The sun., 1900-02-16
BLANKET FRANCHISE
DECLARED A CRIME
AGAINST AEREE PEOPLE
Council Goes on Record as 0p-
posed to the Action Of the
Street and Sewer Directors.
MONAGHAN'S RINGING SPEECH
Resolutions are Adopted Reciting
That Council Has the Power to
Remove Any Director of the
Department for MaIfeas-
ance in Office and Au-
thorizing an Immedi-
teInvestigation.

A highly sensational meeting was held
by City Council last evening, at which
resolutions denouncing the Street and
Sewer Department in no uncertain terms
were adopted, and speeches Of most
denunciatory character delivered.
The special committee of Council
which is composed Of NIessrs Kane,
Oberly, Mousely, Fisher and Stewart,
had held caucus yesterday afternoon
in tine mayors office, and had visited
the office of the Street and Sewer DE.
partment.
The caucus was resumed last night
when all Of the other members OF Conn,
Gil joined in it. City Solicitor Conrad
was also present at the caucus.
1t was about S.45 O'Clock when the
members left the mayors room and filed
into the Council Chamber.
After considerable business had been
transacted Mr.. Kane, chairman OF the
special committee. reported that they
had made an unsuccessful effort to get an
audience with the Street and Sewer Di-
rectors but it appeared that they didn't
have time to meet them.
A communication was then read from
the secretary OF the Street and Sewer
Department, which stated that the di-
rectors could not meet them last Tues
day night, and that the directors would
agree upon time and notify the COM
mittee.
Mr.. Kane then introduced the follow
ing resolutions:
"Whereas, In view of the recent ac-
tion Of the Board of Directors of the
Street and Sewer Department in grant
ing to corporation known as the Uni
versal Conduit, Light, Heat and Power
Company franchise so sweeping in its
character and without adequate compen-
sation to the city, we, the members of
the Council, representing the citizens
and taxpayers of the city, desiie by
these resolutions to place ourselves upon
record as being opposed to and do con-
denim the action OF the said Street and
Sewer Department; and
Whereas, According to section of the
act creating the Department it is within
the power Of tho Mayor and Council to
remove any member of the Department
Tor malieasauce in office and that the
action Of certain members OF the said
department. are open to critscisnl,
Therefore be it
Resolved, That the Mayor and a
committee of Council be appointed for
the purpose to proceed Immediately to
investigate the actions of said Depart
ment and be authorized to take such
steps as can be taken to prevent the con-
of the matter"
lhe reading OF the resolutions by the
clerk created sensation in the Council
Chamber.
Mr.. Fisher arose and said that as
member OF the committee he felt that he
should have known about the work of
the committee. He could not agree with
the whole of the resolutions, as the last
part of them contained threat and i'm
piled that the directors were guilty of
some wrong. If they had the authority
to remove them, they should do it. He
thought that the resolutions were not
gotten up, and ne would have
to vote against them.
Mr. Kane said there had been no In
Ienton TO slight Mr.. Fisher, and he
thought that he had been notified Of the
meeting. Mr.. Fisher was not able to be
At the meeting on Wednesday night.
Mr.. Monaghan then arose and eIectri-
tied the Counci!nen and the citizens
present b. most eloquent Speech in
which he denounced III most scathing
erms the Street and Sewer Directors for
.ranting the franchise to the Universal
Conduit, Heat Light and Power Com
oany.
Mr.. Monaghan was the Councilman !