The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-07

the practical workings or this plan.
AS a plain, simple business proposition
the introduction of such a system would
place the city upon exactly the same foot
ing as an individual consumer. Such
consumer provides his distributing sys-
tenn throughout the buildings or premises
and thereby becomes independent in Sc
curing bids for the required current or
power No company holds mortgage
upon his right to invite full and free COM
petition in the supplying Of power. But
the city is today and ever will be, under
the present system, regardless OF the per-
sonnet of the contractor, handicapped in
securing the benefits which should be de-
rived from active competition, and which
are enjoyed by the individual.
Your committee Is confirmed In the be-
lief that the affairs of the city are entitled
to the same beneficent results accruing
from the application of ordinary plain,
every day common sense, as those shared
by the business man, for 1t is only too APP
parent that the converse is true. namely,
that the city suffers alike as others when
it's officers depart from above procedure.
In order that your honorable body may
be in possession of all possible data to
guide you in final determination of the
best course to pursue, there has been ar
ranged series of specifications, designated
and described as follows:
(A)-Contemplates a continuation Of the
present system as constituted today with
the addition of twenty new lights in each
ward, OF a total of $40 lights.
Obs the same as A, with the substitute
ton of six lights for each $50 feet mast,
4 1T xr,tft t1tn M
Making a total of 734 lights.
(C)-Provides for construction of pole
line system complete without lamps, in
GLIDING iron masts with extension arms at
fifty stations throughout the conduit area
Total lights, 1874.
(D)-Provides for the necessary lamps for
the entire system.
(E)-Provides for power simply incud-
ing connection with municipal system at
one or more given points, and connection
of iron masts in conduit area with con-
Quits.
(F)-Provides for maintenance of sys-
tenn including trimming Of lamps and fur
nishing of all necessary supplies.
(G)-Is a combination of D, = and F. un-
der one bid, affnrding an option as between
partial and entire ownership of everything
pertaining to the pole line.
Under the above series of specifications
1t is confidently expected that all compet-
Ing companies will be afforded medium
of expression, and It will become the privi-
lege of your honorable body to finally de-
eide which plan to pursue in the full light
afforded by the presence of their various
bids. Again, in no other manner can full
Justice be done existing power supplying
companies. Any single plan of advertise
ing must be unjust, either to the company
in the field or those desiring to secure the
business, since conditions are so varied.
In conclusion, your committee begs leave
to submit that the securing of additional
lights and the introduction of metropoli-
tan features, such as all-night service, are
paramount. The present contractors have
declared their inability to furnish these at
lower rates. To secure lower rates compe-
tition is essential. To secure competition
upon the best possible terms for the city a
change of system seems desirable. To de
| termine the desirahility of change of sys-
| TEN, so far as Its effect upon prices is con-
cerned, 1t is necessary to learn definitely
the cost of the respective services. To de-
termine this cost your committee respect
|
tons. recommending their adoption.
| We would further recommend that the
city clerk be instructed to Immediately ad-
vertise for bids in accordance with said
| specifications. Respectfully,
l.. M. order,
F.. l.. BLANCHARD,
F. L. BAKER.
Gas and Light Committee.
| The rep ~ had hardly been read when
W. r. Bacon addressed the chair. IT am
here" he said, "to call the attention of your
honorable board to protest against the re-
port of the ommittee just read, signed by
over 400 citizens. I want the protest con-
sidered before any action is taken. We OBJ
ject to the taking down of the foot
masts, and I want every member of this
council to read that protest before they vote
to do away with the masts. IL
Just here Mr.. Toll said "tne present re-
| port doesn't call for the doing away with
the masts. 1t calls for keeping them just
as much as it calls for doing away with
them, providing the bids are right" and
Mr.. Bacon said. "Oh, we'll, II that's the
case I didn't understand it,"
| Councilman Aslman then took the floor.
II want to be sure we're right before we go
| ahead he commenced. "rhis Is a most i'm
portant matter, and I think that report
| should embody a specification for the city
owning its entire plant pales, wires, dyna-
mos, Tampa and ell, and move that the re-
| port be referred back to the committee, and
specifications for power plant be in
serted"
"In order to bring this matter before the
council SO 1t can be discussed" said Coun-
Gilman Hutchison, II second Ashman's
motion. And now, Mr.. President, want to
say don't understand this thing. In my
ward, If lose my masts. only set twenty
three lights, where other wards get thirty
l don't think 1t is fair. am not satisfied"
Then followed an all-round argument, in
which the protest, before mentioned, fig
ured. Finally the president took a hand.
'eThls is no time 10 consider the protest."
said Mr.. Silver. We are rot taking final
action. When we contemplate that meas
urc then will the protest lie proper. and ]
can assure you It will be considered"
Hutchinson was again to the fore. and
wanted to know which of the specifications
called for The issuing of bonds for light
ing the city. He wanted the specification
read, and then said that he thought from
the way the specifications read that all of
them provided for bond issue. &.
Then Mr.. Toll made the speech Of the
day, which settled matters. "The report
of the committee is clear and is designed
for one purpose only, namely to draw the
fire of the lighting companies and make
| them show their hands. There are three
| xxyhn nj 20