The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-02-28

1t is pretty safe to predict that the
light and water committee of select
council will recommend to that body
at tomorrow evenings meeting that
the bid of the Scranton Electric. Light
and Heat company to furnish electric
lights to the city at 90 cents per light
a night be accepted President w.
W. Scranton, of the company, APP
peared before the committee last
evening and explained Il few things.
Mr.. Scranton stated that Ee didn't
like 1t to be implied that the company
was vindictive in its statement to she
effect that it would cons iGcr all obli-
cations to furnish light TO the city ut
an end providing the bid of cry other
company was accepted.
He explained that as Tie principal
part of the comrany's business was
the furnishing oc light to the c!ty, as
soon as this business wos taken away
it would be wise business policy and
nothing more for the company to sell
its dynamos, etc. If it got q good Of
fer. The company, he said. didn't in
tend to shut off the light until they
secured a purchaser for their plant.
OPPOSITION NOT CHARTERED.
Referring to the Electric City Light,
Heat and Power company, who put in
a bid two cents per lisht less than
the Scranton companys bid, Mr..
Scranton said it was not chartered,
and produced a telegram from the Soc
rctary of the commonwealth showing
this to be n fact 1t is against the law
for the city to let any contract of this
kind to an unchartered company, 1t
is said.
Mr. Scranton further stated that up
wards of 100000 had been invested by
the company and that it has not paid
a dividend since its organization. He
produced voluminous statistics. show
ing that out of thirty cities in the
state fourteen only paid less for elcc-
tric light than does Scranton, and in
each of these fourteen cities lights are
furnished on schedule and not every
night the year round.
One of the members Of the commit
tee, in conversation last evening, stat
ed that the great proposition to be con-
sidored was the fact that by giving the
contract to the Electric city company
a great risk of leaving the city in
darkness was run. He mentioned the
those now in use would entail almos.
a years time, counting for delays in
construction, etc.
COIINCILMAN'S OPINION.
He seemed to consider Mr.. Scran-
tons argument regarding the selling
of his plant a very logical one, and
didn't think that the company could
he rnjoned from doing co
The committee will meet again on
Thursday evening, just before coun-
Gil meeting, and will then formulate
u report.
Herbert l.. Taylor Of Taylor &
Lewis. said Yesterday with ref
ererce to shutting Oft the lights:
1T appears to mo plain that
the electric light company. in view
of it's franchises, is bound to fur
nish the city with light, just as it
would to any other party. The COM
rany cannot discriminate against the
city by refusing to furnish it light
when it furnishes light to other parties.
The price to be charged, possibly, can
not be regulated by the old contract,
but, il is fair to presume tie company
cannot charge the city any more than
IL cHdrSeS StOreKeepcr or Olher ike
customer. A mandatory injunction
could very likely be procured to COM
pei the company to keep the city
lighted. as long as the city wants to
buy the light and is willing to pay for
It, or as long as the company is ir the
electric light business"
Assistant District Attorney w. @.
Thomas gave it as his opinion that the
company could not shut off the ligh.
as long as the city was willing to pay
for it at the same rate other CUSTOM
erS nav