Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-06


on the bids for city lighting provoked
about three hours and half discus
sion last night at the meeting of the
Common Council. and when that body
adjourned at about lis this morning
the matter was at the same status as
before. When the final issue was
reached, there was lacking but one
vote to adopt the majority report of
the committee in favor of awarding
the contract for city lighting to the
Norfolk Heat, Light and Power Com
pany, represented by Mr.. w. D.,
Pender, it's Vice president.
The vote stood II to in favor of
the majority report, but the body
oovcrruled a decision of President East,
thereby making twelve affirmative
votes necessary to adopt the report
The vote on the appeal taken from
President East's decision was ayes.
IL nays.
In view of former decision Of City
Attorney Taylor. the Fender Company
may appeal to the courts, claiming
that the eleven affirmative votes last
night gave them the contract. The
City Attorneys decision was in ref
erence to bond issue for Atlantic
City Ward. The two members from
that ward not being entitled to vote.
Mr.. Taylor decided that they should
not be counted in arriving. at the con-
stitutional majority Of the Common
Council; and that eleven was q con-
stitutional majority in this case. 1t
was upon the strength OF this that
President East ruled that the majority
report was adopted
Prior to the vote on the majority re-
port, the result of which raised the
above question. President East had
ruled that the members from Atlantic
CITY Ward could not vote on the mat
ter. There was considerable parla-
mentary discussion as to whether or
not the adoption of the majority re-
port would be in effect entering into a
contract with the Fender Company, and
whether or not 1t would require a sus-
pension of the rules to adopt the re-
port. The chair was overrulcd by q
vote of II to 2 upon the question as to
whether the adoption of a report would
be entering into a contract, having
decided in the affirmative.
Over n half hour was consumed by
the reading of the two reports, the
specifications and the letters presented
by the Norfolk Heat, Light and Power
Company testifying as to their nnan-
cial backing, and letter from the Nor
folk Electric Company through it's
president. Mr.. A. p. Warrington, also
one of the bidders before the Light
Committee. This letter Joined in the
protest OF the Norfolk Railway and
Light Company against the acceptance
Of the pender bid.
Mr.. Warrington commended that the
act of supplementing the said proposal
with guarantee as a basis for calcu-
lating the value of the per cent boz
nus, makes so material a change one
upon which your Light Committee in
It's report places so much stress as to
result In allowing to the Norfolk Heat.
Light and Power Company an oppor-
tunity for rebidding, an opportunity
other of the said bidders.
He further added: 1--WE respectfully
request, If such privilege is to be grant
ed to the Norfolk Heat Light and Pow
er Company, that our company shall be
accorded n similar >privilege; and be-
lieving that your body does not desire
to restrict said privilege solely to the
said company. we wish to SUBMIT for
your consideration the following propo-
sition:
I'VE will, under the terms of our pro-
posal filed with your Light Commit
tee, furnish to the City of Norfolk. for
the term Of three years, beginning Sep 9
tember'1, 1900. the required number of
enclosed arc lamps at s65 per annum
for each lamp, and the required num-
Der of incandescent lamps at $3.50 each
persannum. Or in lieu OF this we will
comply with the terms of our original
proposal and pay to the city of Norfolk
during the term of our contract two
per cent. per annum upon our gross re-
ceipts. guaranteeing said receipts to be
not lees than s195,0oO per year"
GETS DOWN TO TALK.
Mr.. Beaman offered motion that
the majority report be adopted. The
room was crowded with spectators.
those present being interested in one
side or the other. Mr. Hodges moved
that the counsel representing either
side be allowed to address the Council.
This was carried, and 1t was agreed
that each side should use forty minutes.