The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1900-02-22
CITIZENS DISCUSS
BLANKET FRANCHISE
Senator Pyle Said the U. G.,
H., L. & P. Go. Would Never
Spend a Dollar.
THE COMPANY HAS NO TITLE
George Morton Said it Was Opinion
AThat the New Company Was
Sprout of the Wilmington City
Railway Company. Presi-
dent Alexander Speaks.
THE COMPANY HAS NO TITLE

A public meeting to protest against the
granting OF blanket franchise to the
universal conduit. Heat, Light and
Power Company by the Street and Sewer
Department, was held last evening in, the
hall of the Democratic League, Fourth
and King streets. The meeting was
called to order by Senator John Pyle.
The Senator said in opening the meet
ing that the object was to discuss the
propriety or impropriety Of giving away
sweeping franchises. On motion OF Geo.
Morton, G. w. Spicer, Sr., was chosen
chairman of the meeting and presided
| in an able manner.
Allen L. Sharpe remarked that if any
one present had anything to say, now
was the time to say it. He added that
the audience would doubtless like to
hear from Senator Pyle.
| Senator Pyle then arose and made an
interesting speech, in which he said it
was now proposed to give away the last
vestige of the peoples rights, and added
that whenever the people became IN
different to their rights they were in
danger of losing them. He referred to the
act Of the Legislature creating the Street
and Sewer Department, which stated
that it was to supersede Council in the
matter of the supervision and control OF
the streets. ),
He continued: sit would seem as il
the stream had risen above it's source.
lin 1890, j. Edward Addicks applied foi
franchise to lay pipe but this same
authority said no, He then went into
the courts to attempt to get what ne
couldn't get IRON the commissioners
That was in 1892, and the matter is still
in the court. No decision has been given
The Oxy-H ydrogen Company as an evi
dence Of good faith spent several thous
ands in the erection of plant. The
Universal Conduit, Heat, Light ant
Power Company, which has received
blanket franchise, has never spent dol
lar and never will.
'It has no title, and people wont pu
money i'll company that has no title
The Street and Sewer Department re
versed its action in the recent Sixt
street railway franchise because it hear
! the distant thunder, heard the protest
the people"
Ex-Councilman w. H. Quinn wa
called upon by the chairman, and sal
in part: 81 was in Council in 1881, whe
the first commission WAS authorized b
q the Legislature. | opposed it in CIT
Council and was branded as sort
Judas to my party, but | predicted thf
J. within fifteen years they would get owe
+. calling me Judas and condemn then
e. selves.
4. .The commission is foreign to OF
n fundamental principles OF liberty.
,e was the only Democrat in Council to ol
ii pose the Water Commission. The ide
le of the commissioners was to beneilt
of few and keep them in office. II
a blanket franchise just given away
worth $50O,000. Council took vii
is step in ordering an investigation, but
8, would have advised the getting out
,g mandamus proceedings on the Street an
s. Sewer Department and the men who
al cured the franchise and then they cou
It. have asked in court if either block
to stock or cold cash had been paid"
le Harry Turner spoke next. He, sal
"The voice of the people is not hea
ry often enough. 1t is their fault that SUI
~ things happen. The contractors,
ey special privileges for nothing. Fra
gn chises should be paid for. Icontend IL
the franchise OF the Wilmington Vi