New-York tribune., 1903-04-08
CITY LIGHTING PLANT.
Another Hearing at albany on the
ELsberg Bill.

Albany. April 7-Apother hearing the Elsberg
bill permitting the city of NewYork 10 establish its
own lighting plant given this afternoon fy the
Senate Cities Committee. The principal argument
in favor of the bill was presented by Commissioner
Robert G. Monroe and a repetition OF that pre-
sented week ago before the Assembly Committee.
+. p. Thurber. who said he represented the large
class OF citizens who believe that business enter
prises should far possible be rnder private
rather than public ownership and management. ap-
psared in opposition to the bill He cad number
Of editorials in support of hsi arguments. He said
that if municipal lighting plant for the citys
established the next step would he for one for
private consumers.
John r. Powers. representing the Consolidated
Gas Company. also spoke in opposition to the bill.
The Merchants Association of NewYork, which
supports the measure, was represented by J. II.
Doughe-ty, Emmett r Oeott. George z. Morse.
J. J. Trenor, S. c. Mead. II. B. Dumont, Frederick
B. DeBerard and F. 2. Woodward
Commissioner Monroe in speaking of the bill,
said:
The bill is the sToes sense S2 t SsTT3F9 f
Counsel of the city al the request Of the Mayor,
Of the board of Estimate and Apportionment- The
board represents different shades Of political opin-
BarticGar PIECE OF legislation Every honest bill
Should have its pedigree known, and the Elsberg
bin is of legitimate descent Since its introduc.
tion coordinate branch qf the city government m
dorsennent given there was not one dissenting
vote in the Board Of Aldermen Leading Repubio BIZ
urging its passage. The most conservative or,
eanizations citizens have unhesitatingiy voiced
their approval. The Merchants Association appear
before YOU to-day. the Citizens Union, the Brook
and the Central Federated Union. Newly ork real
ICES that it is being wronged-piundered-a New
York believes that in a marked degree You can
right that wrong.
The FlsbeFg bill empowers the city Of New York
to erect and maintain municipal electric hght-
ing plant for the purpose Of lighting the streets
and public buildings. The bill does not include the
erection Of a gas plant. There Is no question pc
fore you Of general raunciral OWNERSHIP. fhe CITY
of New-YoTk is not asking for authority 10 90
into the lighting business and sell electrical energy
The private corporations which have received
fra pehjees ~ your hands, and which eontFel al
the lighting facilities throughout the city nave an
practically combined, so that though we ASK Tor
rompetftiye bids for light, there is no competition
whatever The sale Of light in the city OF New
Hort IS a monopoly. and result eXtornonate
prices for this public necessity prevail We're Ime
gas COMPANIES Independent of the electro com pm
panes we might have some comPetiton, oHL HIM Ine
tishfj.s eonahnat tons have abSorhed ooth ltuiIi
nsnts need emphasize the importance OF ven f
iirbted streets 10 the city how much the CROWN oL
tIa eitY depends upon the ext ension OF pupne
fiests how, the development or property IS re
+erdej when newly opened streets remain ia DARK TX
ness and they must remain SO II we are ,.S 70 oS
hid mn hy the companies and tie prices now asKeu
are accepted and continued