Evening journal., 1902-01-28
CARTER UNDER
EXAMINATION
Mr.. Reinhardt Throws Light
on WOISbaCh Contract
MEETING WAS EXCITING ONE
Manager Crook Says Paving Bill
against His Company Is Too
Large

The Welsbach lighting contract. with
its crooks and mysteries. was ventilated
at considerable length at the regular
meeting of the Street and Sewer Depart
ment this morning, and under the rapid
fire cross-eXamination of Solicitor Rein
hardt many interesting facts were
brought 10 light.
The body convened shortly before II /
o'clock, and although permanent organt
zation was not effected. James ID. Carter
presided as usual.
City Solicitor Rcinhardt opened the
meeting by saying:
Gentlemen, ] have been asked for an
| opinion in regard 10 this matter of the
! Welshach street lighting. but owing to-
| lack of information / am not ready TO
| give one. The contract does not seem 20 |
allude TO the specifications. and ! would
most strongly urge that no action be |
taken relative to giving the Wilmington
City Electric Company dehninte am
swer until you find where you are. The
chances are that il you go ahead you will
have a superabundance OF light.
Gentlemen. I must confess that this
business puzzles me. From what / can
understand il appears that the Welsbach
company is going ahead and putting up
new lights and has continued 10 do sol
without permission from the board.
Further still, nothing has been done toI
stop the work | must learn more about
this matter before / can give opinion
and probably will not be ready before
the early part of next week"
Mr.. Reinhardt began to question Mr..
| Carter as follows:
a..
mninmg member of the old board / shall
be forced TO ask YOU few questions in
order To get the information which ! de-
sire.
Did you give the company the per-
mission to put In new polcsw
MIR. Carter-"l did not. Mr.. Smith
called To- see me during December of 1901
and asked for permission to put In new
, lamp posts where the old ONES had be
come damaged"
, Mr.. Reinhardt-" Now let me refresh
: your memory. Mr.. Carter, did you not
meet Mr. Smith 10y appointment 40 the
Office of the Coal Gas Company
Mr.. Carter-"I did not"
Mr.. Reinhardt-"The reason ask Is
because Mr.. Smith said you did, and in
the presence of MIR. Bctts.N
Mr.. Carter do not pmcmhcr hay
ing "a conversation with Mr.. Smith or
? any one else before Mr.. Belts in my life.
! met Mr.. Smith on the street and he
asked me for the permission Of putting
in new poles. | told him TO see the board
as ] was only one member"
MIR Reinhardt-"W We'll Mr. Carter. If
you knew that the company desired the
permission to put IN more lights why
didn't the board take actiony'
, Mr.. Carter-"We did hold a confer.
ence"
Mr. Reinhardt-"Are the minutes of
such a permission on the recordsg'
p, Mr.. Carter suppose not The per
mission WAS not given at regular meet.
ing of the board"
Mr.. Reinhardt here questioned Mr.
7 Carter relative TO the specifications. The
{ proposals advertised called for l6-candle
( power lamps and the certified contract
- of the company which Mr.. Renhardi
i holds shows that the lamps are 50-candle
. power.
It Mr.. Carter replied that the board be
h lieved the Welsbach light TO bee better
r than the others and had given that com
S pany the contract
e The matter of granting the company q
tcn-year contract was next inquired int,
III I
I, when the contract was accepted. Mr.
Smith had offered To make an nducemen
= where longer period was given.
a Mr. Reinhardt next showed a copy O
4 the proposal TO the directors. The docu
= ment showed the following:
y 500 lamps for years, S27.
1000 lamps for 10 years S26.75.
q Underneath was written in lead pencil
, S1.25.
Mr.. Carter said Mr.. Reinhardt. 'thl
IS time the board examined the proposals
IS did you notice the sum Of Sl.25 writer
l. in pencil
o Mr.. Carter-"'rO the best Of my knowl
Ie edge, | think / put it there.
st Mr.. Reinhardt-Well. Mr. Carter. IN
r. difference in the sum is % cents. How
le was it You wrote the other amounty"
" Mr.. Carriers face flushed agrily an
" Mr.. Reinhardt said:
,e Now. | do not wish To insinuate tina
Of any one Of the members was intereste
D. in the company. but ] do want all IA
information possible ON this subject.
v Mr.. Carter-"Well. at the time I wa
ls thinking the difference was S1.25.
"a Mr.. Reinhardt the proposal
,r examined by the directors?"
Mr.. Carter-"They were"
n Mr.. Reinhardt-"Are the minutes o
- the recordsY"
~ ~ Mr.. Carter-"I suppose not. as we di
not meet in regular session
@ Mr. Renhardt-''Well, Mr.. Carter, ai
- ter the contract was awarded did no
II persons ask 10 see the specifications an
l. were they not denied that privlegey'
l. Mr. Carter-"Not TO my knowledge.
'u In conclusion, Mr.. Reinhardt said hi
ne reason for asking the questions was ow
10 ing to the fact that he desired all tn
information possible
PEOPLES coMPANY's TROUBLES