The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-09-19
Makes Sensational Argument
Against Consolidated Co.
Ordinance Passed Admitting Council 10
Share i'm Contract Making.

question. which was at once put by the
mayor. Many misunderstood this effect OF
the previous question, which is not often
used, but it was soon understood and
ca rried.
The vote was then taken at once on the
motion to limit speeches 20 fifteen min
utes. This was decided In the negative,
IL yeas to 10 nays.
COUNCILMAN GOUDY THEN SAID
that as the aldermen had refused TO oon-
cur In the contract sent mp by the coun-
Gil, the members of the council would
like to hear from the aldermen their rea-
sors for SO doing.
Alderman Merrill OF ward four said
that the action of the upper board had
been promised on the feature OF the order
which made the gas lights part OF the
electric light company's bu siness, while
the ofliciais Of the gas company had
stated formally by letter that they would
deal directly with the city and not
through the electric light company. On
this detect In the councils order the al
dermen had based their action, and on
nothing else.
Councilman Cloudy then arose, and
proposing TO begin at the beginning, he
read the order calling for bids. Then he
proposed to read the bids; but they
seemed to have ben mislaid among the
documents on his desk. SO the reading
did not OCCUR. Mr.. Goudy proceeded then
to the question of the bid of the gas COM
pany. For fifteen years tine gas company
had been debarred from bidding by the
Consolidated Electric Light company and
had only been readmitted by recent &C.
tion. The city councils Of former years
had discontinued the gas lights, removed
the posts and cut of the mains. To give
gas lights again the mains would have to
be relocated.
On the subject OF a one year contract
Mr.. Gou1y said that the order passed by
the common council was to knock down
by sledge hammer blow the dishonest,
cutthroat bid OF the Consolidated Electric
Light company. That bid was intended
to destroy honest competition. 1t was
not an honorable business proposition.
1t was merely intended to put down
competition and reinstate In power the
company that
HAS TAKEN OUT OF THE CITY
s502.0o0
in the last fifteen years. Mr.. Cloudy then
went ON to analyze the figures Of the bids,
claiming that on all features there would
be great advantage to the city in ac-
cepting the bid of the Portland Electric
Light company.
Mr.. Cloudy then reverted to the action
of the board of 1898 In denying pole
rights to the competing company, saying
that it had cost the city $40. COO. which
would be ample pay for the salaries Of
the aldermen of that board.
MIR. Cloudy then produced a written
article on the subject of municipal cor-
ruption. He began: 1.-THE war is on
between the people and monopoly. Which
win winp 1t has bean reported that
prominent officials of the Consolidated
Electric Light company have statsd that
they control legislation, both at Augusta
and Portland. Is 1t possible that such
bold, shameless, assertions are true,
worthy of Tweed Of the olden days, or
q Croker of the present? If SO 1t confirms
the common remarks heard''--
At this point Alderman how raised
the point of order that the remarks of the
speaker were not pertinent to the ques-
ton.
The mayor called attention to the rule
of parliamentary law, and said he trusted
that the gentleman would confine himself
to the subject before the convention,
which was the -concurrence Of the
aldermen in the order of the council.
Mr.. Goudy protested that the line on
which he was proceeding was in the way
OF giving useful Information to the con-
ventlon; but he would snbside gracefully.
Councilman Connolloy of ward four
said that although the gentleman from
seven might have mixed some chat with
his wheat yet 1t would be useful to hear
what he said. Therefore he would move
that he be allowed to proceed under sus.
pension OF the rules. The convention So
voted. and MIR. Goudy procssdsd to charge
that the politics Of Maine and the city of
Portland were corrupt Is they were inhu-
enced by certain corporate interests.
by similar means and methods Ia pol
itical manipulation in Maine conducted.
The more shameless and brutal effrontry
which Tweed and bis SUCCESSORS brazsnly