Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-02-22

City Council, at its meeting Thursday
evening, by party vote, the Demo-
Gratis voting in the affirmative and the
Republicans in the negative, condemned
the action Of the Street and Sewer De-
partment In granting to The Universal
Conduit, Light, Heat and Power Go.
the right to lay conduits and pipes in
all of the streets and alleys of the city,
and authorized committee appointed
for the purpose to make an investiga-
ton, the following resolution being
adopted:
Whereas, In view of the recent action
of the Board of Directors of the Street
and Sewer Department in granting to
corporation known as the Universal
Conduit, Light, Heat and Power Co. a
franchise SO sweeping in its character |
and without adequate compensation to |
the city,we the members of The Coun-
oil,repi esenting the citizens and tax
payers of the city, desire by these ieso->
lutions to place ourselves upon record
as being opposed to and do condemn
the action of the said Street and
Sewer Department: and,
Whereas, According to section 2 OF
the act creating the department, it is
within the power of the Mayor and
Council to remove any member of the
department for malfeasance in Office and
that the action Of certain members of
the said department are open to criti-
cism; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the mayor and COM
mittee of Council, appointed for the
purpose, proceed Immediately to inves
tigate the actions of said department
and be authorized 20 take such steps as
car be taken TO prevent the consumma-
ton of the matter.
The preamble and resolution were
offered by Chairman Kane Of the COM
mittee but before Mr.. Kane offered it
he made statement, in which he said
the committee had made an effort to
get an audience with the Street and
Sewer Directors en- Monday week. but
was unable to do so, the directors hay
ing notified the committee that they
could not attend ON that night. He
had read the reply from tine secretary
CT the department, in which the COM
mittee was informed of the action of
the directors at the meeting Tuesday
week, to the effect that it was not con-
venient for the directors to attend that
night, but they would fix some other
time and notify the committee.
After the resolution had been read
Mr.. Kane moved its adoption, where
upon Mr.. Fisher, who is member of
done its work without him and be
thought he should have been notified.
He objected to a portion of the resolu.
ton, saying it conveyed a threat. II
implies that the department has beer
guilty OF something wrong, he said
and looks like boy going around witt
chip on his shoulder. If tho directors
have done something wrong they SHOULD
be removed, but there should not be
threat in the resolution. He said b,
objected to the action of the depart
ment in the matter under considera
tion and other matters, but could no
vote for the resolution as it Stood
Mr.. Kane, in reply to Mr.. Fisher
said he had been notified of the in
tention to have a meeting on Tuesda
week, but the directors were not OF
hand. He admitted that Mr.. Fishe
had no part in drawing the resolution
but said 1t was not the fault of the com
mittee. He thought the department
should be oensured and believed tn
resolution was right.
Mr.. Monaghan made stirring speec
in favor of the resolution. He CAV
his motive for authorizing the appoint
ment of committee, at the precedin
meeting, to make an Investigation int
the matter. 1t was done, he said, |
enable Council to go on record as bein
opposed to this Urine against fire.
people. He would ask the COMM.
sioners II they believed they had live
up to their oatEs. He believed I'll
grant was not made for the good of IL
people of the city, but to crafty
private corporation. Perhaps, he col
f,nt,oH fhoco lirantNYo mi
have already secured the views of leg
talent to tell them that their actic
was legal, but no Legislature ever il
tended that three commissioners, n
elected by the people, should have Il
right to grant such a franchise. I
thought it was time for Council to CO
halt and not lay low while these col
missioners give the city away to t!
Universal company. He thought ii
people should understand the enormi
of the grant.
Mr.. Oberly said he agreed in eve
particular with Mr.. Monaghan.
President Alexander, calling N
Kane to the chair, also made q spee
in favor of the resolution. He said
was unnecessary to state who bear {
burdens of taxation. He pointed G
where private corporations are enjoyi
public franchises and paying MOTH
to the city for them. "The corporate
which runs cars through the streets
the city," be said, 'tdoes not CT
tribute to the finances of the city. I
man who GYMS his home and the n,
who pays rent is the one who bears
burden. l am not opposed to capt.
/ believe the man who has accumula
capital has a perfect right to it q
should be protected in that right, |
l also believe the hunblest citi,
should be accorded the SANS protecti
do not believe in encouraging trus
The man who fapors trusts is. dang
Gus man in any community.
1.-THE question now before us
whether Council, as representative:
the people, should sit idly by and
one corporation after another assn
control Of the public highways. 4
grant gives the company the right
use every street and alley in the q
As you all we'll know, the collectors
making an effort to collect taxes Fl
the corporations using the streets,
they will tell you they will take
matter tc court and the tax will
you more than it is worth if you get
This grant IL one of the greatest
RACES ever perpetrated in this or
other city. We already have corp
tions which have been given autho
to use the streets. Is it right that
commission should continue to q
similar franchises to other corporate,
1.-The company running the