The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-06-19
LIGHT QUESTION
GOES BY DEFAULT
--.-------
City Council Declines to Take
Definite Action.
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REFUSES TO BE HELD UP
Absence Of Competitive Bids Does Not Sway
cOuHellmsa From Their Determine.
lion to Stand By The Tsxpsy.
eFs Of Astoria.
REFUSES TO BE HELD UP

Even though the water commission
failed TO do It's duty by the taxpayers
and the people Of Astoria. there was no
disposition on the part OF the city
council 10 fall down" at the regular
meeting Of the municipal body last
night.
The members Of the city council who
had been previously stamped as friends
OF the West Shore Mills corporation
were expected to spring a motion grant
ing the electric company a contract
for lighting the city streets for at least
one year, but It was apparent long be-
fore the meeting convened. that there
was little disposition on the part Of
a majority OF the councilmen 70 al
low the city TO be held up for the bene-
NJ Of private corporation.
Summed up. the situation amounts
TO this: councilmen Scherneckau.
Brlx. Goddard. Agrsn and Parker are
champIoning the interests OF the peo-
pie. II cannot be said that Utzinger
and Cook are disposed TO stand against
the people at the present time. as IL
is believed that they now realize that
the public is overwhelmingly against
the letting Of a contract which win
compel light consumers TO pay exor-
bItant rates for private and public H.
Elimination.
The council transacted its official
business under the nickering light OF
one coal-oil lamp and eight candles.
Clerk Nelson had the advantage. while
the handsome features OF Councilman
Cook. Goddard, Brix and Scherneekau
were slightly revealed by the light OF
candles. The other members OF the
council failed to bring their snuffers
along and their presence was manifest
only through their voices.
A communication. under date Of June
8. from the water commission, stated
that II was not desmed opportune at
this time for the commission to in
stall an electric lighting plant. The
communication was laid upon the table
without discussion.
Surveyor Tee filed specifications for
the improvement OF Fifteenth street
from the south line Of Exchange street
TO the north line Of Irving avenue.
An ordinance was introduced for the
improvement OF the west line Of Thirty
first street to a point fifty feet west
thereof, but on motion OF Chairman
Utzinger. OF the street committee. the
ordinance was withdrawn.
A petition for the improvement OF
Thlrty-fourth street from Franklin
avenue to Harrison avenue was refer
red to the street committee. A request
that further time be granted for the
completion Of the work was favorably
acted upon.
Upon motion OF Councilman Utzin-
ger the contractors in charge OF the
Improvement OF Commercial street
from Fourteenth to Seventeenth were
granted further time to complete the
work
A resolution by Utzlnger was car
ried that the city surveyor be asked
to report the most practical grade
from Franklin avenue to Thirty fourth
street.
The following bills were audited by
the ways and means committee and
ordered paid.
Fisher Bros. & Co.. Sass.
Olaf Peterson. s24,5O,
A. j. Schiel, S1S.S6,
Astoria Transfer Co., 75 cents.
Prael Transfer Co., $3.50.
w. A. Goodwin, $3.50.
Clatsop Min Co., $3.50.
H. F. Prael Co. $1.45.
j, B. Baumgardner, sS.70.
Alex Bremmer, IS.
Fisher Bros. & Co., $S.s5.
j, r. Clinton, s6S.
Fred Saiz, s1S,15.
A. Leinenweber $3.50.
Pat Lawler & Co.. $3.50.
A. McFarlane, $S2.45.
The street committee filed its ac-
ceptance of the Improvement Of Frank
lin avenue from Thirty-first street to
the claim line. I
A retail liquor license was granted
to Wlrkkala & johnson.
An ordinance appropriating $S5 as
bounty for rats was given third read
ing and passed without opposition.