.. O'Melveny replied that he OBJ
jected to discrimination in favor of al
ready established companies. He was
willing, however. that the franchise
should be readvertised with the provis-
ion, that the council might require, at
any time. any or all companies to place
their wires underground.
Councilman Hutchison did not think
that the city wished to foster mon
opoly. What was wanted was cheaper
and better electric lights and telephone
service AS 1t was now, mary mercan-
tile houses had to pay more for a tele
phone than they did for an electric light.
He thought the people would be willing
to put up with a few more poles, if they
could get better and cheaper service.
Councilman Grider agreed with Mr..
Hutchison. Let us get the competl-
tion, and then the matter of the
poles could be regulated. A provision
that the council could at any time order
all wires underground would, he
thought, be a sufficient safeguard.
Councilman Toll thought that at the
time franchise is granted is the proper
time to surround it with proper safe
guards. The city has now arrived at
lures should be considered, and all
matters should be taken up and dis
posed of.
Councilman Nickell thought the
greatest necessity of the city at the
present time was competition in street
lighting. He thought that the best
thing was to get this competition at
once and then at the proper time all of
the wires could be ordered in under
ground cor,duts at the same time. We
need better lighting system, and Moth
ing should be put in the way of it. Let
the new company come in, and then
put them all on an equality.
Councilman Ashman thought that all
wires should be put underground at the
same time. He was not prepared 10
vote on the question at this time.
After some further general talk. the
whole matter was referred to the board
of public works for further considera-
tion.
DAILY STREET FRANCHISE
The special order, the hearing in the
matter of the DAILY street franchise of the
Pasadena and Pacific Electric railway
company being called up, Councilman
Nickel said that there was movement
on foot looking to a compromise between
the railway company and the property
owners, which would probably be con-
summated within a few days, and he
therefore moved that action be deferred
until Monday next
The attorney for the railway company
stated that there had been a conference
between the railway people and the
property owners and they had substan-
TALLY agreed upon a compromise on
the points at issue AS he understood it,
the property owners wanted that por-
ton of the franchise on Griffin avenue
that was not to be used transferred.
!, t,ly n
they could transfer a piece of a fran
chise but they could surrender it to the
city and this they were perfectly will
ing to do. Then, too, the people wanted
fifteen minute service, and provision
that the cars should stop at all street
crossings to take on and put off passen-
gers; in other words, that they should
have full local service, and the COM
pany was perfectly willing to accede
to these demands.
Frank Flint thought that as this time
had been set for the hearing the prop
srty owners should be given an oppor-
tunity to express their views
Joseph mesmer presented a petition
by the interested property owners ask
irg for fifteen minute service, and in
cidentally wanted to know who Mr.
FLINT represented, If not the railroad
company.
Mr.. Flint gave the names of some of
HAo SiiCbtS anu renewed HlE request
q hearing at this time
Mr.. McGarvin hoped that no action
would be taken at this time, as there
were several matters that had not been
agreed upon. AS he understood Il. the
company only offered to surrenda- the
unusued portion of the Griffin avenue
franchise. This company had for five
years held franchise over the Mission.
road, over which no line had been built
and If the company did not intend 10 use
ttis franchise it, too, should be sur
rendered He did not objec. to a man
making provision for his children, but ne
did object to holding franchises fer fu-
tare generations. The people of the city
wtre interested in the matter and it
should be finally settled before any
further proceedings are taken The
franchise should either be utilized or
surrendered.
Judge Silent, as an interested prop
erty owner, protested against act:cn be-