The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-01-03

The ordinance awarding franchise
to the Consumers Gas company was
defeated in common council last night
on third reading by vote of twenty to
eighteen. to the great surprise of it's
promoters.
The ordinance was called up on third
reading by Mr.. Gurrell. who moved it's
adoption. Mr. Partridge announced
| that he had an amendment to offer
and moved that council go into COM
mittee OF the whole. This was object
ed to by some members and Mr.. Part
ridge was asked to read his amend
| ment.
The amendment as read provided for
a tax of one per cent upon the gross
| receipts of the company for the year
| 1907 and 1908 and two per cent every
year thereafter. When council learned
this the motion to go into committee
on the whole was defeated by the fol-
lowing vote:
Yeas-Clarke, Thomas, j. j. Evans,
Alworth, j. F. Evans, Snowden, w. w.
Evans, f. w. Evans, Soaring, A. L.
Lewis, James, McGreevy, Partridge,
Paine. Howey, Keller, Stpp, Calpin--
IS. Nays-Casterline, Haggerty, Ruane,
win, Sykes. Gurrell. William Lewis,
Coleman, Rush, Graf, Rosar, Troy,
Cusick Connolly, Norton-2O.
MIR. PAINE OBJECTED.
The previous question being called
for it was put and then Mr.. Paine
arose and made Il speech opposing the
passage of the ordinance on general
grounds. He declared that to pass
the measure without a provision fix
ing the price of gas at a figure less
than one dollar would be to invite con-
solidation rather than competition. He
cited Wilkes -Barres experience Of a
few years ago when q new gas COM
pany was awarded q franchise and
was later combined with the old COM
pany.
There's not a single thing in this
ordinance, said he, (which insures
cheaper gas and if we're not passing
it to secure cheaper gas what on earth
are we passing it at all for. The COM
pany says it will furnish cheap gas
but we have only the word of the gen.
tleman who is promoting the passage
of this ordinance. We have absolutely
nothing more"
Mr.. Keller wanted to know who
comprised the Consumers Gas COM
pany. Council had no knowledge of
the existence of the company, he said.
and this in itself was sufficient to war;
rant the defeat of the measure for the
present. Joseph F. Evans opposed the
passage of the ordinance for similar
reasons to those advanced by Mr.. |
Paine. President Calpin relinquished
the chair long enough 20 say a few
things
Il believe in encoura ging new enter |
prises," said he. land in doing as we'll |
by them as possible. I don't at all |
sympathize with those who make |
great big hurrah ana land with all |
fours on every new company seek
ing a franchise. I don't believe in
that kind of gallery playing but ] feel
obliged to say that / can't vote for
this ordinance in it's present form.
This company should be taxed as
should all the public utility companies
in this city and it's absolutely wrong
to pass this ordinance without a tax
provision
ORDINANCE DEFEATED.
Much to nearly everybody's surprise
the ordinance was defeated by the fol-
lowing vote:
Yeas-Snowden, Haggerty, Robathan,
Ruane Roche, Nageli Phillips, Charles
Rosar, Calvin, Gurrell, William Lewis,
Coleman, Stipp, Rush, Joseph Rosar
Troy, Cusck. Connelly-1S.
Nays-Clark, Thomas, j. j. Evans,
Alworth, j. f. Evans, Casterline. w.
w. Evans, e. w. Evans, Edward Scar
ng, a. l.. Lewis, James, McGreevey,
Paine, Harvey, Sykes, Kel-
er, Graf. Norton, Calpin--20.
Mr., Coleman introduced an ordinance
providing for an electric light on Hall
stead court. between Mulberry and
Linden streets. The ordinance prov.d-
ng for a pavement on Court street,
Providence road and Carbon street was
passed on third reading.