Evening journal., 1902-03-01
WELSBACH LIGHTING ,-...a.Ss ~:
I ESQ sAGlIN Discussed
Mr.. Melvin Wants to Know More
About the Contract
They Could Not Be Answered at Meeting
30 Further Discussion Was
Postponed

1AAh HAAAA'fANn WIN
Postponed
Acton on the Welsbach gas lighting
contract llas again been postponed byI
the Street and Sewer Directors, Thus
time until Tuesday. There was a long
discussion of the subject yesterday af-
lternoon, and although Mr., Carter and
Mr. Johnson protested against the de
lay Mr. Melvin carried his point for
more time
The subject was brought up by Mr.
Garter who said it was agreed at Tues
days meeting 10 settle the matter on
FRIDAY He then asked for an express
sion Of opinion from the other mem
bers.
Mr.. Melvin read a number OF type
written questions. All OF them had pre-
lviously been gone over by fhe directors
Mr.. Melvin wanted to know if it would
not be an Illegal act to make com
promise. Mr.. Carter said he did not
think such act would be illegal
! lie further said he would like TO see
THE original contract. He also wanted
| to know whether the seal on the con-
tract was the official seal OF the city
/ Secretary Wiley said City Solicitor
/ lteinhar1lt had told him the seal was
official. Turning his attention to the
original copy OF uhe contract, Mr., Mel
vim wanted to know why it could not
be produced.
Mr.. Carter said 1t would not be Of
any use to an individual. as he could
do nothing with it, Finally. Mr.. Mel
vim said he desired 10 see the seal him
self. Continuing, he said: II want
more light on the subject, and cannot
act today He would not say when
he would be ready to act
Mr. Carter replied: What is to be
gained by "a delay? We have asked
many question. and everybody has ex-
lplained all they know about it whom
we have asked / don't think the ques-
ItiOn OF the whereabouts OF THAT copy Of
the contract affects anything that we
might do with the lighting question
NOW. ] want it understood that l am
not lighting for the Welsbach Com
pany, bu at the last meeting we de-
lcided to act upon It,"
"Mr. Johnson, how do you feel about
Iit?' asked Mr. Carter
81 don't feel" said Mr.. Johnson.
like having anything to say about it..
/ have made up my mind what is best
for the city. and / won't attend any
more special meetings TO consider the
Subject There is something about the
whole affair that l detest / don't like
TO think about them or discuss them.
If we don't accept the compromise we
will have to go into court, and it. will
cost lot. BY accepting the compro-
mise THE city will get just what il
IatnnIr a. ,f,t
with the board divided, as it apparently
ds"
He called attention to tine fact that
Mayor Fisher was Withholding his sig
mature from the contract of the viii
lmington City Electric Company until
3 he saw what the board did with THE
gas Lighting question. He said 1t should
PIE settled
The gas lighting matter was then
laid over untn next week
MIR Carter called attention to an arti-
lole in a morning paper TO the effect
that he had ordered the electric light
current turned off TO demonstrate the
worth of the Welsbach lights. He said.
Il II want to say that no one member
IOf this board HAS the authority with
lVUt consulting with another member. ID
do sudh a thing. / only talked with Mr..
Van Trump, of the electric light com
lpany, over the phone. When | readh-
led home on last Friday evening I was
told THAT Mr.. Van Trump had called
me on the telephone. Later Mayor
Fisher called me on the telephone, and
said that he had ordered that the arc
lights must not burn while there was
danger from fallen wires. and wanted
me to turn Off the street cans. Mr. Van
Trump called me up later He said
nothing to me about the Mayor order
ling out the lights, but said to me that
there was danger II the arc lamps were
lighted. l told him if that was the case
It was best not to turn them on. To say
that / ordered out tine lights is very
unfair To the board, and I want to set
myself straight before the board. so
they will not think I had taken upon
myself some responsibility without
consulting with any of them"
Mr.. Melvin said he thought il was
very wise to have the arc lights turned
of during the storm.
Street Commissioner pierson explain
ed that he went to see the Mayor. also
Mr.. Johnson, and also the chief of po-
lice. and THAT they had all agreed that
IL would be safer to have the current
turned of.