The Portland daily press., 1899-10-03
Must Decide On Or Before Friday
Noon.
Newly Named Streets
To Be REMEMBERED.
Usual Amount of Routine Bust
ness Done.

Those who supposed that the last of the
electric light contest had been heard AT
the previous meeting OF the city govern
meut, found last evening that they were
mistaken. There is still life in the tail
of the old serpent of controversy. and II
squirmed in quite lively manner last
evening The discussion began In the
Common Council, and the Aldermen nat.
urally opposed. There was no audience
present and the debate was not animal
ed. An order was finally perfected giving
the Consolidated Electric Light compa.
ny until IL M, Friday, October 6, In
which to decide whether or not it will &C.
cept the offer of the city dividing the ter.
ritory between 1t and tine Portland Elec-
trio Light Light company.
Councilman Waldron OF ward six as
soon as the council had assem- bled, off cred
this order:
Ordered, That the time within which
acceptance OF the contract for city light
ing offered to the Consolidated Electric
Light company of Maine In accordance
with the order passed by the city council
on the 10th ultimo shall be made, be fixed
at twenty -four hours from the present
date, In order that the city may know
whether sad company will accept said
terms, and so as to give the Portland
Electric Light company, which has sigui-
fled its acceptance OF the terms offered,
the necessary time to complete its prepar-
atioDs for the service required of 1t by
November /, 1899.
Mr.. Waldron said that this was simply
business move to get the matter ad-
vanced as rapidly as possible. IL the old
company should proorastinate the time
for the new company to get to work
might be so limited as to result in leav-
ing the city without adequate service
MIR. Waldron said that ne did this in no
spirit Of hostility to the old company,
but solely in the interest OF the public
needs
Councilman Gerrish asked II the new
company had accepted the order.
Councilman Goudy said that the new
company had accepted; but that the city
solicitor must delay preparing the con-
tract until the other company could be
heard from.
thought that twenty -four hours was
Eatner SNORT nOGtCe.
Councilman Gerrish seconded this
view. He said that all who had expsri-
enoe of corporation affairs must realize
that twenty-four hours was too short a
time in which to get the officers of a
corporation together.
Councilman Goudy conceded that this
was too short time. and said he had in
fhnk Hba %
solidated would probably act by Wednes-
day.
1t was novel by Councilman Milliken
that the Iime be extended to October 9TH
There was considerable debate on this
point. Councilman Drisooll thought that
more time should be aEswed, and favored
delay until Saturday.
Councilman Wilson of ward eight fav-
cred greater expedition and moved an
amendment to the motion, fixing tie linn
1t at October s.
A question being asked as to whether or
not tte new company had begun erecting
poles, Mr.. Cloudy said they had not, as
propositions were being considered for
the use of the poles of the old company
by the new. Therefore Ii was desirable
that the question OF acceptance be settled
quite soon.
Mr.. GsIrlsh of ward one thought there
might be legal doubt as to whether the
city, having made Its offer to the Consol-
dated, could set time limit on Its ac i.
ceptance.
Msssrs. Griffin, Wilson and Cobb
thought that the date OF October would
be long enough.
A vote being taken the time within
which the Consolidated should make its
reply was made ON or before October 5th.
And in this form the order was sent to
the upper board.
When the mayor read the order TO the
Aldermen Mr.. Smith of ward seven said
hs thought the time fixed, October 5.
was rather short time. Some of the d.
rectors of the Consolidated company were
out of town, and might not be back in
time to act before this time should OK
pire de thought the time should be ex-
tended two days. Therefore he moved
that the order be non-concurred in. This
WAS done by the aldermen. The council
insisted and asked a conferences, appoint
Ing Messrs. Milliken, True and Connolly.
Ths mayor joined to these Messrs. Smith
and MoultoD.
After brief session the COMMITTEES
agreed to extend the time to Friday
noon. October 6. This compromise was
agreed to by bOtE boards.
Alderman Moultop presented an order
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