The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-08
and hedce 1t was reported favorably.
 The Reason for Haste.

and hence t was reported favoraoiy. The Reason for Haste. As to the granting of the franchise for extension now, over d year in ad- vance of the expiration of the present one. the majority of the Council ap- pears seTto haveN been influenced oy the urgency of the com pafiy. which wanted to make igs money arrangements at once, in order to relay the pipes that are leak ing so badly.
 It has been stated on the streets that the urgency of the Company was more largely due to fear Of the Con stitutional Conventions putting pro- vision into the chapter on m1nlclpah- ties to prevent the granting Of iran chfses for more than twenty years. and without offering them at public outcry after advertisement. It transpires that the Convention Committee on Muni- cipalities made its report on June 24th, and that there vas such provision fn 1t as described. The report was un- der consideration in the Convention yesterday. and Section 4, covering that matter. was tabled by close vote.
 As to the period of fifty years in renewal of the franchise it is stated that was the period of the present franchise: that 1t Is a common period for such franchises in most places; that it Is difficult to finance schemes for shorter periods; that this francnise Is not exclusive. but that the Coupcil can grant similar privileges to as many other gas companies as 1t likes.
 Aldermen Finley and May.
 Aldermen Finley and May only voted against the ordinance. An attempt was made yesterday afternoon to get ln- terviews from both of them.
 Captain Finley promised to prepare one and to bring 1t to The Advertiser office last night, but he failed to do so.
 Before the Council Alderman Finley said that he did not know that ne was opposed to the ordinance. but ne dio not think there was any cause TOT un- due haste in the matter of its adoption, as the present franchise did not ex- pire until October, 1902, about fifteen months, and he wanted time to reao and understand what was in the SUD- sfitute. The Committee Of the Coun- cil. which had considered and reported the substitute. may know what Is in it, but he ventured to say that no otn- CT member of the Council did. He was opposed to granting franchises for so long a time and did not think 1t 10 the interest of the city to do business that way. He moved to strike out fifty and insert twenty-five years. after his mo- ton to postpone had been voted down. Captain Finley stated on yesterday that the Committee had not agreed on the substitute when they went 10 the Council meeting, and that meet ing was held there for some time, the Council not being called to order until after o'clock. He said it was ms in- format ton that the Committee had not agreed on a report when they went 10 the meeting. but made 1t up atter get ting to the Council Chamber.
 Alderman May stated before the Council that he thought the considera- tion of the ordinance ought to be post toned until the next meeting, in oroer ttat members might acquaint them selves fully with it's provisions. He did not know that he would be opposed to It. but he could not vote for 1t until he knew more about 1t. He went out of town last afternoon and could not be seen for an interview. Earlier In the day he stated to a representative or The Advertiser that he objected to the provision by which the city got gas at less price than citizens, and also to the length of the period.
 Mayor Joseph Undecided.
 TLc Mayor has not yet acted on the ordinance. To an Advertiser repre- tentative yester lay he said he had not decided what he would do. He con- veyed the impression that he wanted to see some changes made in it before he approved it.
 These ate the material facts about the whole matter as far as could be ascertained yesterday.