The Portland daily press., 1899-05-04
Will Portland Electric Light Com.
pany be Admitted?
Closing Arguments for
Both Sides Made.
Business Men Who Signed the
Petition.

The adjourned hearing of the petition
of the Portland Electric Light company
for permission to erect poles and wires
and build conduits .ln certain Estreets in
Portland was continued yesterday after
noon.
| John II. Fogg, ESQ, who represented
the petitioners, said that the aldermen
would bear In mind that an adjournment
was taken at the former hearing while be
was introducing some testimony In
favor of the petitioning company. He
said that at that time he stated what he
believed to be the sentiment of the citi-
zens Of Portland and he said he had
found no reason to change his mind in re-
gard to this statement. He said that sincs
that hearing there had been hastily
gathered the sentiment of the people In
regard to this matter. and he then intro
duoed a petition strongly supporting the
new company and urging that Its request
be granted. MIR. Fogg read the signers
of this petition. several hundred in num-
ber, including a great many of the promi-
nent business houses in Portland.
| Besides the petition there was q com
municatIon from the United Wage Earn
ers of Portland adopted at the meeting of
that organization and signed by H. L..
Mckinley, president, urging the granting
of tsis petition.
j. r. Libby was called upon to express
his views In relation to this matter. He
Sid he had not come downs here to in
struct the board in this matter but he had
! come to show by his presence and by a
| quest being granted. He said that he had
no doubt that after hearing the long list
| of signers of this petition
| the request of the petitioners
would be granted. Here is a competitor
which comes to our. doors and seeks to
| light our stores and homes at o much re.
duced rate. He said he believed that
every business corporation and business
man should enter the field with the idea
of the survival of the tittest He had ex-
amined the line and plant of the
petitioners and was now prepared to say
that he was not only ready to take the
| lights Of this company himself, but was
also ready to invest capital in the new
company. He said he thought he voiced
the sentiment Of the people when he said
that they wanted this new company to
come in here. The time mas come now
when you are to decide whether you are
to look after the interests of the people or
| to defend a corporation. When people
come before this board and talk to you
about high voltage they are simply throw
ing dust in your eyes. That is not the
question. 1t is whether you will give the
people the cheap lights which they ask
for or protect corporation.
| Alderman Smith-"What has transpired
to induce you to change your mind in re-
gard to this company"
| Mr.. Libby-"I have looked into 1t and
personally Investigated the plant and line
and know what it can do"
| Alderman Smith-"Is 1t better than it
was a year ago?"
ago."
| Alderman Smith-"But why have you
changed your mind regarding the new
company"
| Mr.. Libby-"I told you have looked
into this matter and believe they can
fulfill their promises and besides, sir, l
don't believe they are willing TO become
the tool and servant of another corpora
tion.''
MIR. George +. Junkins being called VI
on said he agreed in the remarks of Mr..
Libby. In relation to what Josiah II.
Drummond said In objecting to going up
Green street, he said he owned the corner
opposite MIR. Drummond's house and the
ope below 1t, and he could see NO reason
why the company should not put poles
on Green street. He said he was willing
to suffer little to benefit theAbusiness
men and people in Portland.
| Alderman Smith-"Are you stock
holder in this company"
| MIR. Junkins-"No, sir"
| Alderman Smith-"Are you ready TO
have 1900 more poles located around the
city streetss"
Mr. Junkins-'I don't think it would
bs any more harm than those on the
streets already"
| Alderman Smith-''Are you ready to
have the poles put in front of your
house?''
| Mr.. Junkins--''I am ready to have any
number of poles put in front of my
property that is necessary to bring thi:
company in."
| Alderman Smith-"And when the Other
companies come ara you ready to have
more poles put in front of your housef'
MIR. Junkins-"I am ready to have tht
poles of this company put in front of my