Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-01-02
HE REFUSES TO SIGN
THE LIGHT CONTRACTS
Mayor George M. Fisher Says He is
Opposed to The TGn-year Grants.
''s'aV0RS A TERM OF SIX YEARS
FAN
ihe Department May Act on Its
II Own Account.
QUESTION DISCUSSED AT CONFERENCE

fbutorH IN dNdTuinB lU.yedr puHbIhclS
for lighting the city, and has refused
n to sign the electric light contract or
allow the official goal of tho city TO he
placed thereon, the seal being In his
/ custody. The Welsbach contract has
not been presented to him, but he says
his feelings In both matters is the same.
1t appears to he quest ion whether
the mayors signature ia necessary to
such contracts made by thu Street and
I Sewer Department. and if his signature
is not necessary the department can
act on its own account. 1t il GAINED
on behalf of the department that it can
act independently and it is likely that
it will do SO, although it has been the
custom to present light contracts to the
mayor for his signature and the official
seal OF the city, tne contracts being in
the name of the corporation, The
Mayor and Council OF Wilmington. -
Some hold that as the Street and Sewer
Department has absolute control of the
streets and ia not sub ect to Council
in any matters connected Herewith, it
can let the contracts independent Of the
authority If the mayor, while others
take the opposite view. 1t was learned
at the olioe of the department this
morning that the department will most
likely take the matter in its own hands
and authorize its officers to executs The
contracts for gas and elect lighting.
Nothing further il to be dune, how
ever, 80 far as is known, until the next
meeting, which will be he d next Tues.
day. There has been no intimaton
that the 10 year contracts will ba re-
voked or altered by the department.
Mayor Fisher said yesterday that
it is his opinion that the Street and
Sewer Department can act independent
ly only SO far as the present body ia CON
csrned, and he does not believe that
the board, as at present constituted,
can make contract that will be bind.
ing on any future toard. Others take
different view of the matter and hold
that any contracts made by the board
are binding upon its SUCCESSORS.
After the contracts had been awarded
by the Street and Sewer Department
Tuesday afternoon the electric light
contract was taken to the mayor for his
signature. He decli cd to act hastily
and at his request conference in re-
gard to the matter was held Tuesday
night at the oifice OF the department,
those present, besides the mayor, being
oil OF the Street and Sewer Directors,
Secretary Wiley, Assistant Secretary
Christy, President Rigg, Suterin
tendent Van Trump and A ltorney Hayes
of the Wilmington City Electric 10.
After the matter had been discussed
informally Mr.. Rigg made an address,
in which he said the l0-yehr contract
would be advantageous to the city, as
1t would enable the company to make
extensive improvements that would give
the very best service in the country.
Mayer Fisher who followed MIR. Rigg,
said he would not approve 10.year
contract, adding that he had no criti-
cism to make whatever of the price the
company was charging, AS he felt it
was very fair, in fact, low charge,
lower possibly than any other city in
the country enjoyed, but that he did
object to binding the city in a Contract
for 10 years when the city could get the
same rate for six years. He said in the
past few years great strides had been
maids in electrical machinery which had
brought down the price OF lighting con
sidera6ly, and there was no telling
what would be developed during the
next few years Modern inventions
might within 10 years bring down the
price much lower than at present
therefore he saw no reason why the
CITY should not have the opportunity of
taking advantage of these improve
ments at the end of six years, il the
lights in the meantime were to cost no
more than If the contract was made for
III years.
Mr.. Riggs said the main object in
getting luyear contract was that the
electric light company having such a
length of time to run could make a
greater outlay at present, get improved
machinery and give the city better
service through this new machinery
than it cju,d If it made an outlay for a
ix.year contract. III . said he did not
believe that the next 10 years would
show any reduction in the price of
electric lighting. as he felt it had now
reached the minimum
Mayor Fisher said the city was on
the eve of a new era. The chances were
\ largely in favor of rev sou of the
form OF government and when that re
I form anne there would be such changes
that it would not be advisable 10 have
\ the city tied up for 10 years with a
lighting contract lie also referred to
municipal ownership OF plants, saying
A that mt the various conventions of the
l American League OF Munioinnlities
a large number of the papers read by
n men, who are leaders in municipal gov
M pment, favored municipal ownership
10y of Wight plants water plants, and other
N necessities OF cities now controlled by
n pHvate or semi-public corporations.
N lie closed by saying that he felt he
would be entirely wrong in binding the
CITY to one system of lighting for 10
years, when there was o probability
, that there might be changes in the
system before 10 years expirsd, which
could be used to the benefit OF the city.
Superintendent pans Trump at this
point Remarked: mir. Mayor, you are
no doubt aware that the present light
ing contract expires at midnight To-
night?"
Mayor Fisher replied: 81 am thor.
= oughly aware OF that fact, and / am
also aware of the fact that these con.
tracts were ia the hands of the Street
and Sewer DeraItn emit last june, and
practically accepted then, except as &c
the time they were to continue in ior Q.
If they had been acted uron then OF
even three or four months ago and
given to me the matter no doubt could
have been Strengthened Iout before
this. " The mayor said be regretted the
condition in which matters had taller
regarding the contracts for he felt the
eleotric light company had made rery
reasonable otfsr and that no objection
/ could he found to the price it asked
Following this there was a short d q
cussion regarding tho powers Of the
mayor in refusing to sign the contract.
Secretary Wiley said there never before
had been such a condition, because nc
previous mayer had taken similar
stand. The contracts we're always made
by the Street and Sewer Department,