The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-09-26
WHAT NExTs
To The Editor of TIE Press.

To the Editor Of the Press:
Last year when the contract for light
ing was being considered. the Portland
Electric Light company put in bid that
would have saved the city about 20 per
cent, but the aldermen from Wards and
2 objected, and the result has been that
the city has paid the Consolidated Electri
Light company about $1,000 month ad
ditional more than it would have paid.
In June this same matter came up again
by the Portland Electric Light company,
putting in n straight proposal amounting
to saving of rs per cent to the city, but
what do our friends Cor the Consolidated
Electric Light oompany's friends) sayp
They say new bids should be presented.
They Insist and Garry this point unfair as
1t was, and the Consolidated knowing just
what bid the Portland Electric Light
com pany had made, used IL, juet dropping
down $500 below them, expecting that
they had them this time sure. But no,
the Portland Electric Light company had
gone to SCI. s0-$s so per arc light below
them, but the Consolidated executed a
manoeuvre by putting in bid for one
year which thir champions from Wards
6 and individually tried to impress the
citizens and their associates was the
proper thing for the city, evidently hav~
ing forgotten their former Inconsistency
In the bid OF last year when the order
was presented which would have given
the contract to the Consolidated for an
unlimited period OF time which these
| p
on lights could have fixed up to their en-
tire satisfaction. This same farce has been
going on ever since, delay upon delay,
month in and month out, week in and
week out, day in and day out, with the
one prime object always in view. and that
was to make the limit Of time so short
that the Portland Electric Light company
with half an eye could not help seeing
that this has been the object of the cham
pions Of the Consolidated, and any one
who is in doubt ON this question should
be at the city governments meeting to-
night and note the tactics of delay that
will probably be resorted to by the
friends Of the Consolidated. 1t is u won-
der that they have not told us that the
company is financially unable TO carry
out the contract, and they no doubt would
have done so had they not been informed
that in this they would have made a
grand slop over, for financial state
ment was in readiness that would have
squelched them on the spot
1t may he interesting to the public to
know that the company is already on a
paying basis, saying nothing of the city
contract which every citizen and taxpayer
confidently expects VIII he awarded to 1t.
If not. why nots 1t surely is not because
it is not the lowest bidder for it is any
way it oan be fixed, and on the five years
contract with the privilege of terminate
ing at the end of the first year at the
city's option, the city has an enormous
advantage and an opportunity to save
$50, zoo, 5000 Of 1t this first year over the
lowest bid Of the Consolidated company.
But Aldermen Smith and Lamson win
probably object and try to get another
opportunity for the Consolidated and a
few more weeks delay will drop out com.
petition altogether and allow the Consoii.
dated to continue at present rates with a
loss to the city Of about $4,000 which
the taxpayers can settle. A one years
contract is the last thing to be considered.
as it will mean another tight next year
and will be a very serious matter politi-
cslly in the March. September and No
vember elections. A long-term contract
Is the only thing that can safely be con-
sidered. "a word to the wise is srffic-
lent" This is no new thought. but is
voiced by some of the ablest politicians in
the state.
George W. Brown.