The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-12-01
AWARDED THE CONTRACr.
NEW HAVEN GAS co. GETS GAS
LIGHTING CoATRAoT.

Report which Was Adopted by Vote
OIL to 5-Mayor Issues "Emsrgenoy
Commnnication"--Aw Warm session.
The special meeting Of the board OF
aldermen. called last evening to con-
slider the lighting contract, was one Of
the most sensational as well as one OF
the most Interesting which has been
held in city hall in a long time. Sensa-
tional because the aldermen rescinded
their former vote awarding the gas
light contract to the American Lighting
company and awarded it to the New
Haven Gas Light company. Interest
ing on account of the explanations
given by some of the members of the
board as to their attitude and modus
operandi.
After a lengthy session, during which
all kinds of motions were acted upon
and all kinds of arguments advanced,
the committees report, giving the en-
tire gas lighting contract to the New
Haven Gas company and the naphtha
contract to the American Lighting
company was adopted by q vote Of II
to 5.
The only member absent last evening
was Alderman Weiss except the mern-
bers of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and
Fifteenth wards who, it had been de-
cided, had no right to vote on the
question.
At 6 O'Clock the lighting committee
met In city hall for the purpose Of pre-
pairing their report SO that 1t could be
presented to the aldermen when they
came in session later.
When the aldermen were called to or
der there was a large number Of people
present, who not only occupied the
chairs but were standing about the
room and doorways. After the roll call
President Logan had Clerk Moran read
the following communication from
Mayor Studley:
Nov. 30, 1908
To the Honorable Board Of Aldermen:
Gentlemen: In my opinion the light
ing contracts pending In your
board are Of an emergency nature and
immediate action is necessary in order
that the board OF finance may be en-
abled to complete it's estimates, and
that the companies getting the con-
tracts may have time to place their
equipments before January 1, 1904.
Respectfully submitted,
John p. Studley, Mayor.
This communication was great SUR
prise to most Of those present and while
1t was perfectly legal under the revision
of the city's charter, last night was the
first time the so-called Emergency
Act" has ever been used In this city
The act was provided to be used in
cases where there was need of speedy
action and where through the feelings
of some Of the members it is expected
that unanimous consent for the imrne-
diate consideration Of a. question will
be denied. Under this act the gaining
Of unanimous consent for Immediate
consideration of a question and for the
right to take subsequent action Is not
necessary. The lighting COMMITTEES
asked the mayor to send the communi-
cation and this made it possible to dis
pose of the entire matter last night.
The section of the city's charter which
authorized the act is as follows:
Pages 95 and 96. Section IL: Section
129 Of the charter Of said city Is hereby
aIlenueQ TO TGdQ as 4LOllOWSs
No bylaw or ordinance shall be put
upon Its passage in the board of alder
men until it shall have been printed for
examination. and no bylaw or ordi-
nance shall be put upon its passage un-
til it shall have been referred to and
reported by a suitable committee after
d public hearing. No other vote, reso-
luton, or measure, except reports from
the director OF public works concerning
assessments shall be put upon its pass
age, except by unanimous consent, until
it shall have been referred to and re-
ported by suitable cammottee, after a
public hearing, not until after the re-
port of such committee, it has been
twice read to said board. But the Sec
ond reading of such vote, resolution or
measure shall not take place until at
least one week has elapsed from the
time Of the first reading unless the
mayor shall send to said board spec
iaI message reciting that the particular
vote, resolution or measure is of an
emergency nature and that immediate
action Is necessary, in which event such
second reading may take place upon
the same day of the original reading,
and the printing Of the same be dis
pensed with. Every such vote. resolu-
tion or measure shall. after the same
has been reported by an appropriate
committee, be printed for examinations
at the request Of one-ffth of the mern-
bers present, except In the instance Of
an emergency message from the mayor.
No ordinance shall be of force or effect
until it shall have been published at
least three times in all Of the daily pa
papers In said city, nor until one week
after it's enactment.
The report from the lighting commit
tee which was framed before the alder
mems meeting and which was unani-
NOUS was next read. It was as fol-
lows:
New Haven, Conn.,, Nov. 80, 1903.
To the Honorable Board OF Aldermen
Of the City of New Haven:
Your committee on public lighting to
whom was referred the resolution in
regard to lighting the streets with gas
and naphtha lamps, beg to make the
following report:
That on October IA, 1908, public
hearing was held on said resolutions at
which time majority Of those present
spoke against change from the pres