The age-herald., 1899-07-30
THE OTHER SIDE
A Defense of the Ensley City Franchise
 Grant
To the Editor of The Age-Herald.

To the Editor of The Age-Herald.
 number of articles have appeared lately in the columns of the Birmingham papers on what has been characterized as the "Ensley Muddle" We have hoped you would make thorough investigation and give the facts in the case, and we ask that you give space to this communication, every word of which can be proven and let the public judge.
 In regard to the franchise given P. G. Shook Tor electric lights the facts are as follows: An ordinance granting this fran chise was introduced last winter and re- ferTed to a committee. This committee held the ordinance for nearly two months. The matter was talked of and discussed by the people of the town, but not three citizens ever expressed themselves to us as being opposed to the grant. The franchise Is more liberal to the city than the first Birmingham had and more liberal than the one Pratt City has. Mayor Scott never ex- pressed himself on the subject, though he intimated to one of us he favored the fran chise, and on the night the franchise came up for final action, and he had been so mo- tified, instead of staying here and going on
 
 gomery with his lawyer, Gregg, and If until the past few weeks he opened his mouth on the subject it was to none of us or to any one else that we ever heard of. The only vote cast against the ordinance was cast by Alderman Robinson, who has kicked at about everything done in the board except when he was made treasurer and given 5 per cent for all money due the city and collected by him. By way of parenthesis we might add that Ae Is as poor a collector as ever came under our observation, his only success in that line being his steady collection of his per cent.
 As to the Birmingham Railway and Elec tric company, we have given them no ran chise for fifteen years or for any .r length of time. Tn 1857 the En sley Land company sold to the Ensiey railroad of which the electric company is the success sor, a right of way on all the streets that had been or might be laid off through its property, said deed being fully explained by A map of Ensley attached This deed was given for consideration, the deed and map were duly recorded and so far as we know both parties have compiled with their contracts We were asked to pass resolu. tion confirming this deed to a right of way and four members voted for it. Mayor Scott fl his protest. This is the sum and substa x,e of our grant of a franchise to the electric company.
 But there are other things behind the cry against us There were other motives that prompted the quo warranto suit against Brown on the ground of not having lived within the corporate limits six months prior to the election. Mayor Scott, Marshal Rogers and Clerk Whitten have been carry ing things with too high hand and need ed board they could 'control' to protect them, notwithstanding that two of the undersigned assisted to put them all in of- flee. Notwithstanding that the ordinances of the town say that the mayor shall vote to break a tie, and that it was never the intention of the board to have him vote except in the above contingency, and the further fact that he has only recently at- tempted to so buldoze the board. when any question comes up he doesn't like he votes nay and announces tie vote and the mo- ton lost. In the event he wants a resolu- tion passed and the board opposes 1t he votes yea, announces tie vote and orders the resolution over to next meeting. Of ! course no one who knows Rod Scott gives him credit of having sense enough tc