Evening journal., 1902-01-01
MAYOR FISHER
WILL NOT Sign
Refuses to Attach Signature
to Ten-year Contract
COMPANY Is DISAPPOINTED
Welsbach Light Comes in lOr Dis
cuSSiOn-NiII Refusal Prevent
Award Being Made?
COMPANY is DISAPPOINTED


awarded the Wilmington City Electric
Company yesterday by the Street and
Sewer Department, giving as his rea-
son that he does not believe the inter
ests OF the city would be best served by
binding the city in a light contract for
so long a period when the city can
get a like rate on six years contract |
No objection was made to the contract
price.
What effect the action of the Mayor |
Will have in the matter is to be dis
closed. Whether his signature to the
contract is necessary. is a question now
being considered. Whatever after re-
suit the refusal may have, it will have
no immediate effect, as far as the light
ming Of the city is concerned.
Immediately after the department
awarded the contract the blanks werel
taken to the Mayor for hls signature.
He said he felt unprepared at the time
to give his approval, and it was de-
cided to have a conference last night.
Accordingly, a meeting was held. It'll
was attended by the Mayor, Directors
Webster, Fahey and Carter, of the
Street and Sewer Department; Secre-
tary Wiley and Assistant Secretary
Christy; John A. Riggs president of
the United Power and Transportation
Company; g. A. leitchorn, Walter II.
Hayes, attorney for the company, and
Superintendent c. r. Van Trump, of the
Wilmington City Electric Company
RIGGS Defends CONTRACT.
President Riggs opened the confer
ence by stating to the Mayor the OBJ
ject OF the meeting, which was to get
his signature for a ten-year contract
The Mayor, after listening to the re-
marks of Mr. Riggs, said he would not
approve the ten-year contract, adding
THAT he had no criticism to make Of
the contract price.
Continuing, Mayor Fisher set forth
his reasons for declining to approve
the contract He said rapid strides
had been made in electrical machin-
cry that had brought down the price
OF lighting considerably, and There
was no telling what would be the de-
velopments in this line the next few
years.
Mr.. Riggs said in reply that the com
pany's object in asking for a ten-year
contract was that the electric company
having such a length of time TO run
could make a greater outlay of money,
get improved machinery and give the
city a better service in ten years than
in six
Mayor Fisher replied to this by say
ing that the city was on the eve of a
new era. The chances were largely in
favor of a revision of the form of gov
ernment, and when THAT reform came
there would be sudh changes that il
would not be advisable ito have the
city tied up for ten years with a light
ing contract. He closed by saying that
he felt he would be entirely wrong il
binding the city to one system of hight
ing for ten years, when there was 2
probability that there might be changes
in the system before ten years ex
pired. which could be used to the bene
fit of the city.
DEPARTMENT CRITICIZED.
Superintendent Van Trump at thil
point remarked: MIR. Mayor, you an
no doubt aware that the present light
ing contract expires at midnight to
night?"
Mayor Fisher replied to this, with
rather heavy criticism on the Street ant
Sewer Department by saying: Il an
thoroughly aware Of the fact that thes
contracts were in The hands Of tlh
Street and Sewer Department las
June, and practically accepted then
except as to the time they were to con
tinue in force If they had been acte
upon then or even three or four month
ago and given to me, the matter, n
doubt. could have beenstraightened ou
before this"
Following this there was a short dis
cussion regarding the power of th
Mayer in the premise. Secretary Vile
said there never had been such a con
dition before.
Mr.. Hayes asked the Mayor if he ha
received any opinion regarding hi
powers, and Mayor Fisher replied
the negative. at the same time askin
Mr. Hayes If he had investigated th
subject Mr.. Hayes replied that ii
whole matter to him was an open que
ton.
Mayor Fisher said that he locke
upon the matter in the Night that Il
Street and Sewer Department was exc
cising the same functions which Coul
ell formerly had. and that Counc
could not make a contract without Il
approval of the Mayor.
After this discussion President Rige
Of the Electric Light Company, sa
that he was very sorry the Mayor toe
such 2 view of the matter. To tn
Mayor Fisher replied that he regrets
TO disappoint anyone but that IN co
sidering the lighting matter. he inten
ed to consider it as he would his ov
private business.
Superintendent c. r. Van Trump tn
spoke, and pointed out the advantag
that would result to the city if t
ten-year contract was signed becau
il would give the company grounds
which it could base extensive improy