The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-10-08
WOULD lCONPfTE
WITH GAS COMPANY
Council Committee Hears APP.
pIlcation for Extending Flee.
trio Lighting Franchise


With five aldermen and four assem-
blymen present, the joint council COM
mittee on streets yesterday postponed
for one week consideration of the ap-
plication of the Union Manufacturing
company for an extension of the cleo
trio lighting franchise held by the
company
Assemblyman O'Brien was the prln-
cipal objector to immediate action,
saying that he believed that he should
be able to tell the public to whom he
had granted the franchise before he
voted in it's favor, while e. c. Stringer,
attorney for the company, held that he
could not divulge the names of the men
who proposed to become strong COM
petitors of the electric branch OF the
st. Paul Gas Light company. Carl
Taylor, attorney for the gas company,
was present at the meeting, but de-
clined to make a statement, asserting
he was there merely for the purpose
of hearing what others said.
A franchise was granted two and
half years ago to the Union Manufac-
turing company to do electric lighting
in the Midway district, and some
months ago application was made to
have the limits within which the COM
pany operates extended to the Eighth,
Ninth and Fifth wards. E. G. Stringer,
attorney for the parties who, he said,
were willing to. put their money into
the venture, came before the commit
tee yesterday and declared that there
is ample capital behind the move to
carry It through.
O'Brien Asks for the Names
Mr.. O'Brien thought it was due to
f11nf
Stringer state the names of the persons
who will guarantee that the provisions
of the franchise will be carried out.
With him itfwas not a matter Of Curl
osity, but he would like to be able to
tell the people with whom he came in
contact the reasons fer his voting to
give such a franchise.
Il cannot give the Names" said Mr..
Stringer "but' will guarantee that the
men askinge for the extension of this
franchise are abundantly able to
finance the venture. propose that in
stead of requiring me to make known
the names of the persons interested,
you put provision in the franchise
compelling the persons interested to
give bond of from $4,000 to $4,000
that the conditions of the franchise will
be carried out"
Will Use Franchise, Not Sell 1t
A lengthy discussion between Mr.
Stringer and Mr.. O'Brien followed, in
which Mr. Stringer asserted that the
men he represented desired to secure
the franchise for the purpose of using
it, and not to sell the privilege. He
thought the members of the committee
should be willing to accept his state
ment without requiring him to make
public the names of the men interested
in the venture. AS the company was
not securing an exclusive franchise,
but was merely being granted the right
ito compete. with the company now Civ
ing a like service in other parts of the
city, he could not see what injury could
be done the city by allowing the ex-
tension.
Assenbly1nan Powers said it did not
seem to him, to make any difference
who controls the company if it was
willing to give bond; that it would
carry out the provisions of the fran
chise. In his opinion the extension
merely gave the company the right to
compete with the existing company.
+ 1--WE desire that the council pass
upon this question promptly explain
ed Mr.. Stringer, "as we will erect a
larger power house if the extension is
granted. We are, assure you, merely
asking for the right to compete with
the company that is now furnishing the
power and lights in other sections of
the city. There is no service given in
the districts that We propose to cover"