The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-05-04


Mr.. Hale--"Yes he did. He took hold
of the wire and 1t didn't kill him."
Alderman Johnson-"Didn't he have
gloves onr'
Mr.. Hale--"I believe he did
Alderman Johnson--"w asn't that the
rsason why 1t didn't kill him?"
Mr.. Hale--"May be 1t was.''
Alderman Moulton-"You understand
that under the city ordinances the city can
at any time make company take down
any wires which are unsafe?'
Mr.. Hale-"Yes.'
Alderman Moulton-"Aud IL these
wires Of the new company prove unsafe
in operation we can remove them at any
slime, can't wes'
Mr.. Hale--"Yes, but you wouldn't use
that kind of an argument for the admis-
sion of this company would YOU'D"
Alderman Haven't you a
duplicate plant at your station here SO
that If one fails the other can at once be
useds'
MIR. Hale-"Yes."
Alderman Moulton--"If the petitioning
cuIupduy COiuos lb anu buPpiico
lights to thoss who are not now taking
light from the Consolidated company how
can 1t hurt your company"
Mr.. Hale--"The Consolidated is attend
ing to this business and is seeking to do
the very business that this company pro-
poses to do
Alderman Moulton-"The Consolidated
is not lighting many houses in Portland,
is it?''
Mr.. Hale-"It is adding more houses
all the time"
Alderman Moulton-''The prices of
your company are higher than those of
the new company, are they notf"
Mr.. Hale-'I don't know. 1t Is hard
work lighting houses here In Portland.
The city is old and 1t is slow work ut
ting electricity in the old buildings. Out
in Deering there are many new houses
and that Is the reason so many buildings
out there are lighted by electricity"
Alderman Johnson-"Have you any
power to spare at your plant9 Can
you do any more lighting than you are
now doings"
Mr.. Hale-"Yes."
Alderman Johnson-"Yo don't believe
in competition
Mr.. Hale said he did not believe In
general drag net competition.
Alderman Johnson--"You don't believe
it for the interest of the city to have two
come in here p''
Mr. Hale-''No."
Alderman Johnson--"Do you know
any thing about this other new company
which wants to come in here?"
MIR. Hale-'No."
Alderman Johnhson-"Do you think
they ought to come into Portland"
Mr.. Hale-"No."
Alderman Johnson-"If it should be |
shown that they are reliable would you
want them to come in!"
Mr.. Hale-"No."
Alderman Mannix-"Your company is |
ready to supply water power electricity II
the city wants it, isn't it?"
Mr.. Hale-"Yes, we think that II you |
want water power electricity we can give
it to you at cheaper rates and with u |
steam safe guard, too"
The representative of the new rompa-
ny, Mr.. Fogg, then made his argument for |
the admission of the new company. He |
spoke for over an hour with great earnest
ness and at times with considerable |
heat. He said that he did not propose to
answer all the arguments used by Mr..
Hale because three fifths of them had
40 xuifh ho crxhi Iha
petition did not ask for permission to do
he city lighting, bat only asked to put
Up a few poles and string few wires.
The company is not only ready to do
but is already doing business
N Wards and 0 it is lighting 200 houses
IN Portland only 40 houses are lighted
" the Consolidated company. Deering
PEOPLE are getting their lights cheaper
han they can buy kerosene for and Port
land people can have the same If they let
he new company do business here. Un-
Ter the present arrangement those wish
ng to do business must go to the Con-
olidaued company or go without light or
,ower. Who demonstrates against the
granting of this petition? The Consoli-
lated Electric Light company. They
lave had the people OF Portland by the
for the past Is years. Have any
tizens been here to support the Consoli-
lated company? Not one, and we have
lad big petition presented here and
prominent business men here to ask that
his request of ours be granted. They cry
hat they nre the only people fit to fur
lish lights in this city, that the other
company is not backed up by wise, ju-
icious or financially strong men. Who
re the hackers of the Consolidated COM
ANY?
Here Mr.. Fogg produced q list of stock
olders of this company and proceeded
o read them.
Mr.. fogg-"We see that the Casco Ma
ional bank has $50 shares In this COM
uEy, and"
Alderman Smith-"The Casco National
ank does not own a dollars worth OF
his stock. That is lnisstatement.