The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1904-05-18
WATER AND LIGHT FRANCHISE
IS REPEALED BY THE COUNCIL
City Tired of Waiting for Lower Rates and All
the Aldermen Vote Aye Except Switzer.
Other Important Matters

Az tHe regular IeelluS VI IHc CITY
council Monday evening, all the men,
bers We're present except Alderman
Fisher, Mayor Fechter presiding.
A communication from the new fire
department was read rendering the SER
vices of the members to the city. 1t
was adopted. The temporary officers of
the new company are Jack Kaufman,
chief; S. T.. Bunce, assistant chief; d.
J.. DeYo, secretary; p. Jordan, treas
urer. The other members of the COM
pany are: Earnest Hamilton, w. H.
Hawkins, Geo. Young, r. 2. Hayes, S.
f. Holiday, John Lemon, David Clark.
w. c. Bunce, j. +. Lee, r. II. Cayon, G.
Wright, A. j. Squires, j. B. Bowen, Geo.
Webt and Earnest Bonham.
Alderman Sinclair, from the street
and ditch committee, reported in favor
of buying the gravel pit of two and one
half acres, the engine, boiler and rock
crusher of VIM. Mckivor for $ll00. The
report was adopted. The object OF pur-
chasing the outfit is to repair Yakima
avenue and other streets of the city.
Alderman Rand, from the special COM
mittee appointed about the first of the
wear to confer with the water and light
company regarding rates, submitted a
written report. 1t recited that the
committee had corrcsponded with about
thirty cities regarding rates receiving
answers from most of them; that the
committee had decided that the water
rates in force at Roslyn and the light
rates at Tacoma ought to apply to this
city; that President Strahorn had de-
clined to accept said rates; that the
committee was tired of waiting for him
to adjust the rates, which are excessive;
| that conference, the committee be-
lieves, will do no good and it recon-
mends the repeal of the light and water
franchise ordinances, which are illegal
and unjust. The report was signed by
Aldermen Rand, Thorp and Dudley. 1t
was adopted, Alderman Switzer voting
no.
Mayor Fechter read a communication
on the subject. 1t stated that the coun-
ell had been elected on a platform de-
claring for repeal of the franchises;
that over 80 days had elapsed since the
committee had been appointed to confer
with the company; that it has since
adopted the meter system and was put
ting them in for both water and lights
where the same are now being installed I;
that the rates are eXtravagant, one or
binary residence having to pay $l4 per
month for lights, 32-candle power light
| burning all night costs 80 cents and
| water for an ordinary lawn, under the
meter system, costs $3l 80 per month.
The report recommended the repeal of
| the ordinance. 1t stated further tnat
the mayor had letter from Chas. B.
Hurley, VINO had been granted a fran
chise for a gas plant, stating he would
be here to begin work by the first OF
June; that the establishment of such a
plant would afford relief; that the city
could establish lighting plant of its
own, using the water power of the city
or Union ditch; that it can condemn
the water plant and bond to pay for it
without increasing the debt. The COM
pany, said the mayors message, must
do justice to the people; the council had
tried to avoid this situation; it had
been ready and was now ready to meet
the company half way, but it had snow
ed no disposition to do the right thing.
At the conclusion of the reading of
the mayors message ordinances were
adopted repeating the water and light
franchises of the company, all the al
dermen voting aye except Switzer. He
explained that he voted no because he
believed the action might involve the
city in expensive litigation, without
consequent benefit to the people. SIN
clair replied that the city had had good
legal advice and that the people demand
ed such action.
The mayors message also recon-
mended the parking of Second street
and making a pleasure park of the mid
way on Naches avenue. The recon-
committee with instructions to investi-
gate the feasibility of the plans anad
report to the council.